Plants of peace

Sunflowers are linked with brave Ukrainians, says Toby. Plant some now to show solidarity and the hope for peace

- Toby Buckland

I’VE always had a big thing for sunflowers. Growing in a few weeks into skyscrapers, they are living miracles – up there (pardon the pun) with the best of them.

As I push the stripy kernels into the astonishing summer height and heft to come, although recent events mean that now I can’t help but reflect on how lucky we are to live in a free and peaceful land.

Sunflowers are inextricably linked with the brave and beleaguered people of Ukraine. Not only are they their national flower, but the image of the golden petals against a blue sky also evokes the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag, while oil pressed from the seed provides a significant chunk of Ukraine’s agricultural wealth.