Sarasota, FL.- November 5, 2026 – Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is pleased to introduce the Richard and Ellen Sandor Prizes, a new series of awards celebrating excellence in orchid research, discovery, and photography. Established in recognition of Richard and Ellen Sandor’s deep commitment to orchids and botanical science, the prizes advance a shared mission: to encourage discovery, support researchers, and celebrate the extraordinary diversity and beauty of the orchid world.
Through three distinct prizes—the Richard & Ellen Sandor Orchid Research Prize, Richard & Ellen Sandor Orchid Discovery Prize, and Richard & Ellen Sandor Photography Prize—Selby Gardens will recognize individuals whose work contributes to the understanding, documentation and appreciation of orchids, particularly those of the Americas. Each individual prize will provide $5,000 of support.
Selby Gardens’ Trustee Richard Sandor remarked, “We are delighted to support Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in recognizing the scientists, explorers, and artists who deepen our understanding and appreciation of orchids. Orchids are remarkable not only for their beauty, but for the incredible diversity, complexity, and stories they reveal about the natural world. Through these prizes, Ellen and I hope to encourage continued research and discovery, while inspiring more people to appreciate the importance of conserving these extraordinary plants.”
“We are deeply grateful to Richard and Ellen Sandor for their extraordinary generosity and for their commitment to advancing orchid research and discovery,” said Jennifer Rominiecki, President and CEO of Selby Gardens. “Their support allows us to celebrate and encourage the scientists and discoveries shaping our understanding of these remarkable plants. Orchids inspire us in so many ways, as subjects of scientific inquiry, as examples of botanical diversity, and as extraordinary expressions of nature. We are honored that these prizes will help share the wonder and importance of orchids with the world.”
Richard & Ellen Sandor Orchid Research Prize
The Richard & Ellen Sandor Orchid Research Prize provides support for an independent research project focused on the discovery and/or documentation of the diversity of orchid floras of the American tropics or subtropics. The prize will be awarded in January 2027. Applications will be accepted through December 1, 2026. For guidelines and details on how to apply, READ HERE. (link to webpage)
Richard & Ellen Sandor Orchid Discovery Prize
The Richard & Ellen Sandor Orchid Discovery Prize recognizes the most remarkable new orchid species published in 2026. The winning species must have been published in a peer-reviewed journal during the 2026 calendar year and must be from the Americas. Submissions are due December 1, 2026, with the prize to be awarded in January 2027 alongside the Research Prize. For guidelines and details on how to apply, READ HERE. (link to webpage)
Richard & Ellen Sandor Photography Prize
The Richard & Ellen Sandor Photography Prize honors excellence in artistic orchid photography and is presented as part of Selby Gardens’ Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition.
The prize recognizes a photograph that artistically captures the beauty of an orchid species from an aesthetic perspective. A distinguished juried panel, including Dr. Richard and Ellen Sandor, select the winning image based on artistic merit, creativity and visual impact. The virtual 47th Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition returns August 2027. To view the 2026 Sandor Photography Prize winner and merit awards, visit the gallery HERE.
Together, the Richard and Ellen Sandor Prizes reflect Selby Gardens’ commitment to advancing botanical knowledge while inspiring broader appreciation for the remarkable diversity of orchids. By supporting independent research, recognizing significant discoveries, and celebrating artistic interpretation, the prizes create a platform for scientists, explorers and artists to contribute to the continuing story of orchids in the Americas and around the world.
About Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens provides 45 acres of bayfront sanctuaries connecting people with air plants of the world, native nature, and our regional history. Established by forward-thinking women of their time, Selby Gardens is composed of the 15-acre Downtown Sarasota campus and the 30-acre Historic Spanish Point campus in the Osprey area of Sarasota County, Florida. The Downtown Sarasota campus on Sarasota Bay is the only botanical garden in the world dedicated to the display and study of epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads and ferns, and other tropical plants. There is a significant focus on botany, horticulture, education, historical preservation, and the environment. Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus features the world’s first net positive energy botanical garden complex, generating more energy than it consumes. The Historic Spanish Point campus is located less than 10 miles south along Little Sarasota Bay. One of the largest preserves showcasing native Florida plants and active archaeology that is interpreted for and open to the public, celebrates an archaeological record that encompasses approximately 5,000 years of Florida history. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a Smithsonian Affiliate and is also accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Selby Gardens was selected for Time magazine’s annual list of the “World’s Greatest Places 2024.” For more information visit www.selby.org.
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