But these are unusual cases. Generally the warm breath of spring wakes up the bulbs and buds, and one after another has its moment of flowering.
Spring travels towards the North Pole at an average rate of four miles a day.
A pedestrian visiting Italy in the end of January might follow the spring northwards, and if he wished to accompany it all the way, it would be quite possible to do so without exceeding an ordinary day's march. He would have to reach North Germany by the end of March, Sweden in May, and by the end of June and July would find spring beginning in the desolate Arctic regions.
Of course the presence of mountains would make this tour a little difficult and devious, but still it is quite a possible undertaking. It would be very interesting, for he would be able to watch the cold and frost and chilliness of winter disappearing as the sun's rays thaw out a greater and greater extent of the cold and frozen North.
The life of an Arctic plant is truly set in the midst of many and great dangers.
For 250 days the ground is hard frozen and the temperature never above the freezing-point. About the end of May it begins to rise a little, but the plant has to crowd the whole of its life, its flowers, fruits, and seeds, into the space of two months!
About the 23rd to the 29th June the first flower appears, then follows strong, active growth in uninterrupted sunshine during July and August. The flowers are brilliant in colour and richly produced. The tiny dwarf Arctic plants are covered all over with blue or golden yellow or white blossoms. All is in full activity and luxuriance. Then suddenly, in a night, the icy grasp of winter falls upon them.
Hard-frozen flowers, buds, and ripening fruits remain chilled and incapable of life from the 30th August until the end of May.
Of course, under such conditions, these hardy and vigorous little plants cannot become trees or shrubs. To show the effect of the climate upon them, a few British plants which are also Arctic may be compared.
| In Great Britain. | In the Arctic Regions. | |
| Matweed (Matricaria inodora) | 6 in. to 1 ft. high | 2 in. |
| Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea) | 1-2 ft. | 3-4 in. |
| Red Rattle (Pedicularis palustris) | 6 in. to 1 ft. | 2-3 in. |
| Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) | 2 to 4 ft. | 4-5 in. |
| Willow-herb (Epilobium palustris) | 1 to 2 ft. | 2 in. |
| Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) | 6 in. to 1 ft. | 1 in. |