Hunting Sunzilla and that ‘Other Green Monster’

September 4, 2021  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

File photo by Lisa Scagliotti

It’s already that time of year again when local gardeners need to survey their sunflowers and choose wisely to enter the annual Hunt for Sunzilla. 

On Thursday, Sept. 9, starting at 5 p.m. at Rusty Parker Park, judging will be held for the 28th Annual Waterbury Rotary Club’s Hunt for Sunzilla, the Monster Sunflower. 

The annual sunflower-growing contest is co-sponsored by Waterbury True Value Hardware, Evergreen Gardens, Sunflower Natural Foods, the Waterbury Farmers Market and the Waterbury Rotary Club. 

Prizes will be awarded for the tallest sunflower, largest diameter flower, and the heaviest sunflower head. A few adjustments to the event have been made for the second year in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of sunflower seed-spitting, there will be a sunflower seed-tossing contest for accuracy for kids 12 and younger.

The competition will also continue its tradition of awarding a prize for the longest and heaviest zucchini, known as The Hunt for the Other Green Monster. “We recommend that people keep their cars locked following this contest or you could wind up with a year's supply of fixings for zucchini bread in the form of one zucchini,” warned Rotary president and Sunzilla organizer John Malter.

Contestants are asked to bring their entries to the park by 5 p.m. For further information check the Waterbury Rotary Club website. Contact Malter with questions at 244-7373.