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Mother Nature trumps all at Kingsbrae Garden—
and fills up the food bank!

The second annual sCAREcrows Fight Hunger contest at Kingsbrae Garden has ended, though this year's eighteen scarecrows will be in place along Memory Lane through Thanksgiving. There's still lots of time to see if the ScotiaBank bankrobber will get away with the loot, or if Her-Man from the Spindrifters will take off on a cruise, or perhaps a bus trip to see the fall foliage? Last year's winners delight the children in the Fantasy Garden.

Mother NatureThere was a clear winner for 2008—first place goes to Sue Corbyn, Lynn Kozak, Pat Garcelon and Peggy James, the "Lunch Bunch", hands down, for their charming and substantial Mother Nature. It was so popular, it also won the People's Choice award, by a clear and hefty margin. The four friends who dreamt it up, local St Andrews "ladies that lunch", didn't stint—she is fashioned from a 5 foot tall tree trunk, with a small nature child peeping from her skirt of roots, ferns and foliage. Mother Nature's generous ivy wig likewise shelters birds and other little critters, looking quite fetching with the sun glinting through. Her mossy cape completes the vision.

Twig FamilyThe next two winners also came in 2nd and 3rd in the People's Choice voting: the Twig Family in second place and the Fairy, for third. There was no tense debate or quibbles with the voice of the people. While considerably behind Mother Nature, they both led the rest of the competition by a hefty margin. A team of Kingsbrae Garden gardeners worked on the Twig Family—Mom, Dad, child and the family dog, with the temerity to cock his leg on a shrub. The foursome is made of uprooted old cedar trees from a hedge that had to be replaced—with wild masses of roots for hair and crooked branches for arms.

FairyTour guides Patricia Bernier and Judith Falconer crafted their Fairy with a bright palette—her primrose yellow petalled skirt and oversized flower make a bright splash against the ancient cedar hedge. Touches of spring green, a blonde head with flower garland and white wings finish the elfin look.

Kingsbrae Garden is pleased to award the sums of $1000, $500 and $250 to the Charlotte County Volunteer Centre and Food Bank on behalf of the prize winners. The winning teams also receive generous prize packages, with donations from our valued local sponsors and from Kingsbrae Garden.

First place winner: One night for two at the Fairmont Algonquin Hotel, Whale & Wildlife Tour for two on the Quoddy Link Marine catamaran, lunch for two at the Kingsbrae Garden Café and Kingsbrae Garden season family pass.

Second place prize package: 10 day-passes to Kingsbrae Garden, a family pass to the Atlantic Salmon Interpretive Centre, Garden Gift Shop teatime bundle and gift certificates to the Kingsbrae Garden Café and Plant Centre.

Third place winner receives a family pass to the Huntsman Marine Aquarium, 10 day-passes to Kingsbrae Garden, Garden Gift Shop gift bag and Kingsbrae Plant Centre gift certificate.

People's Choice Winner receives a Kingsbrae Garden season family pass, Atlantic Salmon Interpretive Centre family pass and Garden Gift Shop goody bag.

We are grateful to all our partners in this fundraiser for the food bank, and to the many creative and energetic people who entered scarecrows in the contest. It's a pity not everyone can win—other entries are the Ministers Island figure of Sir William Van Horne and his Dutch belted cow, Sunbury Shores' Goddess of the Garden, the St Andrews Community Youth Activities Centre's "Respect our Youth" group and the Simpson Hill Nymph from the Van Horne Heritage Trail Association, to name just a few. Visitors to the Garden often comment on how ingenious and entertaining they are.

All the scarecrows are still in place for you to enjoy until the end of Kingsbrae Garden's season on Saturday, October 11.