We had hundreds of stunning entries in this year’s contest! By entering their photos in our contest, these photographers are helping Wild Ones further its mission. Wild Ones uses contest images in Wild Ones publications, promotional materials, presentations and on the our websites so that others may be inspired to learn about native plants and natural landscaping.
We were proud to have the 2024 Photo Contest judged by the following volunteers:
- Sven Anderson – Art Professor specializing in digital imaging using both photographic and painted digital mediums.
- Jill Easton – Award winning freelance outdoor photographer and writer who specializes in images of bugs, bobcats, and pollinator plants.
- Sandi Ford – Professional Photographer and Native Plant Enthusiast.
- Nancy House – Artist and Photographer with a PhD in Visual Arts & Education.
- Janine Kharey – Artist and educator (BFA+) Master Naturalist, native plant nursery owner and habitat gardening specialist.
- Holly Latteman – Wild Ones National Board Director and Science & Conservation Manager: The Dawes Arboretum
- Jim Wolen – Retired social worker and native plant advocate.
Best in Show
Location: Mansfield, CT
In this Photo: Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) leaf
Photo Story: Walking through the woods on a snowless January morning, the pools that harbor salamanders and wood frog eggs in the spring and larvae in the summer are a different scene. The remains of last fall’s leaf-fall lie trapped in the ice, awaiting the spring that will bring the pool back to life.
Equipment: Canon R5 with 24-70 mm zoom lens.
Location: Baraboo, WI
In this Photo: Monarch Butterfly, Hoary Vervain
Photo Story: We were on our way to the Aldo Leopold Foundation when we stopped to admire a large, homogeneous field of Hoary Vervain. When I got my camera the Monarch flew into the picture.
Equipment: Nikon D850 with a 100mm lens.
Location: Appleton, WI
In this Photo: Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum), Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
Photo Story: This chipmunk enjoyed climbing my tall cup plants in search of seeds. Here they look like an explorer just arriving at the top of the mountain ready to collect a treasure. It was very entertaining to watch their acrobatics through the flowers. Cup plants support an amazing array of life – one stop shopping for food, water, and shelter for bees, butterflies, birds, and mammals.
Equipment: Nikon D850, 200-500 mm lens
Category: Events
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
In this Photo: Ratibidita pinnata and butterfly garden native plants
Photo Story: My niece on a butterfly walk at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. She may not be able to walk yet, but she can point out the butterflies floating by!
Equipment: Nikon 3300
Location: Dayton, OH
In this Photo: Hickory species (Carya spp.) and Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
Photo Story: Kari invited the Wild Ones Dayton Area Chapter to tour her 2+ acre property, earlier this year. Kari and her husband have been encouraging native plants to grow on their property for almost 20 years, some by planting, others by not mowing and letting woodland plants find their way. After walking the property, chapter members gathered in a circle to ask Kari questions about her native plant gardens. It was a wonderful way to kick off the summer garden tours.
Equipment: iPhone 13 Pro
Location: Utica, IL
In this Photo: Hardwoods and pines, natural woodlands shrubs to Northern Illinois.
Photo Story: The location is Starved Rock State Park, Utica, IL. It is an early morning hike in St. Louis Canyon to photograph the waterfall.
Equipment: Canon R5 with 24-70 mm lens and Mafrotto tripod
Category: Landscapes
Location: Rockford, IL
In this Photo: Minarda, Liatris, Baptisias
Photo Story: A Japanese garden is a place of peace and these native plants not only enhance this aesthetic, but remind us of the growth and change in the circle of life.
Equipment: iPhone
Location: Sussex, WI
In this Photo: Rudbeckia hirta, Rudbeckia subtomentosa, Monarda fistulosa, Penstemon digitalis, Elymus canadensis.
Photo Story: Originally, five acres of oak savanna unfortunately converted to agricultural land and then left for non-native invasive species. I endeavor to restore it to some semblance of its former glory. Now, three years into the project, we have made significant progress by removing most invasive and non-native plants, completing a controlled burn, planting native trees and shrubs, and sowing native seeds from a reputable source. Such a deeply humbling labor of love!
Equipment: iPhone
Location: Webster, MN
In this Photo: Purple Coneflower Narrow Leaf and Echinacea angustifolia.
Photo Story: Specimen planting of native wildflowers.
Equipment: iPhone
Category: Living Things
Location: Northborough, MA
In this Photo: Snowberry Clearwing Moth near Wild Bergamot
Photo Story: The Wild Bergamot in this native garden was an attractant for pollinators.
Equipment: Nikon Z9 Mirrorless and Nikon 70-200 zoom lens
Peoples Choice Winner!
Location: Worcester, MA
In this Photo: Halloween Pennant Dragonfly atop a Downy Wood Mint plant.
Photo Story: This dragonfly alighted on a Downy Wood Mint nearby in a native plant garden.
Equipment: Nikon Z9 Mirrorless with Sigma 150-600 Zoom lens
Location: Clarksville, IN
In this Photo: Carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) on Passionflower (Passiflora incarnate)
Photo Story: Sleepy bees are one of my favorite photographic subjects — so are plants that people of my indigenous heritage found useful. This pollen adorned carpenter bee took a gluttonous nap on a passionflower bloom, looking for all the world like it was posing an editorial center spread in a fashion magazine. Passionflowers are one of the most prolific, beautiful, unusual, and practical of native plants, feeding humans and wild life alike. This prolific vining plant can bring some vigorous project runway competition to the floral fashion show, a show too often dominated by invasive species and designer cultivars. And help screen unwanted vistas like the nandina next door
Equipment: iPhone
Category: Winter Season
Location: Shiocton, WI
In this Photo: Common milkweed, (Asclepias syriaca)
Photo Story: These exploded milkweed pods, highlighted in the low winter sunlight reminded me of fireworks, celebrating the end of a beautiful year and foretelling another year of flowers and monarchs.
Equipment: Nikon D850, 70-200mm lens
Location: Elizabeth, CO
In this Photo: Field Sagwort (Artemisia campestris), Broom Snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae), Bush Sunflower (Helianthus pumilus), Yellow Owl’s Clover (Orthocarpus luteus), native grass.
Photo Story: I encouraged native plants to grow in this section of our front yard, weeding invasive species. The diversity of plants that emerged from dormant seeds was impressive, providing us with great satisfaction. I was struck by this scene in the winter where the native plants were highlighted by the snow cover. It was like a pencil drawing.
Equipment: Cannon PowerShot SX70 HS
Location: Lexington, IL
In this Photo: White oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
Photo Story: This white oak (Quercus alba) looks extra, well, white during a snowstorm.
Equipment Nikon D850