Champion gardener Ron Seaton won his first award 70 years ago when he exhibited a flower in the under-12s section of the Kalamunda Show.
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So began a lifelong passion for growing plants and exhibiting.
These days the veteran exhibitor has a stack of awards to his name, with the latest from the 2020 Canning Show, where he had entries in the flowers, fruit and vegetables sections.
Ron won the George H. Wilson perpetual award for the exhibitor with the most points gained from placements overall - the seventh time he has taken out the top honour.
His love of horticulture was sparked by his father, Percy. "Dad used to exhibit flowers at all the shows around Perth in the '50s and I used to go with him," Ron said.
"He showed mainly carnations. It was very difficult to show against Dad so I had to find something different. I started growing sweet peas and daffodils and later got into chrysanthemums."
In 1975 Ron beat his dad and won the state carnation championship. He worked in parks and gardens in local government before growing flowers commercially.
His chrysanthemum varieties were released in the US and Japan and his breeds won champion bloom in flower shows in Australia, the US and the UK.
Since retiring seven years ago, Ron has devoted himself to tending his Walliston garden and entering shows.
"I love growing things and encouraging young people," he said. "A few years ago, a young lady came and got some sweet pea seeds off me. She showed against me and three years on she beat me and I was so proud of her.
"I love to see someone younger taking on the mantle as I won't be doing it for many more years."
