Oh so pretty
Once long ago as the sunflower was introduced to Europe, from what was now called the USA:
Tidbit:
In Russia the sunflower found its true place. Due to the fact that the Holy Orthodox Church which has strict guidelines on the use of many foods, during Lent and Advent. Made it difficult to find acceptable foods. The church approved the use of sunflowers during lent times. Thus, it was in Russia that the sunflower became a major agricultural crop. They provided a source of oil that could be eaten without falling afoul of the church dietary laws…
Early in the 20th Century, Russian growers spearheaded the breeding and selection for disease resistance and high oil content…
Then Russians eagerly accepted the sunflower as an oil source that could be eaten without breaking the laws of the church. Therefore it was a natural situation and an easy to get food, so Russians also enjoyed sunflowers as a snack food…
I have a saying, “You want to find your Russian friend? Just follow the trail of sunflower hulls!”
You can be in the middle of nowhere, and wonder (as you wander) has anyone every been here? Then you find a pile of sunflower shells and realize that you are not the first to grace this remote area you stumbled upon…
Russians have a certain fascination for sunflowers and really, I have followed trails of seed hulls into the woods and after awhile come upon a log that someone sat upon and there is a pile of seed hulls. Like a tree where a squirrel lives and you have acorn shells everywhere…
Get on a subway car, train car, stand at a bus stop, just look around anywhere and you will find the tale tale signs of a Russian as they eat one of the most important snack foods there is in Russia. Salted sunflower seeds are available everywhere in the stores and during lent, there is a whole bunch of sunflower seed munching going on…
While it is socially unacceptable to be a “peasant” and spit your seeds everywhere! That does not stop many Russians from leaving a trail of seed hulls as they travel everywhere…
Good thing the hulls are biodegradable!
So this year, I have planted sunflowers and as of yesterday, up from the ground has popped a hundred little babies. These babies will grow big and strong and feed my little bird babies for the winter time…
Of course if the family wants some also? I will ask the baby birds if they can have some to!
WtR