This photo, taken early afternoon at the peak of summer, captures all that is wonderful and vibrant about July in the Arctic: the incandescent poppies tossed by the breeze, the lush green and red moss nourished by streams of meltwater meandering through patches of snow and ice, the altocumulus clouds that drift with imperceptible slowness above the landscape warmed by 24 hours of sunlight. There is nothing more pleasant or enjoyable than spending a day sitting and watching the tundra, soaking up the precious moments of warmth before winter’s return.