Picture This Photo Contest: Revisions and Reward

By Fran Sorin – Posted in: Garden Photography

We understand that the subject and rules for Picture This, the new GGW photography contest, were a little puzzling to some. So, we’ve made a few changes that we think will make it much easier for all of you to participate.

1. First, the theme for this month has been broadened to include native plants that are indigenous to your region (not just your state, and not necessarily in a water-wise garden). A photo of any native plant, either a close up or in the landscape, that you think merits attention will qualify.

2. To make the process of entering simpler, we are now asking that you post the photo on your own blog with a link to GGW. Then come back to this post and give us your link. Our readers, as well as our judges, will come to your site to gaze at your fabulous photo. If you’ve already submitted a photo and don’t have a blog of your own, please let us know (at [email protected]) and we will post it for you.

And finally, check out the photo of these agastaches! Our colleague and friend, David Salman of High Country Gardens, has been kind enough to offer these eight agastaches, some of High Country Garden’s best, as the reward for the April contest. (David also supplied the beautiful photo collage at the top of this post.)

So come on, don’t by shy! Post a photo and who knows? You might be the winner (which will be announced before the end of the month).

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Fran Sorin

Fran is the author of the highly-acclaimed book, Digging Deep: Unearthing Your Creative Roots Through Gardening, which Andrew Weil, M.D., recommends as "a profound and inspiring book."

A graduate of the University of Chicago with Honors in Psychology, she is also a gardening and creativity expert, coach, inspirational speaker, CBS radio news gardening correspondent, and Huffington Post Contributor.

Learn more about Fran and get free resources that will help you improve your life at www.fransorin.com.

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30 comments… add one

David April 16, 2009, 9:33 am

Here is my entry:
http://montanawildlifegardener.blogspot.com/2009/04/native-plant-photo-contest-one-of-my.html
Thanks for a great contest!

David-
Your photo of Agoseris glauca is beautiful. I think it’s wonderful that you created a wildlife garden on a small urban lot in Missoula. Fran

Yvonne Cunnington April 16, 2009, 8:38 pm

Can Canadians enter? Might be difficult to send the prize, given border regs. It would be fun to enter. I don’t really care about winning.

Yvonne-
Absolutely enter. Even though we can’t send plant material over the border, you’ll receive some ‘bragging rights’ !! Fran

oboth April 17, 2009, 2:17 am

beautiful image

Oboth-
So are you going to give it a shot and send us a native photo?? I agree about the image…sent by High Country Gardens for our use for the contest. Fran

Phillip April 17, 2009, 9:26 am

Thanks for a fun contest! I have posted a photo on my blog that I would like to enter.

Phillip-
Great photo. I also love Fothergilla major ‘Mt. Airy’ and use it alot. I consider it one of the all time great deciduous shrubs. Fran

Grace April 17, 2009, 4:06 pm

Hi. LOVE the Agastaches and the collage/photo. Gimme, gimme!!

My entry can be viewed at http://www.gracepete.com

Thank you.

Hey Grace-
Thanks for your entry. It is sweet and well thought out. I love Dicentra formosa as well as your use of the phrase ‘cuddling up’. Great description and good choice of plants. Fran

wiseacre April 17, 2009, 6:17 pm

I love the contest because it deals with native plants. I won’t enter because I’d never be able decide what photo to enter. But I sure will be looking at all the entries.

Hey wiseacre-
We’d love to have you participate. Send in just one (or two or three) photo of a native plant that you really like….just for the fun of it.
Fran

Ellen Zachos April 17, 2009, 9:56 pm

I nominate Amelanchier canadensis: http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/04/my-contest-entry.html

Ellen-
Thanks for the gorgeous close up as well as all of the wonderful information on Amelanchier canadensis. It is also one of my favorite native deciduous shrubs. Fran

wiseacre April 18, 2009, 5:29 pm

OK, Fran you talked me into it by using the F word.
Why not for fun. I made a choice. (and added a couple runners up)

http://wiseacre-gardens.com/wordpress/going-native-a-photo-contest/

Wiseacre,
Whoever thought a milkweed could look so luscious as your ‘up close’ photo?? All of your photos are magnifique!!.The judge/s are going to have a tough time…that much I know! Fran

Mr. McGregor's Daughter April 19, 2009, 10:53 am

Here’s my entry: http://mcgregorsdaughter.blogspot.com/2009/04/native-plants-in-landscape.html.
Native plants have a special place in my heart, as well as in my garden.

