"Ukrainians, we usually celebrate this holiday, the holiday of spring. We congratulate our women, our daughters, wives, mothers. Usually. But not today.

Today I cannot say the traditional words. I just can’t congratulate you. I can’t, when there are so many deaths. When there is so much grief, when there is so much suffering. When the war continues..."

Women are often feted with flowers, chocolates and declarations of love, but of course this year has been utterly overshadowed by the horrific tragedy in Ukraine.

See images on www.theguardian.com/world/live/2022/mar/08/nternational-womens-day-events-around-world-iwd-2022-live

More: www.internationalwomensday.com

And as I've been making paintings of flowers from my garden this winter I'm looking at this page female-artists-and-flowers