Mounts Botanical Garden Announces Winners of 16th Annual Photo Contest

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - July 7, 2023 - PRLog -- (West Palm Beach, FL – July 6, 2023) Mounts Botanical Garden, today announced the winners of its 16^th annual Photo Contest. Nonprofessional photographers were invited to enter pictures taken at Mounts in five competitive categories: Animal Life, Insect Close-up, Botanical Close-up, Garden Sculptures, and Scenic Landscape.

"With more than 150 inspiring submissions, this was truly one of our most competitive photo contests to date," said Mounts Botanical Garden's Curator-Director Rochelle Wolberg. "This year's winners beautifully captured the wonder of our inspiring tropical oasis."

Best in Show winner is Felix Castro from Pembroke Pines for his photo Florida Silver Palm, which also won 1^st Place in the category of Botanical Close-up. Castro also received 1^st Place for Animal Life with his picture of a woodpecker.

The Insect Close-up category was won by Emily Laurent of West Palm Beach for her photograph of a honey bee on a native Buttonsage.

Karen Katonah of Boca Raton picked-up 1^st Place for Garden Sculptures for her picture of the new "giraffe" at Mounts made from recycled oil drums.

Finally, Michelle Corbo of Saint Clair Shores, MI won 1st Place in the category of Scenic Landscape for her photo of the bridge over a dry stream bed in the Garden.

This year's 2^nd Place winners include Joseph Camosy of Palm Springs for both Insect Close-ups and Garden Sculptures, Victor DelCorror of West Palm Beach for Animal Life, Georgia McGuire of Riviera Beach for Botanical Close-up, and Jo Ricchiuti of Palm Beach for Scenic Landscape.

3^rd Place awards went to Felix Castro for Garden Sculptures, Karen Katonah for Insect Close-up, Carri Lager of Jupiter for Scenic Landscape, and Marissa Shulman of West Palm Beach for both Animal Life and Botanical Close-up.

Attached Jpegs:

1.   Best in Show & Botanical Close-up 1^st Place – Florida Silver Palm, by Felix Castro

2.   Animal Life 1^st Place – Woodpecker, by Felix Castro

3.   Garden Sculptures 1^st Place – Giraffe sculpture made from recycled oil drums, by Karen Katonah

4.   Insect Close-up 1^st Place – Honey bee on a native Buttonsage, by Emily Laurent

5.   Scenic Landscape 1^st Place – Bridge over a dry stream bed at Mounts, by Michelle Corbo

Available for Interview:

Rochelle Wolberg, Curator-Director

Mounts Botanical Garden

561.233.1730 / rwolberg@pbcgov.org

Media Contact:

Gary Schweikhart, PR-BS, Inc.

561.756.4298 / gary@pr-bs.net