Mounts Botanical Garden Reveals 2023 Photo Contest Winners

By Oliver Peterson

3 minute 07/12/2023

Best in Show: Felix Castro, Florida Silver Palm

Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden, Mounts Botanical Garden 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.”

1st Place, Animal Life: Felix Castro, Woodpecker — First Place, Animal Life: Felix Castro, WoodpeckerMounts Botanical Garden

Mounts Botanical Garden Photo Contest Winners

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

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

Karen Katonah of Boca Raton picked-up First Place for Garden Sculptures for her picture of the new “giraffe” at Mounts made from recycled oil drums.

First Place, Garden Sculpture: Karen KatonahMounts Botanical Garden

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

This year’s Second 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.

First Place, Insect Close-up: Emily LaurentMounts Botanical Garden

Third 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.

First Place winners in all five categories received a one-year membership to Mounts Botanical Garden, and Second and Third Place winners received gift certificates to the Mounts Gift Shop and Nursery.