Four of the thirteen competing sunflowers in the Bull-Knox Sunflower Contest 2018 have sprouted!
Gramps was the first to say hello, followed by Bears, Bulls, and Naughty.
These competitors will be pleased to have made a good start but there are no prizes for the earliest risers. It’s all about height and beauty. Judging will take place at Knoxie’s birthday BBQ where the tallest and prettiest flowers will be crowned winners.
The seeds have been sown and the contest to grow the tallest sunflower is underway.
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One half of last year’s winner (Em&Em) will be making a solo effort to retain the title as Sparkly, and Shmelling will be hoping to keep the Indie Award for the prettiest flower.
This year, three flamingos will be guarding the flowers from the perils of the Bull-Knox garden.
Good luck all!
Judging of the Bull-Knox Sunflower Contest 2017 took place on Saturday 5th August.
Judge Bowd measured the contenders for the tallest flower and named Em&Em the winner:
On receiving the award, Clarky, the shorter half of duo Em&Em said, “I’m very proud to have won this contest. Being small, I never thought I’d win a competition for the tallest anything!”
New for 2017, the Indie Award, was introduced in memory of the beautiful bunny and chief sunflower slayer, Indie. Pauline and Mick had the task of picking the prettiest flower for this award and declared Shmelling the winner:
Melling, said, “It’s an honour to win the Indie Award for the prettiest flower. Our weedy plant was almost destroyed by snails in its early days but it just goes to show that an ugly duckling can turn into a beautiful swan.”
Many of the flowers are yet to bloom so I’ll post their pictures when they come out to say hello.
Thanks for following the Bull-Knox Sunflower Contest 2017 and to all the competitors. You’re all winners!
Bobaul was the first sunflower to show its pretty yellow face in the Bull-Knox Sunflower Contest 2017. Bears followed, revealing a beautiful orangey red flower.
As gorgeous as they are, the early bloomers may have peaked too soon (putting their energy into displaying their flowers rather than reaching for the sky) to be able to catch the tallest competitors. However, they are both still in with a chance of winning the new award for 2017: The Indie Award for the prettiest flower.
With 10 days to go the tallest flower is hard to call with Em&Em, Shmelling, Pears and Gibbles all striving towards the sun.
Sad news for Steclaire who, although the plant still looks healthy, was found to be headless. The perpetrator of this horrific attack has not been found but a trail of slime was found on the upper leaves. I’m not sure if it’s scientifically possible but I’m rooting (sorry about the pun) for Steclaire to grow a new head and get back in the race.
The official judging takes place on 5th August 2017.
Indie, the chief sunflower slayer, has passed away. Indie has been a big fan of the sunflower contest since it began and can be seen below hopping past the first flowers as a baby in 2014.
The next year she realised how tasty the flowers were and, along with her sister Pongo, fought through all defences to devour the plants.
Indie gave the competition an element of danger and will be hugely missed. But don’t worry, Pongo is still waiting to pounce on any sunflowers should they get too heavy and fall from their current safety on the fence.
Despite the sadness, the contest goes on and Gibbles has reached above the rest.
Shmelling has enjoyed a growth spurt and is now neck and neck in second place with previous leader Em&Em. Pears, Gramps, Bears, Steclaire and Choltman are hot on their heels. Although slightly shorter, Ricarah, Bobaul, Bull-Knox, Moomins and Amme are all looking strong and could make a late burst. Judging takes place on 5th August. Who will be the tallest?
The heat is on in the Bull-Knox Sunflower Contest 2017. Em&Em and Gibbles are still the tallest but Gramps is not far behind. Bears, Pears and Shmelling have all enjoyed a growth spurt in this sunny weather. The official judging takes place in less than seven weeks but the competitors have been measured today to check their progress.
From left to right:
Pears – 61cm
Gramps – 66cm
Ricarah – 46cm
Em&Em – 71cm
Bears – 61cm
Steclaire – 57cm
Choltman – 59cm
Bobaul – 48cm
Bull-Knox – 44cm
Moomins – 43cm
Shmelling – 61cm
Amme – 48cm
Gibbles – 71cm
Meanwhile, Snail Removal Agent Knox has been busy keeping the flowers safe from unwanted visitors.
This pair of slimy shell dwellers have been helping themselves to a tasty sunflower snack!
Despite losing several leaves, Steclaire still looks healthy and will continue to compete in the Bull-Knox Sunflower Contest 2017.
The snails have been evicted from the garden but don’t worry they have their own houses to live in!
An unidentified creature has been snacking on the sunflowers overnight. The worst affected flowers are Bears and Shmelling:
Meanwhile, Indie the sunflower slayer, has been hoping the pots will become too heavy and fall from the fence:
Em&Em and Gibbles are still the tallest with Pears and Gramps close behind. But will the night-time nibbler strike again?
The sunflowers in the Bull-Knox Sunflower Contest 2017 are loving this sunny-one-minute-raining-the-next weather. All the flowers are reaching for the sun and drinking in the rain but three have shot into the lead.
All plants are looking healthy and the pots have all managed to stay attached to the fence so far. But will the pots fall when the flowers get bigger and heavier? The bunnies hope so.
One flower that’s not in danger of falling is Shmelling:
Come on little one. Reach for the sun!
The competitors in the Bull-Knox Sunflower Contest have moved from the safety of the Moomins’ greenhouse to the Bull-Knox garden fence.
To prevent the carnage of the 2015 contest, when all the sunflowers were eaten by bunnies, pots have been attached to the fence out of the rabbits’ reach.
Le Bowd’s plant, maybe deciding the competition was too risky, failed to show up. This opened up a spot on the fence for substitute number one, Bobaul.
The competitors (from left to right) are Pears, Gramps, Ricarah, Em&Em, Bears, Steclaire, Choltman, Bobaul, Bull-Knox, Moomins, Shmelling, Amme, and Gibbles.
Early leaders are Em&Em, Gibbles and Amme but all plants are looking healthy.
Substitute number two, Dojo, will return to the Moomins’ greenhouse and prepare itself to join the competition should another flower perish.
Resident cuties, Pongo and Indie, destroyers of the 2015 sunflowers, are fuming about the new tactic to keep the flowers out of their reach. Will they find a way to get themselves a sunflower flavoured snack?
