#Giant Flowers 🌺 🌸 💐

[xtruss]

The Last Flower At The Top of The World—and The Perilous Journey To Reach It

Scientists Journeyed to a Stretch of Gravel Off The Coast of Greenland—The Farthest North You Can Go and Still Walk on Land. These Photos Show What They Found There.

— By Sarah Gibbens | Photographs byJeff Kerby | May 08, 2024

An Arctic Poppy thrives on the Northern Coast of Greenland. Among the plant life in this region, these hardy Flowers are like Giants. Some, like this one, grow in clumps that protect themselves from harsh weather. Like a satellite dish, they will slowly turn to follow the sun. On an expedition to understand what lives at this latitude, an Arctic Poppy like this was found about 20 inches south of the World's Northernmost Plant.

At the top of the Earth, the northernmost stretch of land a person can stand on is Inuit Qeqertaat, also named Kaffeklubben Island by early 20th Century Danish Explorers. The region is a dark gray stretch of gravel on the northern coast of Greenland where land slowly gives way to frozen sea ice.

To find what lives amid these rocky soils, climate change researchers and National Geographic Explorers Brian Buma and Jeff Kerby and their team embarked on a journey to survey the region. There, they found a common species of moss (Tortula Mucronifolia), the world's northernmost plant, and a yellow and lime-green Arctic poppy (Papaver Radicatum), growing just a few inches south of the moss.

On the nearby mainland, Greenlandic archaeologist Aka Simonsen discovered a ring of roughly 700-Year-Old Inuit Stones, which may be the northernmost archaeological remains.

Growing in Extremes: The Northernmost Stretch of land in the World, Inuit Qeqertaat, sits off the coast of Johannes V. Jensen Land, a Peninsula in Far Northern Greenland. National Geographic Explorer Brian Buma traveled there to find the northernmost plant-a common moss—and the northernmost flower a few inches south-an Arctic poppy.

Rosemary Wardley, NGM Staff; Martin Gamache, National Geographic Society Sources: Jeff Kerby, Scott Polar Research Institute; Brian Buma, Environmental Defense Fund; SkySat imagery from July 13, 2023, Planet Labs PBC; ArcticDEM, Version 4.1

The research team left their own mark on the mainland coast, staking plots and recording the vegetation they contained to create a highly detailed digital map of the area they surveyed. Information collected from this trip will be the first data logs in what Buma and Kerby hope will be a long timeline of research in the far northern region.

Here, above the Arctic Circle, the planet is warming four times faster than anywhere else on Earth. Changes here will have ripple effects across the globe, which is why the team braved harsh conditions to find what lives on the edge.

The expedition team was led by climate scientist and National Geographic Explorer Brian Buma. The north coast of Greenland was used as a staging point while shuttling gear across sea ice to Inuit Qeqertaat (Kaffeklubben Island).

Brian Buma collected samples from different layers of this snow glacier to understand the unique properties of water in this rarely visited region. This part of the world is a polar desert, and precipitation is scant, so the samples in this glacier represent many years of snow.

From above, the northern coast of Inuit Qeqertaat—and thus the northernmost stretch of land on Earth—is visible. It was near this shoreline that the team found the edge of terrestrial life, including a common species of moss, officially the farthest north, and the northernmost flower on earth—found about 20 inches south of the moss. The small, gravelly island is about a mile north of mainland Greenland.

This is the northernmost flower on earth, a lone and somewhat ragged Arctic Poppy, sitting near the shoreline of Inuit Qeqertaat. Poppies dotted the northern edge, with a few purple mountain saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia) only slightly farther up the slope. In the background, Brian Buma surveys various contenders for northernmost plant before a final survey determines this flower to be the official runner-up. Seen just behind the flower, a tuft of ‘Mucronate screw moss’ (Tortula mucronifolia) claims that title.

Identifying mosses and other tiny Arctic flora requires a hand lens and careful attention to detail. Up close, Brian Buma examines their adaptations to cold weather, such as small hairs coating a plant's exterior.

Aka Simonsen, a Greenlandic archeologist, prepares to leave camp with Brian Buma, just as the weather begins to turn. After just a few hours the northernmost island, the team left, intending to return the next day. The window to return quickly closed after a few days when bad weather turned into a storm that brought strong winds and heavy precipitation. The July storm dumped nearly a foot of snow and drifts reached several feet. Harsh conditions trapped the team at their base camp for a week.

Aka Simonsen measures a ring of large stones that may have been used to anchor a tent. The stones are roughly 700 years old and likely left by the Thule people. These artifacts were found on the mainland, near the team's base camp and could be the northernmost documented archeological site on Earth.

