Spring 2020Joanne Timperley pens debut children’s book

After repeatedly discovering sunflower seeds missing from her pots, Joanne Timperley, a keen gardener from Wardle, has written her first children’s book.

Entitled ‘Who Stole My Seeds?’ the real-life experience has been turned into an exciting ‘whodunnit’ tale for children.

Mrs Greenfingers was puzzled – who, or what, kept eating the sunflower seeds when she wasn’t looking? Come with her to find out.

Was it the cheeky robin, or the big blackbird? Maybe it was her friend the squirrel, or the hedgehog who visited her garden each night. Or something else?

She sets out to solve the mystery – and to protect her last seed!

Joanne said: “Every morning I came outside, and one pot would be tipped over with seeds missing. I watched to see who was taking the seeds and became aware of all these creatures visiting my sunflowers. I ended up moving my plants from my patio to a table at the end of the garden.”

Beautifully illustrated by the award-winning children’s book illustrator Sarah-Leigh Wills, ‘Who Stole My Seeds?’ recounts how the very last sunflower seed was saved from the attentions of various hungry garden visitors, including a squirrel, hedgehog, blackbird and robin.

In a happy ending, the 8ft sunflower grows into the tallest anyone has ever seen, creating hundreds of sunflower seeds for all the garden creatures to feast on – and produce a host of giant sunflowers the next year.

Avid sunflower grower Joanne added: “I love the finished product, which is designed to share with young children as a bedtime read.

“They really get drawn into the drama of saving the last seed as the story unfolds and it grows from a small seedling into an 8ft giant sunflower.”

Joanne will be signing copies of  her book at the All-in-One Garden Centre, Castleton, on Sunday 15 March.

‘Who Stole My Seeds?’ is published by Pegasus Elliott Mackenzie Publishers.

Joanne’s top tips for growing sunflowers

“A spectacular summer sight, sunflowers really do grow to over 8ft tall! Despite their size, they are the easiest of plants to grow – as long as you protect them from garden visitors.

"Sunflowers have got to be the easiest and most gratifying seed to plant. You literally just fill a pot with soil, plant the seed, keep it well watered and watch it grow. I repot them when they grow four leaves. The bigger the pot, the stronger the roots and the taller the flower. It really is that simple!”