MMD-
I do love the natives playing against the traditional statue. Rhus typhina is one of my all time favorites. I had 5 on a hill side that were broken and uprooted from a major storm several years ago. I still miss their presence. And thanks for sharing your spring photos of natives re-birthing……mmmmm….what a sight…it makes my heart sing! Fran

patientgardener April 19, 2009, 2:41 pm

Here is my entry – small but perfectly formed
http://patientgardener.wordpress.com/2009/04/19/humble-daisy-my-native-plant-photo/

Patient Gardener-
Sometimes a simple, quiet photo can be extremely expressive…so it is with your ‘simple daisy’. Don’t under rate your photo. let’s see what the outcome is. And thanks for sharing the U.K. Native Plant site through the Natural History Museum. Fran

healingmagichands April 19, 2009, 9:12 pm

I looked and looked through my extensive collection of garden photos. My problem is that I use plants native to the Missouri Ozarks all over the place, since I am maintaining a Certified Wildlife Habitat here at The Havens, so I have way too many choices. I did finally narrow it down, and this is my entry.
http://healingmagichands.wordpress.com/2009/04/19/native-plants-in-landscape/

Healing Magic Hands,
Your collection of natives is a feast for the eyes. This is a good example of the wide variety that can be used in designing a garden. Thank you for adding in the photo of your rain garden. It might motivate alot of us to build one of our own. Good luck with winning! Fran

Meems April 19, 2009, 9:34 pm

Nan, thanks for the redirect. My post is up here.
Meems @ Hoe and Shovel

Meems-
No need to show flowering plants with the light streaming through on the 3 native specimens you’ve chosen.
Really beautiful! Anyone who wants to see the photo should go straight to Meems homepage:
http://www.hoeandshovel.blogspot.com Fran

Town Mouse April 19, 2009, 10:58 pm

What a great idea! I’m totally wiped out after 387 visitors to my garden for Going Native Garden Tour, but here’s my post, just could not resist:

http://tmousecmouse.blogspot.com/2009/04/ggw-photo-contest-town-mouse.html

What can I say? Your Rhododendron marcophyllum beginning to bloom is beautiful as well as the story that is behind the photos. 387 Visitors??? That is awesome! And just think of all the gardeners who got turned onto natives because of the tour. Thanks T.M. Fran

Gail April 19, 2009, 11:13 pm

I shall be posting my entry this week some time! gail

Gail,
We’ll be looking for your entry. Get it in sooner rather than later because the deadline is before the end of the week! Fran

MacGardens April 20, 2009, 11:19 am

Nice idea! I’ve added a post on my site. Not sure I fully endorse the rapid approach to Native Plants. It would be a pretty blah world if we could only plant what was already on our property. Invasive species I understand, but I’m all for people finding unusual plants under a rock in Tibet and sharing those exotics with the rest of us.

MacGardens-
Thanks for participating. Love your close up of Sanguinaria canadiensis as well as the grouping of them. For me, they are one of the sweet, sweet harbingers of spring. Understand your trepidation about what seems to be the rapidity of native plants on the landscape. But in truth, if everyone used 20-30% natives on their properties, I don’t think you and I would even be having this discussion. Fran

Gloria April 20, 2009, 2:55 pm

Help! I can not decide. Please pick one for me…
http://pollinators-welcome.blogspot.com/2009/04/wild-flower-in-garden.html#links

Gloria-
Fantastic photos but sorry, you have to decide which ones to pick. I don’t know if you saw our FINAL REVISION post this morning but we are now allowing up to 3 photos per person to be entered for this month’s contest!! Fran

ChrisCandJonJ April 20, 2009, 5:39 pm

Gonna give this a try.I’ve added a post to our gardening blog.Great idea for a contest,I must say.