When the plane returning to retrieve the team landed, it got stuck in snow, and a makeshift runway had to be constructed by scooping snow with snow shoes. Gravel was placed by hand so the plane's tires wouldn't slip on ice or stick in snow during takeoff. Scientists who return to this northernmost region will be able to use the team's detailed digital map to chart how the ecosystem is changing as the planet warms.

[twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat]

ari!! it’s been way too long since i last dropped by!! i’ve missed you!! how are you?? 

now that spring’s here, i’m lugging in a GIANT basket of flowers of all kinds for you 💐🌷🪻🌹🌻🌸🌺!! + a curious sel question!!! — what’s your favourite thing to do during spring? what do you think bokuto's is? (or whoever is your hq fave!! tho i think i remember bokuto!) 🥺 

SELLLLLLL HI THERE MY ANGEL <33333 pls never worry abt when u drop by hehe, i’m always happy to chat w u whenever!!!! :33 BUT I MISSED U TOOO and ofc i missed ur lovely sel questions …..

i’m putting allll the flowers in pretty vases and sending u a giant heap right back 🌸🌸💐💐🌷🌷🌹🌹🌻🌻🌼🌼 anddd some fruit 🍊🍓🍎🍐 !!

as for the question !!!!! hm hm HMM i honestly think i just loveee going on walks…. nothing beats spring walks imo (autumn walks r a close second tho >:3) it’s just so lovely to stroll around a bright green park…. grab a milkshake from any cute stores i pass…… and seeing the flowers and the bees and everything is always so lovely hhh i can’t wait for everything to bloom :’3

AND AS FOR HQ … bokuto is a cutie but not one of my faves sadly 😞😞 MAYBE ONE DAY THO i’m a big fan of suncoded men so there’s a big chance honestly….. BUT for this question i’m just gonna go w nishinoya bc he feels like a very springcoded boy compared to my other faves !!

i think . :3 he ALSO loves spring walks…… loves to run around like a neglected golden retriever and explore cute little nearby towns <33 would love to pet any dogs he meets and maybe feed a couple duckies <333 i just feel like he LOVES the warmer seasons and gets sm extra energy that he needs to release….. he rlly is like a little puppy i love him sm :((( ANDDD i know he loves ice pops so i think he would just be FEASTING on those and i would be right there w him . we would have a popsicle eating competition and both end up w stomach aches <33 yeah. just fun little spring things!!

but with that being said... as protocol (and my curiosity) demands ….. what abt u sel 🎤🎤🎤 u very much strike me as a spring girlie so i need to know allll ur favorite activities <3 anddd for the hq guys … what spring activities do iwa and oikawa like ?? what would u all do together ??? :3

sel i am sending u all my sunniest vibes ☀️☀️☀️🍊🍊🍊🌻🌻🌻 i hope it’s starting to get a lil warmer and brighter where u are !! ty for checking in as always <333 and have a cute lil picture of ur boys as a treat… look how cute they are aaaa 🥺🥺

[6okuto]

hi nia!! i've been meaning to message since we became moots!! i love that you love hajime too hehe would you like to be friends? i usually have emojis for my moots tags and am wondering what you would want for yours!!

and also!! now that spring’s here, i’m lugging in a GIANT basket of flowers of all kinds for you 💐🌷🪻🌹🌻🌸🌺!! + a curious sel question!!! — what’s your favourite thing to do during spring? what do you think hajime's is? 🥺 

HAII SEL!! i would love to be friends omg r u joking i was kicking my feet twirling my hair when u followed 🥹 my emoji.. i must go with a pretzel! 🥨. love reacting w it it's like a silly heart 👩🏻‍💻 nd i love ur haji soo much u guys are so cutieful 🙆🏻‍♀️🫶🫶

i'm realizing i don't have spring things i look forward to 😵‍💫...gaming...?! no class means i'm playing stardew / terraria all day. All Day. i want to try going on more walks though! ooh & it's mostly a summer thing but carnivals/festivals !! Big Fan. as for hajime.. hrmm...

i think it'd be something small like. doing his morning run and not worrying about it being cold. (i don't imagine him being a huge photo taker but he stops every so often on his runs in the spring to send u pics ^____^) going on walks at the dog park nearby. or maybe there's a drink special at a local café that he really likes that comes around in the spring... gets a little pep in his step!

a kind of specific thing i'm thinking is eating outside w u like,, on ur patio/balcony etc. it's spontaneous the first time when u notice the weather + pull him out there, but it'd be cutesie if it became semi-regular u know!

