ZenGarden Contest Legacy
ZenGarden Contest
Legacy
Celebrating our ZenGarden history
In Fall of 2020, ZenGarden.club merged with Voice.club. Below is a brief history:
ZenGarden was first created in October of 2018, “for the love of gardens”. The original site included poetry, haiku, art and photography related to gardens or flowers. In January of 2019 we launched our first flash fiction writing contest, with four flower prompts consisting of a picture and an original haiku. Most of the haiku prompts were submitted by our members.
Our contests became immensely popular and attracted talented writers from all over the world! Now ZenGarden is part of Voice.club, which continues the exciting tradition of flash fiction contests.
In January of 2020, we introduced our newest contest series, “Fleur”. For the first time, we combined public voting with the selections of independent judges, providing two ways to win.
Fleur 2020-07
Woodbine – a love that clings
A heavenly smell –
Till death do us part
(“Honeysuckle”)
Fleur 2020-06
lavender flowers
reach above the picket fence –
Grandma is watching
(“Lavender”)
Fleur 2020-05
Dewdrop suspended
On azalea petal –
The wren sings softly.
(“Azalea”)
Fleur 2020-04
the apple tree
deposits blossoms
like secret letters
along
the
path
(“Apple Tree”) – cherita
Fleur 2020-03
Modest and sweet –
I look for you in quiet corners
Violet.
(“Violet”)
Fleur 2020-02
Plum blossom in bloom,
Unexpected reunion –
Misty breaths linger.
(“Plum Blossom”)
Fleur 2020-01
Snow-covered crocus
Peeks out in the dead of night –
He dashes, smiling.
(“Crocus”)
In the summer of 2019, we introduced a new contest series entitled “Photo Flora”. The contests in this series were all based on a single picture. With these contests, we introduced public voting instead of winners being selected by qualified judges.
Photo Flora 2019-03
“Garden Magic”
Photo Flora 2019-02
“Scary”
Photo Flora 2019-01
“Blue-White Stairs”
Our first contests of 2019 were entitled “Nutshell Narratives”. Each contest featured four flower haikus, and stories could be based on any of the four. The winners of these contests were all selected by highly qualified judges, and there was no public voting.
Nutshell Narratives 2019-04
Delicate white blooms,
Perfectly simple and pure.
Gardenia dreams.
(“Gardenia”)
Nutshell Narratives 2019-04
Promises woven
Into a sunflower wreath –
The sun bears witness..
(“Sunflower”)
Nutshell Narratives 2019-04
Faded crown of lilac
Years erode a lifetime
Wishing for lost youth.
(“Lilac”)
Nutshell Narratives 2019-04
How lovely you are
These few, brief, magical hours-
Daylily, don’t go!
(“Daylily”)
Nutshell Narratives 2019-03
Serendipity!
Wisteria drips from trees
Raining purple glory.
(“Wisteria”)
Nutshell Narratives 2019-03
Weeds or gifts of gold?
A place where two worlds meet –
Dandelion field.
(“Dandelions”)
Nutshell Narratives 2019-03
Love beyond borders,
Pure white against cold grey stone-
She gifts baby’s breath.
(“Baby’s Breath”)
Nutshell Narratives 2019-03
A colorful rose
With petals of any shade
To hide its true core.
(“Rose”)
Nutshell Narratives 2019-02
Delicate strength,
Brightening the world around you –
Tiny bluet.
(“Bluet”)
Nutshell Narratives 2019-02
Orchid corsage
Tossed aside, gathering dust –
Another Spring.
(“Orchid”)
Nutshell Narratives 2019-02
He strides in, whistling,
Carrying shamrocks in bloom –
Something is coming!
(“Shamrocks”)
Nutshell Narratives 2019-02
Heading one way,
Then turning around to see
Bright red tulips.
(“Tulips”)
Nutshell Narratives 2019-01
One ginger lily
Perfumes the entire garden.
Whispers in the dark…
(“Ginger Lily”)
Nutshell Narratives 2019-01
Snowstorm …
Just one bouquet of freesias,
To last until spring.
(“Freesias”)
Nutshell Narratives 2019-01
Double rainbow –
New parents plant rosemary,
Smiling through their tears.
(“Rosemary”)
Nutshell Narratives 2019-01
Red Amaryllis
Basking in the winter sun-
Someone is singing!
(“Amaryllis”)