Chris-
Thanks so much the photo of Tillandisa simulata with all of the background information as well. A fantastic story about a plant that we rarely see up North. Fran

gail April 21, 2009, 1:04 am

Here’s my entry…It’s the first photo in the post! Thanks for hosting this fun party…gail

http://clayandlimestone.blogspot.com/2009/04/golden-wildflowerpart-one.html

Gail-
Your photo of Senecio aureus set in a woodland with that turquoise container with your ancient point and shoot camera is divine…hmmm…wish I could just relax on a comfortable bench in that sitting with some hot tea and a good book! Fran

Jean April 21, 2009, 1:36 pm

Hi folks,
Such an interesting idea for a contest. I love native plants but have difficulty procuring them where I live. But I recently visited a garden that had plenty of them so I’ve blogged about that. I’m entering the first three photos in the blog. Can’t wait to see everyone’s entries!
Jean
http://diggrowcompostblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/native-plants-at-briarwood.html

Jean-
Thanks for turning us onto Briarwood. Stink bush, ferns, irises, mountain laurels…whew…great variety AND beautiful photos. And yes, I know…it’s the first three photos that you are entering into the contest. good luck! fran

Nicole April 21, 2009, 4:47 pm

This is bound to be a fun and informative contest.
My entry is at
http://caribbeangarden.blogspot.com/2009/04/picture-this-eight-foot-agave.html

Nicole-
Am always amazed at tropical natives. Thanks for your photo of a native agave. Good luck!! Fran

Country Mouse April 21, 2009, 6:55 pm

My garden is emerging from the wilderness – next year maybe a bit more will have revealed itself. Meanwhile, I enjoyed these lovely Bee’s Bliss salvia blooms one morning this spring, and snapped a few pics… One of them is here:
http://tmousecmouse.blogspot.com/2009/04/ggw-photo-competition-better-late-than.html

Can’t wait to browse all the other entries!

Country Mouse-
You certainly captured the light beautifully on your Bee Bliss Salvia…..I don’t know about your garden emerging…but the photo is breathtaking. Fran

ESP April 21, 2009, 9:40 pm

Hi NSS.
Here is my entry, sorry it was a little late. I did not see this was being run until tonight. Great idea, I hope there will be a lot more!

ESP.
http://east-side-patch.livejournal.com/20032.html

Philip-
I love Mexican Feather Grass. Great photo! Fran

Diane McCarthy April 21, 2009, 10:47 pm

Here’s my entry – I’m glad you extended the deadline!
http://www.bintgoddess.com/2009/04/april-psyche-its-actually-flashback-to.html

Diane-
You’re in. The photo of your sky blue aster is terrific! fran

Gloria April 22, 2009, 10:49 am

Thanks for solving the dilemma. I don’t think I have many really great pictures but there are many native plants of merit in the garden. Now all three plants can be entered and discussed.
The last was only added to show the color of the berry. The picture was a bit blurry.
Thank you.

Gloria-
No problem. You’re in. Am glad we we able to make it easier for you to decide which photos to enter. Good luck! Fran

lostlandscape (James) April 22, 2009, 9:59 pm

It’s turning into a great gallery of gardens gone native! It’s been fun following the links. Here are a few more contributions:
http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/04/22/picture-this-photo-contest/

James-
Thanks for participating in our wild romp! The contrast between the first and second photos of Sysrinchium bellum is wonderful. Your choice of plant material in tandem with it is perfect, full of color and texture: and once again, it serves as a great reminder about how effective mixing veggies with perennials can be. Good luck! Fran

Pam/Digging April 23, 2009, 6:09 pm

I have two photos to submit: http://www.penick.net/digging/?p=2624. I spent an enjoyable half hour last night admiring the photos and plants others sent in. A native-plant theme for your first photo contest is a fun way to celebrate the week of Earth Day!

Pam-
As usual, stunning photos. I love that you used Echinacea purpurea along with 6 Texas natives. Am glad you’ve joined in the fun! Fran