KINGSTON — Walking down Gordon Elementary School’s main hallway, heading to recess, Pat Pearson’s kindergarten students couldn’t help but stop and repeat the phrases “Whoa! Look at that,” “Oooh, do you see mine?” “Wow, that’s cool,” to each other in a mass of excitement.

When one thinks of the things that would stop kindergartners — who are on their way to recess — in their tracks, zucchini, tomatoes and pears usually don’t come to mind. That is, unless those fruits and vegetables are configured into a rendering of the Batmobile.

The Kingston Garden Club’s annual trip into North Kitsap School District’s Elementary schools for the Blanche Gray Garden Show readied the soil for creativity like that to blossom this year as 203 artistically displayed horticulture exhibits entered the 25th anniversary of the competition.

“It’s not a win-or-lose thing. What matters is that they are participating and that they are aware of ecology,” KGC president Diann Kaivo said of the event.

Gathered together in the main foyer of Gordon Elementary, Kaivo and eight other club members scurried around with ribbons in hand Thursday morning, designating a distinct honor for the most creative and constructive entries in the show.

“For a few hours we get to indulge ourselves in all this creativity,” said KGC judge Sylvia Peterson. “And we’ve spread out a lot of ribbons.”

Earning the prestigious honor of “The Tremendous Tater Award” was Sarah Beckstrom’s family of potatoes sitting on a coach, while an old couple of gourds made by Connor Wade won “The Secretary’s Selection.”

In addition to the two grand prizes, the garden club organizers wanted every child to feel the accomplishment of winning a ribbon, so they included categories like “The reddest,” “The tiniest,” “Out of this World,” and even “The Plumpest Pumpkin.”

“They get a sense of accomplishment and wonderment from watching something grow,” Kaivo said.

Such commendations were Blanche Gray’s original goal when she started the elementary school shows in 1981.

“We had, in our garden club, a group that did just exactly this except not with kids but adults,” said longtime KGC member Betty Tarbell. “Blanche thought it would be fun to go to the schools as something for the kids.”

Ever since, kids have been loving it.

“We’ve probably had the most participation this year than we’ve had any other year,” said Gordon secretary and Blanche Gray coordinator Biz Halady.

This year, Gordon’s students were particularly drawn to the competition because kindergartner Austin Smith — the architect of the zucchini-bodied Batmobile — is the great-grandson of Gray.

“That is really neat that it has come around so far that her great -grandson is doing the show,” KGC member Linda Morse said.

Of the 203 participants, fifth-grader Samantha Pelliciotta and third-grader Kindra Smith were awarded the grand prize ribbons of the show. Pelliciotta won the horticulture division hands down with her giant savoy cabbage while Smith’s “Yummy World” won the ribbon for artistic design.

Amid the chaos of recording the winners’ names and taking their pictures for publication, second-year event organizer Ann Ingham agreed that Gordon’s event went smoothly.

“It’s kind of like flying a kite, make sure you have enough string and wind and just let it go,” Ingham said. “A lot of it depends on these people that have done it over and over.”

The Kingston Garden Club will have one more chance to do the Blanche Gray Garden Show as it moves up the road to Wolfle Elementary Sept. 21. Parents are encouraged to view their child’s exhibits either during the day, or before family reading night which begins at 7 p.m. Those attending during the day must check in through the main office before attending the show.

For more information about the show or the Kingston Garden Club, visit www.kingstongardenclub.com.