Lynn Ward from Gretna, La., submitted the photo selected for the cover of the 2010 Get It Growing Lawn and Garden Calendar. It features yarrow, an excellent drought-tolerant perennial that blooms in early to midsummer in a variety of colors.

News Release Distributed 01/04/10

Although the new year just arrived, Louisiana photographers only have until the end of the month (January) to submit photos for the LSU AgCenter’s 2011 Get It Growing Lawn and Garden Calendar.

The deadline for all submissions is Jan. 29. Those photos then will be reviewed for potential use in next year’s calendar.

"If you are a gardening enthusiast or if you just enjoy taking photos of Louisiana plants, flowers and gardens, you will want to send your photos for consideration for the LSU AgCenter’s 2011 Get It Growing Lawn and Garden Calendar,” said Elma Sue McCallum of the LSU AgCenter, who coordinates the project. “We are always pleased with the response we receive to our calendar call for entries.

“The calendar is an opportunity to highlight beautiful photos of Louisiana flowers, plants and lawns and gardens and to provide useful, educational information for those interested in becoming better gardeners,” she added.

Each annual edition of the Get It Growing calendar, which has been published since 2005, features about 40 garden or landscape photos as well as gardening tips, how-to information and other helpful material for gardening enthusiasts from well-known LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill.

Photos submitted for consideration can be of plants, flowers, garden scenes or other items that may be of interest to gardeners, according to McCallum, who said submissions will be evaluated by LSU AgCenter faculty members. Photographers whose work is selected for use will be recognized in the printed calendar.

“The Get It Growing calendar is a Louisiana gardener’s best friend, providing inspiration and information on what to do to have a beautiful lawn and garden. In addition to the photos and tips, the calendar also includes information about climate zones or growing zones in our state.” McCallum said.

In addition to seeking photos for the 2011 issue, the 2010 Get It Growing calendar currently is on sale. This year’s calendar can be ordered online at www.LSUAgCenter.com/GetItGrowingCalendar. Information about submitting photos for the 2011 calendar also can be found on that site.

A dozen of the photos selected for the 2011 calendar will be featured as full-page, full-bleed, four-color images for each monthly page in the calendar, and one will be used on the cover, McCallum said. The rest will be used throughout the calendar.

Photographers whose work is chosen for the monthly pages will receive 10 copies of the published calendar, and their names will be included with their photos in the calendar, she said. Other photographers will be listed as contributors and will receive two copies of the published calendar.

Submissions for the calendar must be digital images on CD (at least 1 megapixel resolution for smaller calendar images and preferably 6 megapixels or greater for the larger, monthly calendar images) with the photographer’s name, address, telephone number and e-mail address attached, McCallum said. All images must be the original work of the photographer submitting the image and must be accompanied by a signed entry form/photo release.

The entry form for submitting photos and other information on the contest can be found by visiting www.LSUAgCenter.com/GetItGrowingCalendar and clicking the 2011 Calendar Call for Entries link at the lower left corner of that page. Entry information also can be obtained by calling McCallum at 225-578-2462 or by e-mailing her at emccallum@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Entries and entry forms must be mailed to Elma Sue McCallum, LSU AgCenter Communications, P.O. Box 25203, Baton Rouge, LA 70894.

The calendar is part of an overall Get It Growing educational effort by the LSU AgCenter that is designed to help people across Louisiana enjoy their lawns and gardens. Proceeds from sales of the calendar help support horticultural research and educational efforts of the LSU AgCenter, as well as scholarships for horticulture students.

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Contact: Elma Sue McCallum
Editor: Tom Merrill