Even little Joe has high hopes for his sunflower seeds. Joe, toddler grandson of local gardening enthusiast Joan Marsh, is hoping to grow one of Pembroke’s tallest sunflowers this summer.

“It’s all part of the tallest sunflower competition,” Joan explained. “On Wednesday, May 25, more than 200 sunflower seedlings were given out to children in Golden Grove and Stackpole Schools. They have been given freely, together with some helpful growing and measuring instructions, and the three tallest sunflowers when measured by September 30 will win a prize. The winners will be announced in October.

“The seedlings have been grown by John Roberts,” she added, “and the project has been supported and sponsored through 21C and St. Oswald’s Community Garden by Bangeston Garden Centre, Tesco Pembroke Dock and Wilkinson’s Pembroke Dock.”

For retired horticulturist John Roberts, the competition is but the latest expression of a childhood passion.

As he said: “Roses, lupins and lily of the valley, these are my first gardening memories as I toddled after ‘Great Uncle Gad’ under what is now Junction 44 of the M4. My passion for gardening was born then and now, after a lifetime of working with plants for a living, I want to help instill into some of today’s youngsters a passion for plants, and an understanding of the vital role they play in our lives.”

“It’s for this reason that I grew the 250 sunflower seedlings which have been kindly donated by Pembrokeshire U3A Garden Group, for a schools’ competition to grow the tallest sunflower. These particular flowers are an ideal way of introducing children to the world of plants.

“After the first tricky week or so, when slugs and snails are a problem, the Jack and the Beanstalk story is brought to life by the speed with which the giant sunflowers grow. This is followed by an enormous flower and, later, a seed source for birds.”

And applauding the welcome his initiative received in the two schools, he said: “The enthusiasm of both staff and children at Golden Grove School, Pembroke, and Stackpole School, where we delivered the plants on a sports day, was a joy to behold.”

As for Joan, she has one simple piece of advice to locals and visitors alike: “Look out for sunflowers growing all over town! We are sure the bees will be enjoying them too.”