It’s time to grab your camera and head to the old crocus patch.
Manitoba’s provincial flower is about to have its moment in the sun and if you capture them in all their glory, you may wind up sharing in $500 in prize money, to be awarded at the Arden Crocus Festival on May 7.
There are four categories:
- A single crocus flower;
- Portraits of crocus clusters (three or more flowers);
- Portraits of crocus in its natural prairie habitat; and
- Creative crocus portraits that don’t fit the other classes.
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There are separate youth and adult competitions, and 16 prizes in total.
To enter you can email electronic files to [email protected], and prints can be dropped off at the RM of Glenella-Lansdowne office in Arden or at Photo Central in Winnipeg. They can be mailed to: Crocus Photo Contest, P.O. Box 141, Arden, Man. R0J 0B0. There is no cost to enter.
Photos must be taken any time in April and at any location in Manitoba. Entries will be printed by Winnipeg Photo Central, a contest sponsor, and will be judged by a jury and displayed at the Arden Crocus Festival. There the attendees will get to vote for their favourite adult and youth entry, for the People’s Choice award. Those two photos will be reprinted in the Manitoba Co-operator, which sponsors the award, as well as earning a cash prize.
Crocus festival visitors can take in a pancake breakfast and other family-oriented activities. It ends with a self-serve supper and local entertainment. Photo contest winners are announced after supper.
Normal full-bloom stage is about a week on either side of April 15, and the first buds are expected very soon.
Photographers focus on open, full blooms. If you can find them, crocus buds also can make a captivating photo.
Prairie crocus can be found at many scattered, unmarked patches in Manitoba. The fragile, mauve-coloured wildflower prefers sandy, sunny and undisturbed native grassland.
