Sunflower winners announced

These gardeners were all winners in the annual sunflower contest sponsored by the Secret Garden. At rear, Nancy French, Peter French, Marcy Wemple, Bill Botelho, Luann Botelho and Rose Hinkley. In front are Cara Liberati, Olivia McGowan, Casey Westall, Jessy Primiano and Sophie Primiano. The Secret Garden held their annual sunflower contest and announced the winners who grew the tallest plants as well as the largest blooms.

This year's grand champion, who grew the largest overall plant, was Peter French, whose plant was 144-inches tall. The largest bloom was 15-inches across and grown by Joseph Lesniak.

In the children's division, top height awards went to Jamie Waldo, 108-inches; Stephen Cirella, 105-inches, and Casey Westall at 97-inches. Largest blooms in the kids division went to Ben Waldo/ Jessy Primiano, with a 12 1/4- inch flower; Casey Westall, 7 3/4- inch bloom and Payton and Tyler Washburn, who grew a 7 1/2-inch flower.

In the teen category, Paul Botelho grew a 141-inch plant; Cara Liberati, 132-inches; Olivia McGowan, 101 1/2-inches. For bloom size, teen winners were, Cara Liberati, 7-inches; Paul Botelho, 6-inches, and Olivia Mc- Gowan, 4-inches.

Adult winners were Margaret Crowley, who grew a 136-inch plant; Dan Crowley, 133-inches, and Ken Lombardo, 124-inches. In the bloom size division, adult winners were, Nancy French and LuAnn Botelho, with a 13 1/2-inch flower; Bill Botelho, 13 3/8-inches and Dan Crowley, 13 1/4-inches.

Seniors who grew the tallest plants included Dorothy Denault, at 132 1/2-inches; Joseph Lesniak, 113 1/2-inches, and Rose Hinkley, at 103-inches. Seniors who grew the widest blooms were Rose Hinkley, at 11-inches; Dorothy Denault, with a 10 1/4-inch flower and Peter Denault, at 10-inches.

Ribbons were presented to the winners in each category by the staff of the Secret Garden.