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

David Pattyn / Flowering Thrift (Armeria maritima) photographed on Great Saltee with a view of the island behind. Great Saltee, Saltee Islands, Co. Wexford, Republic of Ireland, June.

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.

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.

Nick Upton / Sea thrift (Armeria maritima) clump flowering on an old wall, Cornwall, UK, May.