Blooming where they are planted
Last week, the Corinne Costin Gibson Memorial Public Library in Port St. Joe had lots more colorful greenery than the leaves of books.
On Thursday, May 27, members of the Port St. Joe Garden Club reviewed the entries of the Flower Power zinnia contest that they had sponsored and chose the ones they believed constituted the best bouquets, the most colorful flowers and the most beautiful blooms.
“We’re looking for color, clarity of color, fullness of bloom, presentation,” said Phyllis Goff, who served as a judge along with Sarah Darden, the club’s past president, and Leelee Doughty, a member of the board.
Leigh Russell, from St. Joe Beach, started theirs around Valentine’s Day inside, and then transplanted them outside and they began blooming around April 15. She grew cactus zinnias, and some heirloom varieties from Baker Creek, Entering for the first time, she ended up taking top honors in the bouquet and color divisions of the over 21 category. Deanne Welch won for the best bloom.
In the 13 to 21 category, Scarlett McCullough won for best bouquet, while Lillian Martin won for best color.
In the age 12 and under, Ari Geiger, 8, and Lizzy Geiger, 4, put together the finest bouquet, while James Edward Patterson, 4, had the best color. The most beautiful blooms were won by Bradley Cabaniss, 7, and Silas Russell, 4.
“He planted them, he watered them, and then we kept them alive,” said Patterson’s mother Rachel. “It was like Mad Max in the garden. It was valiant.”
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.