The sun is well and truly shining in Olive Brokenshire’s garden.

A sunflower standing at over three metres takes pride-of-place in the Temuka woman’s plant patch.

A quick measurement of the flower confirms it stands at 3.25m and the base of the flower is 15.2cm in diameter.

However, the eye-catching giant flower came about completely by accident.

“I put in about 35 seeds and I must have dropped this one because I definitely didn’t intend it to be there,” she smiled.

“It’s the only one that’s grown.”

While it was not the first sunflower she had grown, it was by far the biggest.

“I just think it senses that it’s summer finally.”

The giant had been planted about four months ago.

“I didn’t think much of it for a start and then suddenly it just took off.”

The flower had not received any special treatment.

“Just water.

“But it is good because it is near concrete which probably keeps it warm.”

The flower had also been attracting a large number of bees.

“And that’s great because it keeps them from pollinating the tomato plants.”

And despite the huge flower Olive didn’t have a lot of confidence in her gardening ability.

“Let’s just say I’m a keen gardener. That doesn’t necessarily mean I’m good,” she joked.

n Herald Staff

Is your sunflower bigger than Olive’s? Contact the Timaru Herald on (03) 684 4129 or email; editor@timaruherald. co.nz with the measurements of your sunflower.

source : www.stuff.co.nz