I hope this month sees you well wherever you are in the world! Welcome to the April challenge - it's up to YOU guys to make it awesome, so don't forget to go comment on at LEAST three other gardener's posts - it may just make their day!

Whilst @riverflows is on the road, the #gardenjournal challenge is scheduled to remind everyone on the 1st of each month for the foreseeable future. If you know someone new to Hive that might be interested, tag them below!

@owasco and @minismallholding will be on hand to do the wrap up posts or if I'm in one spot with wifi access and a laptop, I'll be chipping in as well. If this is the case, I'll still be awarding prizes! However, this is a month to month game - sometimes we might not be able to do the wrap up and prizes, so please be patient! We hope writing the post and getting some great upvotes and engagement from Hive Gardeners will be enough incentive for you.

The Challenge

Write a #gardenjournal post! This could be:

• Detailing what's happening in your garden, from successes to failures
• Writing about a friend's garden
• Writing about a visit to a botanical garden or nursery
• Writing about your favourite plant

The Guidelines

• You MUST put a link to your post below or I won't include it.
• Please do NOT share ten photos of the SAME plant! Be selective.
• 300 words minimum - this is not a photo challenge.
• Comment on other posts in the community
• Use #gardenjournal as your first tag and post in the community.

The Prizes

Prize Pool

Passionate Gardener Prize: 2 Hive

Awarded to someone who is clearly passionate about whatever style of gardening they choose. You could be posting about flowers or cactus, bonsai or vegetables - but your enthusiasm shines through the content you create and your engagement with community.

Awesome Presentation/Photos Prize: 2 Hive

Just a well presented garden post - fab formatting, beautiful photos, thoughtful post - the kind of post that makes us want to go and tidy our garden!

...And the new category is...

THE PREPPERS PRIZE 2 HIVE

This prize was conceived by @owasco who believes that food security starts in our backgardens. What do you do to be independent from supermarkets and big growers? What do you grow 'just in case' we have a food shortage, or even a medicine shortage? What do you grow that keeps you out of the supermarkets? And if you haven't got this far yet - what do you TRY to do, or what dreams do you have of 'preparing' for self sufficiency?

If you'd like to sponsor a winner, please get in touch!

Tagging #gardenjournal members as a reminder! Please let me know if you'd like to be added or removed from this list.

^{@plantstoplanks @jude9 @sofs-su @nikv @owasco @umirais @buckaroobaby @farm-mom @thebigsweed @polesinns @andrastia @multifacetas @amygoodrich @jenthoughts @fanyokami @isdarmady @anafae @tanjakolader @yolithy24 @andrastia @minismallholding @goldenoakfarm @sanjeevm @nainaztengra @rem-steem @almi @leoplaw @denmarkguy @akiponn @dodovietnam @fermentedphil @galenkp @ifarmgirl @tomidiwirja @tengolengo
@ciadanmea @kennyroy @simplymike @dodovietnam @babeltrips @trangbaby @kaelci @shanibeer @proto26 @ifarmgirl @artemislives @edprivat @meesterboom @momogrow @antnn @luckylaica @blingit @traisto @fotostef @tydynrain @hindavi @steven-patrick @vibeof100monkeys @samstonehill @anttn @friendlymoose @jacksonizer @ciadanmea @tuocchu @gertu @artywink @dora381 @stortebeker @zakludick @maytom @juwell11 @chuch @maxdevalue @travoved @sunscape @alt3r @ninahaskin, @housecatharsia @promisedland @chidiadi65 @bigorna1 @actioncats @lifewithchel @aichel @hadrianwild @smithlabs}

Happy Gardening!