Possible Clues:

• Watered plant, worried about area being exposed to elements
• Showing the effects of exposure we lost heart, defeated
• Showing effects of exposure, bananas are wet beneath
• We scoffed at boy being apprehended and maybe subjected to blows
• Tanned, perhaps, if reportedly not a winner?
• We nearly fed on plant, consumed with damaged skin
• Hit by hostile elements
• Battered by storms, bedraggled plant demolished, primula ultimately saved
• Tanned by sun and wind