Prompt Suggestions

Many of our Flash Fiction contests invite ZenGarden.club members to write very short stories – 350 words or less – based on a “flower prompt”.  This prompt is in the form of a traditional or free-form haiku.

We now invite any of our members to submit their own suggestions for prompts.  If we choose your prompt for one of our future contests, you will become one of our winners!  You will receive a life-time subscription to ZenGarden.club, and you’ll be listed as the prompt creator on the contest page. We will create a picture to match your prompt.  Just send us a three line prompt and if it’s selected, we’ll do the rest!

Below we are listing all the prompts that have been used in previous contests, so that you don’t repeat any of the flowers.  These may also serve as an inspiration for your own prompts!

 

Prompts used in previous contests: Scroll down to enter your own prompt!

Woodbine – a love that clings
A heavenly smell –
Till death do us part

(“Honeysuckle”)

lavender flowers
reach above the picket fence –
Grandma is watching

(“Lavender”)

Dewdrop suspended
On azalea petal –
The wren sings softly.

(“Azalea”)

 

the apple tree

deposits blossoms
like secret letters

along
the
path

(“Apple Tree”) – cherita

Modest and sweet –
I look for you in quiet corners
Violet.

(“Violet”)

 

Plum blossom in bloom,
Unexpected reunion –
Misty breaths linger.

(“Plum Blossom”)

Snow-covered crocus
Peeks out in the dead of night –
He dashes, smiling.

(“Crocus”)

Photo Flora 2019-03 – no haiku, just a picture:

(“Garden Magic”)

Photo Flora 2019-02 – no haiku, just a picture:

(“Scary”)

Photo Flora 2019-01 – no haiku, just a picture:

(“Blue-White Stairs”)

Delicate white blooms,
Perfectly simple and pure.
Gardenia dreams.

(“Gardenia”)

Promises woven
Into a sunflower wreath –
The sun bears witness..

 (“Sunflower”)

Faded crown of lilac
Years erode a lifetime
Wishing for lost youth.

(“Lilac”)

How lovely you are
These few, brief, magical hours-
Daylily, don’t go!

(“Daylily”)

Serendipity!
Wisteria drips from trees
Raining purple glory.

(“Wisteria”)

Weeds or gifts of gold?
A place where two worlds meet –
Dandelion field.

(“Dandelions”)

Love beyond borders,
Pure white against cold grey stone-
She gifts baby’s breath.

(“Baby’s Breath”)

A colorful rose
With petals of any shade
To hide its true core.

(“Rose”)

Delicate strength,
Brightening the world around you –
Tiny bluet.

(“Bluet”)

Orchid corsage
Tossed aside, gathering dust –
Another Spring.

(“Orchid”)

He strides in, whistling,
Carrying shamrocks in bloom –
Something is coming!

(“Shamrocks”)

Heading one way,
Then turning around to see
Bright red tulips.

(“Tulips”)

One ginger lily
Perfumes the entire garden.
Whispers in the dark…

(“Ginger Lily”)

Snowstorm …
Just one bouquet of freesias,
To last until spring.

(“Freesias”)

Double rainbow –
New parents plant rosemary,
Smiling through their tears.

(“Rosemary”)

Red Amaryllis
Basking in the winter sun-
Someone is singing!

(“Amaryllis”)

You may enter as many suggestions as you like, but each requires a new entry form.  Please do not enter more than one suggestion on the same form.

Here are the guidelines for our flower/haiku prompts:
  • Must include a specific flower, by its common name.  Examples: Rose, Lily, Hibiscus.  Don’t use botanical or Latin names, since most people won’t know these!
  • Must be three lines, with either 5-7-5 syllables or short-long-short syllables not to exceed 20 syllables total.
  • Must be family friendly
  • Can include punctuation and capitalization
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