SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Puffin (Fratercula arctica), with Thrift (Armeria maritima) in the foreground, Fair Isle, Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK, July.

Ernie Janes / Sea lavender (Limonium vulgare) growing in saltmarsh, with Blakeney Village in the background, Norfolk, England, UK, July.

Andy Trowbridge / Puffin (Fratercula arctica) standing on flowering Sea thrift (Armeria maritima). Portrait. Fair Island, Shetland Islands, Scotland, July.

Andy Trowbridge / Puffin (Fratercula arctica) standing on Sea thrift (Armeria maritima) with wings out stretched with a beak full of sand eels. Close-up portrait. Fair Island, Shetland Islands, Scotland, July.

Andy Trowbridge / Puffin (Fratercula arctica) sitting on Sea thrift (Armeria maritima) with beak full of sand eels. Close-up portrait. Fair Island, Shetland Islands, Scotland, July.

Nigel Cattlin / Thrift (Armeria maritima) and Sea kale (Crambe maritima) on shingle, Chesil Beach, Dorset, England, UK. May.

Nigel Cattlin / Thrift (Armeria maritima) on shingle, Chesil Beach, Dorset, England, UK. May.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Thrift (Armeria maritima) growing on the Shiant Isles, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK. June.

Pedro Narra / Thrift (Armeria pungens) flowers, with a grasshopper, Sado Estuary. Portugal. October

Adrian Davies / Thrift (Armeria maritima) growing amongst pebbles. Shetland Isles, Scotland, UK. June.

Guy Edwardes / Thrift (Ameria maritima) in front of Levant Mine, Trewellard, Cornwall, England, UK. May 2011.

Ross Hoddinott / View of Godrevy island / lighthouse with flowering Sea thrift (Armeria maritima) in the foreground, near Hayle, Cornwall, UK. May.