This morning I saw a You Tube video entitled “Ukraine President Zelensky welcomes Spring in Kyiv.” It is 18 seconds long and was posted on March 8th. He is outside with his cell phone doing a selfie, showing sandbags and snow in the background. I don’t understand the language, but the subtitles say:
“It is snowing.
This is what Spring looks like.
The Spring is similar to the war we experience.
Spring is harsh.
But everything will be fine. We will win.”
The date March 8th is interesting. That is also International Women’s Day.
It is a beautiful Spring day here in Texas. Our red bud tree is blooming and sprouting it’s heart shaped leaves. There is lots of color in the yard with many purple spiderwort flowers and lovely yellow butterflies. But, my mind keeps drifting to the war in Ukraine. I tune in to the news only once a day now. I look at the images: injured children and bombed buildings and scared dogs running in the streets. Sadness and anger well up in me. I can only watch a bit of this.
In late February I thought about writing about nature in Ukraine, of which I knew nothing. So, I googled “Flora and Fauna of Ukraine” and was awed by what I found. According to A-Zanimals.com, Ukraine has almost 50 national parks and many other protected areas. Depending on which part of the country you visit, you might find deer, wolves, hedgehogs, otters, elk, lizards, snakes, owls, white storks (Ukraine’s national bird) and many other animals.
The national animal of Ukraine is the common nightingale. It is a migratory bird, spending winters in Sub Saharan Africa. The nightingale is a sign of Spring in Ukraine. It is also a sign of joy because of it’s pleasant song. Only the unpaired males sing. This makes me think of the separation of women and children from men because of the war.
Back to March 8th. In late February, when I was googling “Flora and Fauna of Ukraine”, I discovered a website for floral delivery (Ukrainedelivery.com). They were advertising sending the women in your life a bouquet in honor of International Women’s Day. They also said “Ukraine is now in the state of war.” They go on to say that you can get a full refund or put your order on hold. Yesterday I revisited the website and it now shows a photo of bomb damage with the words:
“WAR in UKRAINE”
“Russia is killing people in Ukraine”
Note their motto: “Official supplier of LOVE”
I click on “More Information” (dated March 11th,2022) and get these words:
“It is a real war in Ukraine! Thousands of people are being killed by Russia. Women and children are dying because of bombs in the middle of Europe, in the 21st century!
Kiev delivery stops all its operations and services until further notice. We cannot provide any information about anything in Ukraine. We are just closed.
If you want to help- please ask your government to close the sky upon Ukraine! Please help via regular humanitarian channels.”
I have seen stories about women refugees from Ukraine being handed flowers as they crossed into Poland and Romania on International Women’s day. Something to ponder: One origin of International Women’s day was a 1917 Peace Protest by Russian women.
So much I wonder about…have the nightingales returned to Ukraine yet? Are they singing? Are the flowers blooming there now? Will there be peace soon?
Sources:
A-Z-animals.com
Ukrainedelivery.com
Aol.com, msn.com, Youtube.com, Barrons.com, Wikipedia
Sunflower photos by B. McCreary
Natural Musings 
Dear Betty, Such a beautiful tribute & pondering of all things spring, and Ukraine. Your pictures are beautiful. Keep your spirit, heart & soul safe. We are do lucky here, arent we? Susie❤️
Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail for iPhone
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Thank you Susie! Yes, I am truly grateful for so much of my life.
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Dear Betty,
What a lovely and poignant musing about the terrible situation in Ukraine, with the tragic loss of life and widespread suffering. Thank you for also including information about Ukraineâs parks and their flora and fauna. I hope the songs of the nightingales bring hope to the Ukrainians â the situation is so terribly dire.
Carol
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Thank you Carol. I knew very little about the country until recently. I am amazed at what I didn’t know. So much richness of life there…now being destroyed.
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This is such a tragedy. So many people displaced from their homes. The deeper horror is that because of misinformation, many do not believe this is happening, particularly the citizens of Russia, thus the need for common businesses to advertise the truth.
Thanks for these tidbits about Ukraine. I have been painting sunflowers and holding the people in my heart, but I didn’t know about the birds or parkland.
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Thank you VJ! Yes, I have learned a lot about this country and the people and the natural resources lately. It is a tragedy.
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It really is. We are hoping to host a family soon. I’ve been researching the cuisine; should dig a little deeper.
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Thought-provoking post – thank you, Betty – meshing seasonal “constants” with current (temporary?) upheaval of invasion. My fingers are crossed now for nightingales in addition to the humans who call Ukraine home. I marvel at the exodus – what would I do under similar assaults? I marvel at those who choose to remain, their courage a moving model.
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Thank you Betty for this post. I have learned from you more about Ukraine in peace. I needed that balance. It is my hope that soon the war will stop and the people of Ukraine may enjoy Spring.
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Thank you Sarah! Yes, I needed that balance too!
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Thank you Jazz! I too have wondered whether I could leave. I cannot imagine trying to flee with my elderly dogs and cat …
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Thank you Betty for this post. I have learned from you more about Ukraine in peace. I needed that balance. It is my hope that soon the war will stop and the people of Ukraine may enjoy Spring.
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