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CATEGORIES
This year's contest features over 30 categories across 5 disciplines. To learn more about each category and entry requirements, click the headers below.
Writing • Photography • Speaking and Broadcast • Digitial Media • Publisher/Producer
Our writing category invites submissions across both consumer-facing and trade publications regardless of the size of the publication. We encourage entries that showcase the best of horticultural writing in magazines and newspapers as single articles, or as a series or ongoing column of articles, including online blogs. We invite submissions in the marketing category, such as catalogs or brochures, marketing newsletters, and calendars (judged for the content, not the photography). We also recognize the dedication required for publishing a book for general fiction and non-fiction readership, as well as a technical/reference books.
| Categories | What to Submit | Judged For | Who May Enter | Who Gets Award | Note |
| Magazine Column (Consumer/Trade) | 3 PDF/links to articles | Accuracy, Content, Consistency of Style | Writer/Publisher | Writer | |
| Magazine Article (Consumer/Trade) | 1 PDF/link to article | Accuracy, Content, Style | Writer/Publisher | Writer | |
| Marketing/Catalog/Brochure | 1 PDF/link to article | Accuracy, Content, Style | Writer/Publisher | Writer | Note: This is writing done to specifically market a garden product or service. |
| Newspaper Column | 3 PDF/links to articles | Accuracy, Content, Consistency of Style | Writer/Publisher | Writer | |
| Newspaper Article | 1 PDF/link to article | Accuracy, Content, Style | Writer/Publisher | Writer | |
| Book (General Readership) | 2 hard copies, mailed, or ebook link | Accuracy, Content, Style | Writer/Publisher | Writer | |
| Book (Technical/Reference) | 2 hard copies, mailed, or ebook link | Accuracy, Content, Style | Writer/Publisher | Writer | |
| Blog | 3 PDF/links to articles | Accuracy, Content, Consistency of Style | Writer/Publisher | Writer | |
| Marketing/Club Newsletter | 1 PDF/link to article | Accuracy, Content, Style | Writer/Publisher | Writer | Note: This is for a printed, or emailed marketing or informational club newsletter |
| Calendar | 2 hard copies, mailed | Accuracy, Content, Style | Writer/Publisher | Writer |
Our photography category invites submissions across both consumer-facing and trade publications regardless of the size of the publication. We encourage entries that showcase the best of horticultural photography in blogs, books, calendars, magazines, marketing materials, newsletters, newspapers, and portfolios
| Categories | What to Submit | Judged For | Who May Enter | Who Gets Award | Note |
| Magazine (Consumer/Trade) | 1 PDF/link to article | Technique, Composition, and Creativity | Photographer/Publisher | Photographer | |
| Newspaper | 1 PDF/link to article | Technique, Composition, and Creativity | Photographer/Publisher | Photographer | |
| Book (General Readership) | 2 hard copies, mailed, or ebook link | Technique, Composition, and Creativity | Photographer/Publisher | Photographer | |
| Book (Technical/Reference) | 2 hard copies, mailed, or ebook link | Technique, Composition, and Creativity | Photographer/Publisher | Photographer | |
| Marketing, Catalog, or Brochure | 1 PDF/link to article | Technique, Composition, and Creativity | Photographer/Publisher | Photographer | |
| Calendar | 2 hard copies, mailed | Technique, Composition, and Creativity | Photographer/Publisher | Photographer | |
| Cover (Book/Magazine) | 1 PDF/link to article | Technique, Composition, and Creativity | Photographer/Publisher | Photographer | |
| Portfolio | 10 images | Technique, Composition, and Creativity | Photographer/Publisher | Photographer | Note: Submit high resolution JPG [2000 pixels longest size, 2MB max size], to be judged as a collection. |
| Blog | 3 PDF/links to articles | Technique, Composition, Creativity, and Consistency | Photographer/Publisher | Photographer |
We have consolidated several of the speaking and broadcast awards and invite entries in live, television, and radio categories.
| Categories | What to Submit | Judged For | Who May Enter | Who Gets Award | Note |
| Live Presentation | 1 link to program | Accuracy, Content, Style | Speaker | Speaker | Note: Live recording required; zoom OK. Speaker must be actually visible in recording. |
| Radio Feature / Special Project | 1 link to program | Accuracy, Content, Production Value/Style | Copyright Owner | Copyright Owner | |
| Radio Series (Overall) | 3 program links | Accuracy, Content, Production Value/Style | Copyright Owner | Copyright Owner | |
| Television Feature | 1 link to program | Accuracy, Content, Production Value/Style | Copyright Owner | Copyright Owner | |
| Television Series (Overall) | 3 program links | Accuracy, Content, Production Value/Style | Copyright Owner | Copyright Owner |
We are pleased to accept entries into the social media, website, video, podcasts, and special digital projects.
| Categories | What to Submit | Judged For | Who May Enter | Who Gets Award | Note |
| Social Media | 3 to 5 links to posts | Accuracy, Content, Style, True to Platform | Copyright Owner | Copyright Owner | |
| Website (Personal/Trade) | 1 link to website | Accuracy, Content, Style | Site Owner | Site Owner | |
| Video (YouTube, Vimeo) | 1 link to video | Accuracy, Content, Style | Copyright Owner | Copyright Owner | |
| Special Projects (Course, App, etc) | 1 link to project | Accuracy, Content, Style | Copyright Owner | Copyright Owner | Note: Examples include podcast episode, live stream, Twitter chat, distance learning, garden app, garden games, etc. |
| Podcast Series (Overall) | 3 program links | Accuracy, Content, Production Value/Style | Copyright Owner | Copyright Owner | |
| Podcast Episode | 1 link to program | Accuracy, Content, Production Value/Style | Copyright Owner | Copyright Owner |
PUBLISHER
For publishers, producers, and packagers only. Must be consumer-oriented.
TR
| Categories | What to Submit | Judged For | Who May Enter | Who Gets Award | Note |
| Article in Newspaper or Magazine for Consumer or Trade | 1 PDF/link to article | Accuracy, Content, Style | Publisher | Publisher | Note: This is judged for the production value of a newspaper or magazine garden article/ feature/ page/ section in a consumer or trade magazine |
| Column or Series in Newspaper or Magazine for Consumer or Trade | 3 PDF/links to articles | Accuracy, Content, Style | Publisher | Publisher | Note: This is judged for the production value of a newspaper or magazine series in a consumer or trade magazine |
| Book (General Readership) | 2 hard copies, mailed | Accuracy, Content, Style | Publisher | Publisher | |
| Book (Technical/Reference) | 2 hard copies, mailed | Accuracy, Content, Style | Publisher | Publisher | |
| Catalog, Newsletter, or Brochure | 1 PDF/link to article | Accuracy, Content, Style | Publisher | Publisher | |
| Calendar | 2 hard copies, mailed | Accuracy, Content, Style | Publisher | Publisher | |
| Broadcast Radio/Podcast Production | 3 program links | Accuracy, Content, Production Value/Style | Publisher/ Producer | Publisher/ Producer | |
| TV Program Feature or Series | 1 to 3 program links | Accuracy, Content, Production Value/Style | Publisher/ Producer | Publisher/ Producer | |
| Magazine for Consumer or Trade | 1 PDF/link to article | Accuracy, Content, Style | Publisher | Publisher | Note: This is judged for the production value of a magazine for a consumer (such as general or plant society member), or a trade audience. |
* Site or copyright owners who are individuals pay individual entry fees. Site or copyright owners who are companies pay publisher's entry fee.
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