Orion_metalhead
Masterpiece
With this in mind, and since it seems everyone likes a celtis from seed contest, let me propose a type of contest/scoring system. Maybe this has been proposed before, but I havent seen it....
Scored Progression - Celtis Genus:
General Purpose
Instead of independent progression threads with no competitive underpinning, a "Scored Progression" aims to create equal competition amongst all contestants with no start or end limitation/date. Instead, by scoring an entrant's progress annually, a matrix can be generated to show a "Leaderboard" by age of the progression. This allows new entries to the scored progression at any time, based on set starting criteria and everyone's progress can be scored annually and ranked against previous entries from prior years. It is both a personal contest to push oneself for the best annual scoring as well as a group contest for the most points long term.
Starting Criteria:
- Trees must be within the Celtis Genus and grown / started from seed.
- Each tree must have it's own progression thread by the end of year one.
- You need to share all of your information - including where you sourced your seeds, and all the steps you used to get them to germinate, as well as post germination care.
- Since I assume people will be growing more than one tree, it is ok if early photos show numerous trees in early development (i.e. flats full of seedlings).
- Trees are to be numbered as follows: USERNAME - TAXONOMICAL NAME - # (with no tree of the same Taxonomical name having the same number)
- At the minimum you need to post one photo per year showing general progress in your progression thread however photos of work throughout the seasons is best, to show a true progression and aid everyone in determining "best practices".
- Each year, a dedicated thread by the contest moderator will be opened for a final annual photo submission of each tree's progress.
- Ex: "Year 1 - Celtis Scored Progressions", "Year 2 - Celtis Scored Progressions", Etc... ad infinitum....
- Each tree entry each year will be scored by all other contestants including new trees submitted in the appropriate year threads. Each year, the scores will be updated to reflect both new entries and previous entries and where each tree scores.
Scoring:
Thinking of a scale of 1 - 10 for categories such as Root Structure, Nebari, Trunk, Health, Style, Features, Pot, Display, etc... Would love to get other's input on categories.
Scores would be added up and then averaged for a final score. Each year, a tree's previous total would be ADDED to that year's average for a new total and ranking.
Example: Year 1: A tree may get a score of:
| ENTRY | ROOTS | NEBARI | TRUNK | HEALTH | PROGRESS | POT | DISPLAY | ANNUAL FINAL SCORE |
| Orion's Celtis Occidentalis #1 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5.42 |
Year 2:
| ENTRY | ROOTS | NEBARI | TRUNK | HEALTH | PROGRESS | POT | DISPLAY | ANNUAL FINAL SCORE | PREVIOUS FINAL SCORE | FINAL SCORE |
| Orion's Celtis Occidentalis #1 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 6.14 | 5.42 | 11.56 |
And so, this would go on year after year. With each tree entered or added based on the age of the tree and new entries in each age/year judged and placed in the ranking.
Awards:
We can still award based on, for instance, best overall tree Year 5, 10, 20 or whatever as well, but it also gives incentive to keep looking at and working with enthusiasm knowing each year, your trees could move up in the overall rankings or be bested for top spots etc
