2014 Garden Photo Contest Winners

Thousands of professional and amateur photographers entered Horticulture’s 2014 Garden Photo Contest. The final winners in each category were selected by Rob Cardillo, a leading garden photographer. His comments appear alongside each winning picture. Thank you to all who participated in this competition.

↓GRAND PRIZE
“Humming Above My Head”
Derek Galon, British Columbia, Canada
The unusual perspective and the sensuously blurred wings make for an unforgettable view of a hummingbird.

BEAUTY IN THE DETAILS
↓FIRST
“Poppy”
Jun Evans, Christchurch, New Zealand
The sidelight reveals the hairy-fisted texture of these poppy buds in this dynamically structured photo. The just-bursting petals put it over the top.

↓SECOND
“Cape Sun Dew”
Seny Norasingh, North Carolina, USA
Strong backlighting, expressive gestures and the echoing shapes in this sundew closeup are all marvelous.

↓THIRD
“Splash of Blue”
Adelino A. Tabangin, Baguio City, Phillipines
The graceful stance of this just-opened allium is well captured with precise focus and a wide-open lens.

CITY GARDENS
↓FIRST
“Entwined Arms”
Piotr Belcyr, Szczecin, Poland
Fog-enshrouded winter trees are always an evocative subject. The addition of a human figure lends scale and interest.

↓SECOND
“Daisies in Chicago”
Mary Durden, Florida, USA
Good camera control and the careful placement of the foreground flowers yield a striking contrast between meadow and skyline.

↓THIRD
“Garden Getaway on the Hudson River”
Rebekah Ford, New Jersey, USA
The cross-shaped juxtaposition of iris and bridge make for a strong composition.

GARDENS OF THE SOUTH
↓FIRST
“Botanical Garden”
Warrena J. Barnerd, Kentucky, USA
Classically curved, this river of daylilies sweeps you to a pleasant destination.

↓SECOND
“A Resting Place”
Lana Gramlich, Louisiana, USA
The delightful play of light on vine-embraced walls brings a welcoming walkway to life.

↓THIRD
“Tulip Garden”
Albert Pasquarelli, Pennsylvania, USA
Out-of-focus water drops add motion and excitement to this sun-filled spring landscape.

NATURE'S BOUNTY
↓FIRST
“Afternoon Acerage”
Stephanie Ross, British Columbia, Canada
This fully arched rainbow contrasts beautifully against the subdued winter landscape.

↓SECOND
“Street in the Garden”
Kusnadi, West Java, Indonesia
Wonderful contrasting shapes, strong leading lines and exquisite lighting make this image a winner.

↓THIRD
“Poppies Surround”
Paul Brewer, Dorset, England
Classically framed and perfectly timed, this view of sun-worshiping poppies is engaging.

SMALL SPACE GARDENS
↓FIRST
“Transformed Drive”
Paul Holliday, Manchester, England
The telephoto view dramatically compresses and exaggerates this flower-jammed front yard.

↓SECOND
“Wheelbarrow’s Empire”
Diana Zoll, Leipzig, Germany The out-of-focus foreground, great side lighting and partially hidden subject add a lot of interest to this casual landscape.

↓THIRD
“Kitchen Potager”
Nadine Pearson, Washington, USA
The brightly lit background provides just the right amount of relief to this perfect rendering of a perfect garden.

THE GARDEN LANDSCAPE
↓FIRST
“Stars on Earth and Sky”
Gabor Takacs, Hungary
A well-executed and startling view of the cosmos anchored by a field of flowers.

↓SECOND
“Like a Stained Glass”
Derek Galon, British Columbia, Canada
Rich colors and strong composition elevate this photo of an often cliché subject.

↓THIRD
“Chinese Garden”
Kirsten Quist, Alberta, Canada
The partially hidden lanterns invoke mystery and depth to an intriguing light-filled landscape.

WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
↓FIRST
“The Unknown Insect”
Chris Minihane, Virginia, USA
The perfect balance of front and back lighting illuminate an otherworldly translucent katydid.

↓SECOND
“Trying Hard”
Alland Dharmawan, East Java, Indonesia
As the ant hangs by a thread (or in this case an antenna), its determination is palpable. The razor-sharp focus of the body and the slight blur of the appendages add to the drama.