Congratulations to our Helena’s Big Tree Contest winner of 2023!

For information on last years contest, see below. We hope to repeat this contest, with a different tree species, in 2024!

To encourage appreciation of our big mature trees, we are launching a friendly and fun competition to find a Maple tree in Helena, MT with the biggest circumference! The winner can take home a $250 gift certificate to Gardenwerks- enough to purchase your very own tree!

Eligibility Rules:

1. Tree must be in Helena Montana (city limits)

2. Tree must be a Maple species! This includes Box Elders.

3. You must be a Growing Friends Member

4. Tree circumference must be measured at 4.5 feet (roughly chest height) from the ground.

How do you become a member? Our members, over 250 of them, support us by contributing an annual donation.    Our organization is run solely by these donations and our all-volunteer board of directors.  You can sign up to become a member and provide a donation on our website or mail $20 or more to Growing Friends of Helena, PO Box 709, Helena, MT 59624,  

Competition rules:

1. Take a picture of your tree and tell us the total circumference of the tree. Send this picture and total circumference to [email protected]

2. Include your name and contact information

3. Tell us the location of the tree

4. If possible, identify the species of the Maple (Box elder, Norway, Silver, etc)

5. Deadline: September 30th

6. Show up at our annual members meeting on October 2nd @lewisandclarklibrary from 6-8 pm.

We will announce the winner there! We will also have snacks and a tree planting demonstration outside of the library.