Earlier this season we had a donation of several crates of sunflower seedlings from another plot holder on the allotment site. She had grown hundreds from seed in solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

The sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine. The flower has become an integral part of Ukrainian life over the years. They can be found in the yards of village houses or woven into the dresses of women worn during celebrations.

In the traditional folklore of the area, sunflowers are believed to symbolize fertility and unity. Ukrainians believe that these flowers look up to the sky in search of hope and happiness. At night, they bow their heads to reflect on their lives. We really like this symbolism.

We have planted rows of the sunflowers across the edges of all our vegetable plots to make flowering hedges. And they are starting to flower beautifully in varying colours!

And it's not just us enjoying the flowers. They are attracting bees and other pollinating insects. We counted as many as 5 bees on each flower head today, who were all heavily covered in lovely pollen.

In solidarity with the Ukrainian people and all other peoples who are victims of the industrial war machine around the world today we will look to the skies like sunflowers in the hope that all war will end.