August 27, 2026 | Sarasota, FL – Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ 46th Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition, presented in partnership with the Observer Media Group, is now on view in a virtual gallery at selby.org. The virtual exhibition will remain on view through September 30.
Featuring nearly 250 photographs captured by talented photographers across Selby Gardens’ two campuses, the exhibition offers a vivid celebration of the beauty, diversity, and wonder of the botanical world. Outstanding images were recognized with awards, including Best in Show, presented to Alma Groome for Bee Enveloped in a Flower.
This year also marks the introduction of the Richard and Ellen Sandor Photography Prize, a new $5,000 annual prize recognizing the most compelling representation of orchids in Selby Gardens’ Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition. The inaugural prize was awarded to Stan Jernigan for If the Slipper Fits, celebrating an exceptional image that captures the distinctive beauty and allure of these remarkable plants.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the creativity and talent represented by nearly 250 photographs in this year’s exhibition and to congratulate “Best in Show” winner Alma Groome for her stunning image, Bee Enveloped in a Flower, as well as Stan Jernigan on receiving the inaugural Richard and Ellen Sandor Photography Prize for If the Slipper Fits. His photograph successfully demonstrates the power of photography to reveal the extraordinary beauty of orchids in unexpected and compelling ways. We are delighted to establish this annual prize, which celebrates both the artistic possibilities of botanical photography and the remarkable diversity of orchids that are at the heart of Selby Gardens’ mission. We hope this award will inspire photographers to continue seeing and capturing the natural world with creativity, curiosity and a fresh perspective,” said Jennifer Rominiecki, president and CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.
Additional awards for first place were given in each of the five exhibition categories:
- Living Art – Calder’s Nature of Movement in Vibrant Red by Sandra Alexander
- Make a Splash – Tranquility Scapes by Almut Biller
- Plant Portraits – Beautiful Bell by Meril Salzburg
- The Birds and the Bees – Zebra Long Butterfly by William Mindak
- Black & White – Fern Shadows by Nancy Fogg-Johnson
Five additional photos were recognized with honorable mentions.
- Living Art – When the Garden Held Her Breath by Lindy DeFord
- Make a Splash – Reflections by Jeannie Comparetto
- Plant Portraits – Experience by Beth Trainum
- The Birds and the Bees – Fishing the Lily Pads by James Hall
- Black & White – Transparent Grace by KC (Katherine) Jones
Selby Gardens received nearly 250 submissions to this year’s exhibition. Entrants could submit up to three individual photos, which had to be taken within the past year at either the Downtown Sarasota campus or Historic Spanish Point campus of Selby Gardens.
To view Selby Gardens’ 46th Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition, visit selby.org or yourobserver.com. This virtual exhibition is presented in partnership with the Observer Media Group.
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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 is 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, it 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.