The tall sunflowers blooming in the North Ohio Street yard of Mike and Linda Oatman, Muscoda, are more than tall plants with big yellow blossoms – they are meant to carry a message.
Sunflowers are the official flower of Ukraine, the central European nation currently at war with Russia. The flowers are a way the Oatmans can express their support for the Ukrainian people who are currently suffering in the warzone.
However, Mike admits there is a bit of irony in their effort. The species of their big and tall flowers is classified as “Russian Sunflowers” among other members of that family of plants.
Another reason the Oatmans enjoy the flowers is they attract a variety of birds that feed on the seeds. A year ago they had 36 of the tall plants. Mike says the birds peacefully shared the tasty seeds, such as blue jays feeding in one area and cardinals in another – maybe something humans should learn to do better.