Jonathan Carroll proudly shows off his first cotton bloom as well as the cotton he used for seed for his crop. (Tribune photo / Samantha Martin) [Click to enlarge]

Jonathan Carroll of Marked Tree brought the first cotton bloom of the season to the Tri-City Tribune Monday, July 7. The nine-year-old grew the cotton himself from seeds he received from the Southern Farmers Tenant Museum in Tyronza.

Carroll, who will be a fourth grader this year at Marked Tree Elementary School, takes special care of his two row "crop" of cotton. All 36 seeds he planted grew into a stock.

"I saw everyone else planting some cotton, and I wanted to grow some too," Carroll said.

The youngster said he gets up early each morning to water his cotton while his father, who is also a farmer, waters the trees in the yard.

"I set my alarm clock so I can make sure I get up on time," Carroll said.

Carroll also loves to grow vegetables of all kinds. He is the son of Marie and Tony Carroll of Marked Tree. His grandparents are May and Dal Batchelder of Jacksonville, Doris Smith and the late Linne Smith of Marked Tree and the late Lester Carroll of Harrisburg.