noticing the flowers and leaves! birds coming back! a chilly evening, blanket wrapped around u, haji reminding u We can go inside but !! the romance.. the ambience and vibes.. u set up the table already! so he wraps ur blanket a little tighter and lets u cuddle into his side even if now he only has one hand to eat with 🙁

[itadorey]

inez!! it’s been way too long since i last dropped by!! i’ve missed you!! how are you?? 

now that spring’s here, i’m lugging in a GIANT basket of flowers of all kinds for you 💐🌷🪻🌹🌻🌸🌺!! + a curious sel question!!! — what’s your favourite thing to do during spring? what do you think suguru's is? 🥺 

hehehehehe <3 ily so soso much mwah

it's summer now but i'm gonna answer this regardless LMAO. back when i lived in a small town i used to like going to the beach and seeing all the poppies growing on the cliffsides. it was very pretty and a nice way to start the warmer months :'-) now that i live in a big city i like to go around and look at all the flower shops and check out local coffee shops' seasonal menus they're so cute. i think that suguru is the type to go lie down in a flower meadow idk. it's so peaceful and serene and it's what he deserves tbh <3

now... what's your favorite summer activity? what do you think iwaizumi would like to do?

[stellamancer]

niku!! it’s been way too long since i last dropped by!! i’ve missed you!! how are you??

now that spring’s here, i’m lugging in a GIANT basket of flowers of all kinds 💐🌷🪻🌹🌻🌸🌺!! + a curious sel question!!! — what’s your favourite thing to do during spring? what do you think That Man’s is? 🥺 (+ bonus for deku!!)

SELLLL I MISSED U TOO. as u know i have been tired. lately (as if i'm not tired all the time). though i have also been woefully absent. due to tiredness. also because (AS YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF MY HAULS) i've become a full time merch hunter for That Man.

for gojo. flower viewing. he doesn't drink but. i think he likes to go watch the cherry blossoms. with everyone. and also eat all the limited edition sakura flavored sweets. all. of. them. comes back with heaps of them. and inhales them like the freak that he is.

as for deku. man. i'm not even sure.... this is sad for me omg. someone send help.

[maeby-cursed]

mae!! it’s been way too long since i last dropped by!! i’ve missed you!! how are you?? 

now that spring’s here, i’m lugging in a GIANT basket of flowers of all kinds for you 💐🌷🪻🌹🌻🌸🌺!! + a curious sel question!!! — what’s your favourite thing to do during spring? what do you think toji's is? 🥺 

catching up on all your asks is my favorite thing now ! you really are the loveliest tulip ! (thank you for the flowers, i bring you a lotus and some honey in return !!)

because spring is not over Yet i've decided to answer anyways !

my favorite thing to do during spring is definitely to open the windows. it's such a weird thing because i love autumn and winter the most and the cold breeze does heal my heart, but the spring sun and the birds chirping and the little dandelion fluff flying around is so sweet that i find myself opening the window far more often.

i also enjoy eating a bunch of fruit for breakfast (at last) and wearing sundresses w fluffy cardigans. it's such a happy season, ugh ! ♡

as for toji, i think he enjoys the fruit wonderland just as much. all the berries pair up great with yogurt and he can finally get rid of his coats (he despises the cold even though he runs hot) and wear his favorite band tees (all sleeveless, someone stop him)

i can imagine us walking around, enjoying a windy afternoon, as well. neither of us enjoys the heat but the spring breeze is very nice and peaceful. this Will be used as an opportunity to drag him to a field and make flower crowns together but he doesn't need to know that.

now that i'm done yapping, how was your spring ? are you excited for the summer ? ♡

[seoafin]

morgan!! it’s been way too long since i last dropped by!! i’ve missed you!! how are you?? 

now that spring’s here, i’m lugging in a GIANT basket of flowers of all kinds for you 💐🌷🪻🌹🌻🌸🌺!! + a curious sel question!!! — what’s your favourite thing to do during spring? what do you think suguru's is? 🥺 

hiii sel lovely!!!! One of my favorite things to do in spring is to be outside!!! I honestly love sitting in a park and reading until the sun goes down! I think geto goes on walks bc he's an old man like that!!!!

