The Dirt is already starting to get submissions for this year’s garden photo contest, so we might as well get the gazing ball rolling.

It is time for the third annual round of snapping and voting, kind of like a reality show with viewers choosing the winner.

Here’s the deal:

•You send in the single best picture from your garden to garden@jg.net. The photo should be a JPEG attachment.

•Include your name, what community you call home (or just include your address) and a phone number where you can be reached during the day. I promise I won’t call unless I have questions. Please put “garden photo” in the subject line.

•If you would like to tell a short story about how this bed came to be, why a particular plant is special or why you garden, you are welcome to do so.

•We will accept the first 100 entries, which are due no later than July 10, two weeks from today.

Because we are setting up the voting process a little differently this year, all of the entries will be posted at once – on Sunday, July 24. I’ll explain how to vote in that week’s column.

The photos that get the most votes from readers will be featured in an August issue of The Dirt column.

If all goes well, we’ll also do a veggie contest a little later in the season. In that one, you’ll need to have someone pose with your produce.

If your crop is coming in now, you can shoot it now, but please do not send in any zucchini shots until the flower contest is over.

… We all fall down

I was driving down Clinton Street on Tuesday afternoon and saw tree after tree that had been chopped off at the knees.

More victims of the emerald ash borer.

If you are dealing with the loss of a beloved tree and can offer tips to others on how to hide the stump until the grinder comes through, send in your tips and photos.

Please use “Ashes” in the subject line.