The sky was the limit for the sunflowers gracing Grafton and area this past season in heavy competition – but the tallest and biggest were recognized in a ceremony Saturday that saw two two-year-olds take top honours in the youth division.
Town crier Liam Cragg brought grandeur to his announcements of the winners of the Grafton Green Thumbs Sunflower Growing Competition, recalling the very memorable beanstalk grown by a boy named Jack.
“Many of us had visions of their sunflowers reaching similar heights,” Cragg admitted.
“There is something very satisfying about growing something tall. As a matter of fact, growing any plant is a lot of fun. That's why so many of us garden.”
More than 135 gardeners planted 600 seeds, and the Saturday-morning ceremony recognized the top adult accomplishments and the top youth accomplishments.
Beautiful hand-made birdhouses were the prizes presented by Joan Stover and club co-chair Ralf Busse – created by club member Melody Johnston and her crew. Each winner also got glossy photos of her accomplishments presented by club co-chair Michelle Busse.
“Tallest” is defined as having the most height from ground to highest point, Cragg explained, even if the head had drooped over.
In the adult division, Joanne Ball's 13-foot-two-inch beauty took top honours, with two-year-old Emma Linkie topping youth contenders with a specimen growing 11 ft. 10.5 in. Tall. Emma accepted her birdhouse with delight, then entertained her parents Jeremy Linkie and Jenna Carter-Seorgie by sliding out the glass panels where the bird seed goes in.
Prizes also went to the growers who produced the biggest sunflower head.
Rosie Hewett Tejnow (who could not be present) produced the biggest one of all the adult growers, measuring 14.5 inches. Two-year-old Coraline Robins produced a sunflower head that measured 17.5 inches – or possibly 18 inches due to its oval shape. A little awed by the attention, Coraline was carried to collect her prize by parents Lauren and Nathan.
The town crier offered his prediction that next year's contest will be even more popular.
“Perhaps by then we will figure out a way to stop critters from stealing the seeds, and how to keep our plants standing tall without a Pfizer additive,” he said.