[gfguren]

amber!! it’s been way too long since i last dropped by!! i’ve missed you!! how are you?? 

now that spring’s here, i’m lugging in a GIANT basket of flowers of all kinds for you 💐🌷🪻🌹🌻🌸🌺!! + a curious sel question!!! — what’s your favourite thing to do during spring? what do you think katsuki's/shouto's/todobaku's is? 🥺 

sellie!! im good! tysm for the flowers 💓💗💕

hm my favorite thing to do in spring?? i guess, i like to take my dog on walks in the park when it warms up a bit. sometimes i sucker my bf into coming too by making us lunch hehe.

as for bakugou - i think he'd also take advantage of it finally getting warmer; that he'd like to get outside and exercise after being stuck in the gym all winter! (that he'd bust out the compression shorts and tanks and he'd be soooo handsome and buff, and he'd show off more than usual bc there are people watching, and, and-)

and for shoto, i like to think he'd enjoy fresh flower shopping with/for rei, even though he has absolutely no eye for it dkjhdf. it's fine though bc he's kind and handsome, and the flower shop employees are more than happy to help 😏

[kimkaelyn]

kaelyn!! it’s been way too long since i last dropped by!! i’ve missed you!! how are you?? 

now that spring’s here, i’m lugging in a GIANT basket of flowers of all kinds for you 💐🌷🪻🌹🌻🌸🌺!! + a curious sel question!!! — what’s your favourite thing to do during spring? what do you think shouto's is? 🥺 

SEL!!!!! My dear friend and light!! I’ve been good! Thank you so much for dropping in! I’ve missed you! 🫂🫂🫂 thank you for the flowers! I love them!!!!!💐💗

Hmmm my favorite thing? 🤔🤔 well tbh spring isn’t my favorite LOL because I get intense allergies for about the first month :( I’m suffering through them now so I’ve been kind of miserable 🤧😷🤒 One thing I do enjoy though is the warmer weather! Hmm Shouto? Hmmm. I think he would enjoy the warmer weather too! I think he’ll enjoy the cherry blossoms!

[tteokdoroki]

aali hello!! i've been meaning to message since we became moots but things have just been so busy 🥺 but thanks for the follow 🥺 i've enjoyed your writing for a while and adore your energy too!! so this is all very 🥺🥺🥺 for me wahh would you like to be friends? 🥺 i usually have emojis for my moots tags, what would you want for yours?

and also!!! now that spring’s here, i’m lugging in a GIANT basket of flowers of all kinds for you 💐🌷🪻🌹🌻🌸🌺!! + a curious sel question!!! — what’s your favourite thing to do during spring? what do you think nagi's is? 🥺 

WAHHH!! SEL HELLO 🥺 ive also been meaning to message as well but i am unreasonably shy jdjd im so happy to be mooties with u hehe !! I WOULD LOVE TO BE FRIENDS 🥺🥺 you’re so very soft and sweet i would like to bundle you up in blankies forever !! my favourite emoji is probably one of these 🥣🧸 so i don’t mind which one you pick hehe!!

AND i use emojis for my moots as well!! so feel free to pick one for your tag too <3 EEE happy spring !!! im taking you on a picnic to a flower field with fresh cookies mwah mwah 💐🍪 I THINK my favourite thing to do is go on walks and look at all the cherry blossoms that bloom in my area :3 we have so many pretty trees here !! and i thinkkk nagi would enjoy a walk in the sunshine too, as long as theres a sweet treat or a nap promised for afterwards <3

[strawberrystepmom]

kendall!! it’s been way too long since i last dropped by!! i’ve missed you!! how are you?? 

now that spring’s here, i’m lugging in a GIANT basket of flowers of all kinds for you 💐🌷🪻🌹🌻🌸🌺!! + a curious sel question!!! — what’s your favourite thing to do during spring? what do you think satoru's is? 🥺 

sel!!!! it is always a gift to hear from you! how is March treating you? well, I hope!!! I am doing well, it has been busy but every day as a whole has been okay and that’s enough for me! thank you for stopping by 💜

during spring I like to be outside a lot! I eat dinner outside, grab lunch outside, go to the park bc where I live gets really hot really quickly so I really only get about 6wks of enjoyment out of spring before being outside becomes unbearable lol so just enjoying it! going to botanical gardens and the park!!!

I think satoru appreciates how new and different everything feels in spring after months of nothing new. he likes the world colorful and bright and bold so he also likes going to the park and having picnics or going to the street market. I think he likes the rebirth feeling!

