DIXFIELD – Justin Richards, 10, has become an award-winning flower grower.

He sold flower bulbs last spring to support his Dixfield Elementary School fourth-grade fund-raiser. He also planted a lilly bulb for himself.

He carefully nurtured it as it grew and developed into a full magenta color bloom in time to enter it into the Dixfield Bicentennial Festival of Flowers Show.

The flower show judging committee unanimously awarded Richards’ lily the best of show award. The public awarded him the people’s choice award. Richards is the son of William and Darlene Richards of Dixfield.

Other flower show winners were: first, Donna Towle, cut flowers; second, Pat McBride, flowers in a mug; third, Denise Richard, bouquet of wild flowers; honorable mention, Missy Richard, single flowers.