<\/p>\n
Dedicated to Tom \u2018Pop\u2019 Miller<\/p>\n
Born on a Mississippi Delta plantation in a current-day ghost town, Tom \u201cPop\u201d Miller owned and operated a family orchard and regional wholesale floral company. A master gardener and part-time volunteer lawman in Sunflower County, Miller died on July 27. He was 79.<\/p>\n
To honor Miller, father to a dear friend, I tried to survey the 2015 Montezuma County Fair horticulture show from his perspective. I didn\u2019t envision the devilish twist that would ensue.<\/p>\n
For the first time in history, the Montezuma County Fair\u2019s floral exhibits included a People\u2019s Choice Award. On his ballot, I suspected that Pop might have voted for Joe Butterfield\u2019s eye-catching entry, a Crocosmia \u201cLucifer.\u201d At a certain angle, stems full of fiercely red, tubular blooms looked as if they were connected to a crooked backbone.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt popped up, and it looked nice,\u201d said Butterfield.<\/p>\n
A Cortez resident, Butterfield\u2019s crazed admission was one of a handful of horticulture exhibits to receive an Award of Excellence at last week\u2019s show. Butterfield was also one of only a few male competitors among some 300 entries, asponsored by the Mesa Verde Gardeners.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not a gardener,\u201d the 68-year-old clarified with a chuckle.<\/p>\n
Butterfield explained that he and his wife purchased a residence once owned by master gardener Robin Meador. He said his only credit was weeding and watering what had been planted.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe garden just happened,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
With help from his cousin, master gardener Ann Joslin, of Cortez, Butterfield shrewdly submitted his \u201cLucifer\u201d entry with an impressive whim.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just reaped the benefits,\u201d said Butterfield.<\/p>\n
A panel of seven judges scored the local horticulture show. Joslin herself was recognized with the Arboreal Award for a narrow leaf mountain mahogany entry and a Best of Show for a plume poppy.<\/p>\n
Karen Fuller received Best of Show and Sweepstakes awards for her celery entry. Plus, her rare cucamelons received high praise from one judge, who wrote, \u201cWell done,\u201d on a Blue Ribbon.<\/p>\n
Also charming the judges was Dayna Herrick, who earned Best of Show and Award of Distinction ribbons for her \u201cPurple Pincushion\u201d display. She also received the Petite Award for her \u201cUnder the Tuscan Sun\u201d entry and an Award of Merit for a white cosmos.<\/p>\n
As for the People\u2019s Choice prize, that honor went to Orinda Spence and her dish garden, \u201cThrow Me a Rope.\u201d Spence also won the Designer\u2019s Choice ribbon with a dazzling sunflower display, as well as an Award of Excellence for an ingenious cactus display featuring a recycled boot.<\/p>\n