[heich0e]

liv!! i've been meaning to message you and noticed that we are now moots!! omg 🥺 i've loved your writing for a while, your tobio especially (and bff!samu too ofc, but everything you write, i adore really 🥺) so this is so 🥺🥺🥺 for me. i usually have emojis for my moots tags, which emoji would you want for yours? 🥺 

and also!! now that spring’s here, i’m lugging in a GIANT basket of flowers of all kinds for you 💐🌷🪻🌹🌻🌸🌺!! + a curious sel question!!! — what’s your favourite thing to do during spring? what do you think bff!samu's is? 🥺 

HI SELLLLLLLLL!! omg u are TOO CUTE i am squeezing u so tight <3 any emoji at all is fine with me but my fav colour is yellow n my most used emoji is probably this one ✨ (any of these could also work hehe 💛🌙🐥🌻☀️🌼🍋✏️⭐)

FANK U SM FOR THE FLOWERS THEY R BEAUTIFUL!! my fav spring activity is probably sitting on a coffee shop patio sipping an iced drink on a nice day when there's still a cool breeze in the air, but the sun is warm enough to keep it comfortable!! OR alternatively going for drives w the windows down!! or laying in bed in the morning when it's sunny w the windows open when the air smells bright and greeeeen <3

bff!samu's fav thing to do in the spring is go to the market when the local farmers are bringing in their first bits of the season's harvest and seeing all the crops that he loves reappear again after a long cold winter!! he's always so quietly happy about it for the rest of the day (<- especially when he gets to cook/eat something he's been missing)

[chimielie]

lia!! it’s been way too long since i last dropped by!! i’ve missed you!! how are you?? 

now that spring’s here, i’m lugging in a GIANT basket of flowers of all kinds for you 💐🌷🪻🌹🌻🌸🌺!! + a curious sel question!!! — what’s your favourite thing to do during spring? what do you think hajime's is? 🥺 

hiiiiiii i went missing sorry HAHAH sending u sm love tho

my favorite thing to do in spring is go out and spend a lot of money on food HAHAH i've just... been doing it so much lately. .. i als really love just taking walks and sitting in the sunshine :) i think hajime gets super antsy during winter, he wants to get out and MOVE so in spring he wants to spend a ton of time outdoors. i can see him trying to push you to do like 5ks and races, but also more chill things like slacklining and other less traditional things. he just wants to go out and enjoy life!

sorry for the typos my cat is sitting on my arms

[izukuszn]

noelle!! it’s been way too long since i last dropped by!! i’ve missed you!! how are you?? 

now that spring’s here, i’m lugging in a GIANT basket of flowers of all kinds for you 💐🌷🪻🌹🌻🌸🌺!! + a curious sel question!!! — what’s your favourite thing to do during spring? what do you think izuku's is? 🥺 

sel my beloved!! i’ve been good!! loving one day at a time😌 i’ve missed u too, how r u doing?

thank u so much for the flowers i’m crying, i’m giving u some of your favorites as well💐💐 as for your question, my favorite thing to do during spring is go on long walks, or have picnics with my friends!! never fails to make me happy🙃 for izuku🤔🤔 his favorite thing to do with me, i would say to accompany me on my walks, holding hands with me wrapped around his arm😌😌😌 for him alone, id say maybe sitting outside, sketching in his notebook maybe🤔🤔

[kodaiki]

audrey!!! it’s been way too long since i last dropped by!! i’ve missed you!! how are you?? 

now that spring’s here, i’m lugging in a GIANT basket of flowers of all kinds for you 💐🌷🪻🌹🌻🌸🌺!! + a curious sel question!!! — what’s your favourite thing to do during spring? what do you think satoru's is? 🥺 

hi sweet sel!! it has been a while sobbbb😭😭 i’ve missed u too! i’ve been so so busy w school and itching for a break to get back to my creative energy🥲 awww if you’re lugging flowers then i have a million personalized love letters for youuuu 💌💌💌

hmm my fav thing to do in spring :0 hm, i’m not sure!! maybe watching the sunset? the sunsets around where i live have been super purple and they’re so pretty🥺🫶🏼 what’s yours!!

gojo’s favorite thing to do in spring is have picnics w his pretty partner and toss grapes in their mouth like a game 🧎‍♀️

[shibaraki]

monty!! it’s been way too long since i last dropped by!! i’ve missed you!! how are you??

now that spring’s here, i’m lugging in a GIANT basket of flowers of all kinds 💐🌷🪻🌹🌻🌸🌺!! + a curious sel question—what’s your favourite thing to do during spring? what do you think aizawa’s is? 🥺

sel !!!!!!! I’ve missed you too—you and your lovely little messages! I’m doing well and I hope you are too 🥹 if anyone deserves a little happiness this springtime it’s you ✨ thank you for the blooms;; as for my favourite thing to do during spring… I think late evening walks.. it makes me sound like such a biddy lmaoooo but the nights are lighter for longer, and it is just good for the soul I feel ‼️ and ofc I will drag shouta along with me ‼️ what about you and hajime?