YELLOW, TALL AND DRAMATIC, the sunflower exudes strength and happiness. I love this flower, so prevalent now in the Minnesota landscape.
But this year especially, this strong, simple, sunny flower symbolizes much more than the end of the growing season, the ripening of crops, the transition into autumn. The sunflower, as we’ve come to learn this year, is the national flower of Ukraine, the symbol of peace.
Every time I see a sunflower now, I think of the people of Ukraine and the war that still rages there. I remember watching, in the first days of the Russian invasion, media footage of people fleeing the country, people who looked very much like the average Minnesotan. And I thought, this could be us, this could be me.
As the war goes on and on, it is easy to move onto the next headline, to forget about the horrors, the atrocities, the death, the destruction and displacement happening in Ukraine. But then I see a sunflower and I am once again reminded of the suffering in Ukraine, of the elusiveness of peace.
Here in Minnesota, sunflower fields draw families into mazes under bold blue autumn skies. It’s all about the experience and making memories and photo ops among sunny flowers. Thoughts are far from Ukraine in those moments. But even then, in imagining the scene, I see yellow and blue, the colors of the Ukrainian flag. And my thoughts shift back to the people of Ukraine and those who love them, including people right here in Minnesota. In Pittsburgh. Throughout the world.
This year, the sunflower has also evolved to symbolize resistance, unity and hope. We’ve certainly seen that happening in Ukraine. Hope is a powerful word, one I’ve latched onto through challenging times. Hope infuses strength. And hope grows sunflowers that rise tall and dramatic in the landscape, their sunny heads turning toward the light of peace.
© Copyright 2022 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
It might be easy in the US to forget the war in Ukraine…not for us here in Europe. It is everywhere, and with winter coming in and the Russian so called leader threatening more of the same it is hard to see a way forward for those of us who have witnessed war first hand before. On the other hand, reading your post it gives me hope that some sort of normal still exists!!
Loved the arty sunflowers! How creative.
Paula, as always I welcome, and appreciate, your perspective. I’m trying to be hopeful that peace will come to Ukraine soon.
Hopefully something will change soon as it hasn’t gotten better in the last few days from my perspective.
I’ve been at the cabin so am a bit out of the loop on what’s happening in the world. Back home and back to reality. 😦
Yeah shocking isn’t it!
Sunflowers are such a great symbol and now they do remind us of Ukraine. Lovely post.
Thank you.