Arctic Poppy
Pen and ink
9 x 8 in

This is another close-up view of a typical bit of tundra at Peters Lake. Arctic Poppies (in the genus Papaver) are a circumpolar plant, which means they grow all around the northern part of the planet. I drew it life-size, though it is taller than most of the other plants in the area. These poppies are extremely hardy, but its flower petals are delicate, almost translucent. They like to grow among the rocks because, even in the north, the stones absorb heat from the sun and provide moist shelter for the roots.

Image © 1991 by Mary Beth Michaels