Contest Rules and Restrictions

These are the complete rules for the seventh annual Great Gardens Contest sponsored by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Botanic Garden of Western Pennsylvania. No purchase is necessary to enter.

How to Enter:

• On the entry form in the spaces provided, fill in your name, address, city, state, zip code and daytime phone number.
• Send us five to 10 photographs (4" by 6" only) of your garden. Include your name and address on the back of each photo. Sorry, we cannot return the photos. If you are entering on-line, photos can be e-mailed as jpeg images to gardencontest@post-gazette.com. Each image must include the entrant's name and address in the caption.
• In 120 words or less, describe to us why you think your garden is great. Consider factors such as how well you've used the available space, your plant selection, creative solutions for problem areas, your gardening experience and some of your possible goals for the garden. Include any other information you think is important for judges to know. Please include at the top of your essay which category, Small, Medium or Large, you are entering.
• Where To Send Your Contest Entry: Complete this form on-line or mail a paper entry form, photos and the 120-words-or-less description mentioned above in an envelope, with a first-class postage stamp affixed, to Great Gardens Contest, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 34 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Entries must be received by July 24, 2009. Entries may also be dropped off at the PG Contest Box located at 34 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. One entry per household per year.
• General Rules: To enter you must be 18 years of age or older and live in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Washington, or Westmoreland county. Only the homeowner or tenant may enter his garden in the contest. Employees of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette or Botanic Garden of Western Pennsylvania are disqualified from entering the contest, as are members of their immediate families. The judging panel is made up of local gardening experts, designers and garden writers. Void where prohibited by law.

All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. All entries become the exclusive property of the Post-Gazette and will not be returned. Post-Gazette will not be responsible for lost, late, damaged, postage due, misdirected or mutilated mail. Incomplete or illegible entries will be deemed null and void.

We will visit the semi-finalist gardens and then notify the top winners by August 28, 2009. Decisions are final on all matters relating to this contest. The odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible and accurate entries received. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette may publish the name, photographs and any information provided with entries, in print and on the Internet, including any advertising and promotion.

Winners must sign a statement that they have fully complied with the rules and terms outlined. Acceptance of prize offered constitutes permission to use winner's name and likeness for commercial purposes without further notice and compensation, unless prohibited by law. Any specific contest rules and/or addendum may be picked up at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, at its discretion, may add additional rules, so long as the rule change is published in the Post-Gazette and is not implemented until the day following the change.

Entrants acknowledge and agree that they have entered the contest of their own free will, that the full rules and details of the contest have been made available to them in writing and they, therefore, understand and agree that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette or its agents, affiliates, sponsors, representatives or employees do not have any liability with respect to the contestants' participation in the contest or winning a prize and are not liable for any damages of our acceptance and use of the prize. By entering this contest, participants agree to be bound by these rules and the decision of the sponsoring newspaper, which are binding in all respects.

Prizes: Six winners will each receive a one-year membership to the Botanic Garden of Western Pennsylvania and two tickets per winner to next year's Botanic Garden's annual Garden Tour. Three first-place winners, one in each category, will each receive nursery gift certificates. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reserves the right to substitute prizes at its sole discretion.