May: What is in your garden?
Welcome to the fifth month of the 12in12 Challenge! Due to some real life delays, this will open at May 5th and will close at 12 AM EST, May 31st. Late entries can still collect the participation badge at any point, but will not be entered into the list of submissions. We may open a section of late entries at a later date.
“A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.” — Gertrude Jekyll, British Horticulturist
What to expect when competing
May Entry Information
What is the Challenge?
The challenge is a month-long exploration of gardens in your world.What kind of article can it be?
There are no limits to the word count or article type for this submission. This includes prose, generic article templates, artwork, etc.How long is the challenge
The challenge runs from the fifth to the last day of the monthHow to submit
Submit your article below in the comments and I'll make sure to post it onto the participation list. Only articles in the participation list will be considered for the coveted win of May!
The Judges
Articles and art pieces will be judged by myself (Kiyomo) and the Judge of the month. In this case, the month of May will have the wonderful and creative George Sanders. Together we'll go through the entries and and come up with our short list, once that's complete we'll have it posted by the 10th of June, and the actual winner will be announced by the 15th of June. The winning article submitted for this month's challenge will have the option (if they wish so) to be featured in George Sanders' article review page. You can check it here: Lavani's Reading List
The Badge
We have two badges for you, both have been designed by our very own September Judge and Badge Creator extraordinaire, CoolG.
Prompts
Write or create any piece to do with gardens in your world. Share the textures and smells. Get down in the dirt. Here are some examples to inspire you!
Prompt 1: Gardening as Pleasure
Example
Lavani dug her fingers into the ground around the sage. She coaxed the plants to wake and move over. "Good morning, my friends. We have a little trip to make today."
What do your characters enjoy about the garden? Share what kind of tasks they do and how they feel. Read More...
Prompt 2: Gardening with Abandon
Example
"Chrysanthemums are the flowers growing on the threshold between life and death. Use them in rituals bringing eternal youth and immortality, and negotiating the matters of one’s survival." As she was mourning the loss of her valued allies and dear friends, she read the passage over and over. "Mix the flowers with ginger and dragon’s blood." What could I use in place of ginger? She thought to herself.
What intense rituals or powers do your gardens grant? Is it an herb garden with special magic powers? Or a garden harboring unique or rare plants? Read more...
Prompt 3: Gardening's Many Lessons
Example
Ivy stepped away from the Larkspur. A sparkle of dew in the grass caught her eye. "Mom, I found a shamrock."
Eliza kept pulling weeds, "What will you wish for Acushla?"
"Perhaps to be a jack-of-trades like Yerik. Or a famous bard like Ranon!"
What conversations or lessons do your characters learn in the garden? Read more...
Prompt 4: Gardening as a Microcosm
Example
Grandma Nuray sat in the dirt of her garden, welcoming her company. The tomatoes had grown tall on wooden frames. Chives, oregano, and catnip were spaced along the base of the tomatoes. The tomato stalks displayed a mix of green, red, and purple fruit, soon ready to eat.
What is it like in your character's garden? Share the experience and add a twist at the end. Read more...
Sakur-pate