Hi everyone!
A quick update to let you know that I have now purchased the two Murrumbung studio pots as prizes for second and third place. I selected the following pots.
The pot selected for second prize is this beauty (below) 20.5 x 6cm externally with a planting area 18 cm x 4.5cm. The volcanic glazed blue looks wonderful I reckon.
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The post selected for third prize is this rugged, dark brown number below. It is 13.5 x 5cm externally.
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Also noting again - Tracey from Murrumbung has agreed to do a commission - shohin-sized - for the winner. Tracey's generosity here is fantastic and I can't thank her enough. https://www.murrumbungstudioceramics.com.au
Also, can I re-enforce - the reason I decided to launch this competition was to give something back to a virtual community that has given me so much learning. I am not affiliated with any of the organisers of this forum and I thank them for allowing me to start such a competition.
In that context, please understand that this is a fun competition and I am learning too - indeed, I reckon many of the forests entered will be better than I can produce. To that end, the prizes will be awarded on a reasonably subjective nature. So please don't get too hung up on the process and indeed, the outcome. To help refresh memories - here's the rough criteria that I stated in my first post on this thread:
.............
"The judges (that’s me and a few of my alter egos. Oh, and I may co-opt Tracey and the help a couple of other Forum members). The judges (I) will be swayed by

:
• Imagination - a setting that you could walk through - assuming you could shrink yourself down to say 1cm. If I can picture myself sitting in or walking through a landscape …. happy times.
• There’s a preference for seedlings and/or small plants – rather than getting advanced stock and bring them together to form a mature scene from the get-go.
• On above, I am not going to be too anal … If you have trees that are a little older – sure, go nuts but I want the competition to be accessible to all and I want to show people that a well thought out planting of younger trees can look cool too.
• Entries close at end April 2020, this should enable people time to think, assemble trees and potentially do an initial pot through this summer and autumn.
• The initial entry does not have to be planted in one pot nor indeed, the finished landscape; just the set of trees that will be used but the plants must be brought together by the end of 2021. That date is a bit random, but I believe plants growing together create their own dynamic … so let’s get them together well before the end of the competition please.
• It’s OK of if have a forest on the go already and want to enter that, no drama.
Here’s the kicker; the twist in the forest tale (pardon the pun)
When it all winds up on June 30th, 2023 - a short story must be submitted with the final photos. The story will be in writing, accompanying the last photos. It may be a poem, perhaps a Haiku or a rhyme. It may be a few paragraphs; it may be quite a long tale. I don’t care how you make the gravy but the gravy is important. In this competition, your little story which will describe your forest … will be the gravy. Take five minutes to watch one of Australia’s great story tellers ….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FozoWgvh-m4
Don’t panic – the forest setting will be the primary criteria … the accompanying tale is just a bit of fun. It won’t decide the outcome but… if you fail to submit any a wee story at the end of the competition, the judge(s) may not be able to award a prize!"
Again - good luck everyone .... I am loving the enthusiasm and commitment this far. Brilliant.