Photo Contest

Topic: Most Ridiculous Mulch Volcano

About the Contest: The idea here is to raise the level of public tree awareness. I picked the volcano topic because it’s the biggest, nastiest tree problem out there. Mulch volcanoes are a bigger threat to the trees of suburbia than any insect, even the dreaded emerald ash borer! All are welcome to enter, whether you are an ordinary citizen with just the slightest interest in trees, or a green industry professional. You don’t need to be a skilled photographer either. We’re going to judge these photos on lots of different criteria. Photographic composition might be one of them. “Artiness.” But also anything that makes the photo interesting. Maybe the perps caught in the act. Maybe the root injuries or girdling roots depicted. Maybe something about the location, that it’s somewhere that you’d think they’d know better. Maybe just the sheer outrageousness of the volcanic mass. Some little detail that makes it humorous. Be creative… If you are a serious gardener or plant person, you know about the mulch volcano problem. If you don’t know, Google it. And marvel at the number of hits! And then read the articles I’ve posted on my website.

Here are the entries I received.  Look through them (clicking on the image gives a larger view) and note the number under your favorite photo.  The deadline to vote is Tuesday June 26, 2012.

1. Proud mulcher

2. First he cut the roots

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20. “I had to stop, take a pic, then I knocked on the door and told them the tree would be dead within a year. She said her husband did it, and mulch is good for trees…I just walked away.”

21. “I don’t know what to say, it looks soooooo unnatural!! Great grass though.”

22. The picture does no justice to this creation! I’m also sure you can get a better shot of it than me. Maybe get someone to stand next to it for reference. It looked to be nearly 3 ft. high at the trunk. Let me know how many people you know that have already taken a pic of this. I know I was caught by the owner when this was taken and by now these people must be wondering why their mulch job is so popular with photographers.

23. This is a picture of the great landscape that my neighbor has. The same company has been landscaping their yard for nearly 25 years and has been piling mulch ever since.

24. Even center city trees aren’t safe.

25. Perception is everything, isn’t it? I bet most customers who visit this Upper Perkiomen Valley shopping center think this looks neat and tidy.

26. I know your photo contest is looking for the largest mulch volcano, but I thought you’d like to see a photo I took that I think is a good example of some nice work. The attached photo was taken at the Bethel Center for the Arts, just outside the Woodstock museum.