Ukrainian refugee grows record sunflower in Fort Wayne IN

[cbabe]

https://www.wane.com/top-stories/fort-wayne-man-inches-from-reclaiming-national-sunflower-record-with-squirrels-standing-in-the-way/

Fort Wayne man appears to reclaim national sunflower record, despite squirrels standing in the way

by: Mia Pettigrew
Posted: Jul 31, 2025 / 08:01 PM EDT
Updated: Aug 1, 2025 / 03:18 PM EDT

UPDATE – Friday morning, Alex Babich contacted WANE 15 to say his sunflower has surpassed the current United States record and currently stands at 26′ 8″ tall. The sunflower still needs to be officially measured once it stops growing and the flower matures. Alex plans on building a better squirrel barrier this weekend. The following story was published Thursday.

…

And this time, the biggest threat might not be the weather…it’s the squirrels.

“They got two of ‘em already,” Babich said. “Climbed the fence, ripped leaves off, even before the heads grew. It’s like… this structure means something yummy’s up top.”

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Babich, a Ukrainian-American gardener based in Fort Wayne, has built a local following for his sunflower-growing obsession. He currently holds the Fort Wayne record and previously set the national record twice.

The sunflower holds deep meaning in Ukraine, where it’s not only the national flower but also a global symbol of peace and resistance. That first record-setting flower is now part of Fort Wayne history…literally.

“That record flower, the head and some seeds from it, just a packet with five seeds, is at the Fort Wayne History Museum right now. You can see it on display.”

… more … video at link… reported on n cbc sunflower is now topping 30 feet ..

[58Sunliner]

1. Nice. I saw a squirrel running along my fence the other day with a sunflower head in his mouth.

At first I thought it was an apple. Which they already wiped out.