Sahasi Erven snips away at his two-by-six-metre flower garden bed at Chambers Street and Princess Avenue that spells out B次元官网网址淯kraineB次元官网网址� in blue and yellow.

This Friday (July 15) at 10 a.m., Erven begins unveiling at Beacon Hill Park what he claims will be the worldB次元官网网址檚 largest Ukraine flag made out of flowers. The bed, located at the all-weather field just east of Mile 0, will cover roughly 10 by 30 metres and continue to grow as more plants and pots arrive up until July 24 to amass an anticipated 100,000-flower flag.

B次元官网网址淭hey didnB次元官网网址檛 tell me they were going to start dropping all the bombs (in Ukraine), so this is all spontaneous,B次元官网网址� Erven said.

ALSO READ:

In 1986, Erven, whoB次元官网网址檚 worked most of his life as a carpenter, built the original woodchip trails at Beacon Hill Park for the International Year of Peace.

During the war in Iraq, he expressed his upset by releasing two full-length music albums. Now, since no songs have come to mind this time, heB次元官网网址檚 resorting to flowers B次元官网网址� although they havenB次元官网网址檛 always been a natural form of expression for him.

B次元官网网址淢y brother would always tease me that I knew so little about flowers.B次元官网网址�

Fifteen years ago, Erven had a vision to create the most beautiful place on planet Earth. That place became his vibrant Oneness Heart Park garden at 2201 Chambers St., which now features a flowery green and white smiley face and pink heart in addition to the B次元官网网址淯kraineB次元官网网址� garden bed.

B次元官网网址淲hen the war (in Ukraine) started, I was just so shocked,B次元官网网址� Erven recalled, who responded by arranging for a much smaller Ukraine flower flag to be assembled at Beacon Hill Park than what he ended up taking on.

His niece caught wind of him making a smaller-size flower flag and secretly created a website for the cause on his behalf, making a commitment to build the worldB次元官网网址檚 largest Ukraine flower flag.

B次元官网网址淚 said, B次元官网网址榃ait, stop B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 no way IB次元官网网址檓 making the worldB次元官网网址檚 largest (Ukraine flower) flag,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Erven recounted. B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址業tB次元官网网址檚 way too much work.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

He quickly gave in and took initiative with his Flag of Flowers website to spread the word and garner thousands more blue and yellow flowers. Already, the colourful plants have arrived in abundance and the priority is now getting enough pots to accommodate them B次元官网网址渂ecause weB次元官网网址檙e a long way from 100,000.B次元官网网址�

Groups like nurseries have significantly contributed to the effort and Erven himself has put in roughly 8,000 flowers, but he said most of the plants have come from a single individual whom he did not disclose.

Erven stressed this is not a fundraiser and proudly shared his simple three-step process: He builds the flower flag, love spreads around the world and the war in Ukraine ends.

He explained he hopes to reach B次元官网网址渟omeone who knows someone who knows someone who can whisper in someoneB次元官网网址檚 ear and say, B次元官网网址楲etB次元官网网址檚 just have a ceasefire.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

ALSO READ:

ErvenB次元官网网址檚 wife, Bhamini McDonald, said the garden on Chambers Street serves as a representation of whatB次元官网网址檚 happening around the world thatB次元官网网址檚 positive and at a level that children can understand.

B次元官网网址滷amilies are so tender, just like a flower,B次元官网网址� she said, adding that she and Erven chose Beacon Hill Park for its appeal to families and encouraging them to participate in the flower planting.

An early childhood educator at nearby George Jay Elementary School, McDonald sometimes brings her students to the garden to enjoy the plants.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檒l come over, tipping their magnifying glass to watch things grow.B次元官网网址�

Erven invited the public to come enjoy the flag at Beacon Hill Park and added that, as of July 24, the entire display will be up for grabs and anyone may take flowers home to add them to their garden or assemble their own Ukraine flag.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e like children, plants - youB次元官网网址檝e got to nurture each one in its own way.B次元官网网址�

Those interested in volunteering or donating pots and flowers can sign up at .

Do you have a story tip? Email: evert.lindquist@blackpress.ca.

Follow us on and and like us on