Trees, that is.
This post is a heads up to my followers Dezra Despain and Rob Slaven and other Indiana photogs who may be reading my blog and/or this news release for the first time.
The Word on the Street:
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources Forestry division seeks submissions for the 2012 “Invasion of the Weird Trees,” its online publication that identifies the weirdest tree for each county.
The DNR updates this publication every four years, so the photo op is now! Search your archives or your favorite Hoosier treescape. Deadline for entries is April 30.
District foresters will narrow the field to the weirdest tree for each county and the publication should be available online in the fall.
Your submissions can be any species and size. The DNR only requires that they be weird.
The tree here is from my archives, but after viewing the pdf below, I think I’ll keep looking.
Past entries have included a species that swallowed a sign, two grown together like conjoined twins, a tree trunk twisted like a snail shell, one that resembles a giant octopus and trees with root systems that appear they might run away.
The current “Invasion” can be viewed at www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/files/fo-InvasionWeirdTrees_2008.pdf
At the end, the document issues the following WARNING:
We know there are more weird trees out there. We advise you to always take the following precautions:
1. Never go to the woods without a camera
2. Be sure to have plenty of film (or disc space and battery power if shooting digital)
DO NOT BE CAUGHT IN THE WOODS UNPREPARED!
How to submit: Send at least two non-returnable photographs to Sam Carman, DNR Division of Forestry, 402 W. Washington, Rm. W296, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Digital photos should be emailed to scarman@dnr.IN.gov. Along with the photos, be sure to include your name, address, phone number, and the specific location of the tree, including county.
Happy hunting. And when you find the perfect submission, remember, even weird freaks of nature need a hug!
Sheila T Illustrated© 
What a lovely tree!
Agreed. It is a bit unusual, but not really what one might classify as weird. Guess I will have to continue my search.
Wow, some of those trees from past entries are humorous! I have a tree photo of a giant wood spirit with eyes and mouth carved out of the shadows of the leaves. I also have another photo of a tree eating a fence. Nature can be freakish at times, in wonderful ways.
Yes, the captions for some of the entries were hilarious. Sounds like your photos would be excellent entries.