National Public Gardens Day Photo Contest Invites Public To Submit Their Best Public Garden Photos For A Chance To Win Cash and Prizes

Grand Prize Winning Photo Submission To Receive $500, A Free Subscription To Better Homes And Gardens Magazine And A One Year Membership To The Public Garden Of Their Choosing

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In support of National Public Gardens Day (NPGD), May 6^th, 2011, Rain Bird and the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) are teaming up with Better Homes and Gardens Magazine to encourage garden visitors to showcase the beauty of America’s 500+ public gardens through the 2011 National Public Gardens Day Photo Contest.

Beginning May 1 and continuing through May 11, 2011, garden visitors across the nation are invited to shoot and submit photos capturing the beauty and experience of visiting one of America’s public gardens for a chance to win a grand prize package of $500, a year-long subscription to Better Homes and Gardens Magazine and a one-year membership to any of the over 500 APGA-member gardens nationwide. In addition to opportunities to win NPGD prize packages, the first 50 entries will be eligible to receive a full year of Better Homes and Gardens Magazine for just $5.99.

Photographs taken at a public garden during the entry period via the contest webpage at www.NationalPublicGardensDay.org/photo-contest will have their photo reviewed by a competition judging panel that includes National Public Gardens Day spokesperson and master gardener, Paul James, as well as representatives from Rain Bird, the American Public Gardens Association and Better Homes and Garden Magazine’s editorial staff.

Following the close of the entry period at 11:59 PM EDT, May 11, 2011, the contest judges will review all of the submissions and choose three winners based on their creativity, impact, beauty, originality and capturing the essence of America’s public gardens. First, second and third place submissions will be announced and awarded on May 18, 2011 on the National Public Gardens Day website.

The top three submissions as determined by the judges will be awarded the following:

• 1st prize: $500.00, 1-year membership to the Public Garden of their choosing, 1-year subscription to Better Homes and Gardens Magazine.
• 2nd prize: $250.00 and NPGD apparel, 1-year subscription to Better Homes and Gardens Magazine.
• 3rd Prize: $100.00 and NPGD apparel, 1-year subscription to Better Homes and Gardens Magazine.

The photo contest is being held in conjunction with 2011 National Public Gardens Day, a national day of awareness in which communities nationwide are invited to visit and learn about the important role their public gardens play in promoting environmental stewardship and awareness, plant and water conservation, and more.

In celebration of botanical gardens, arboreta, conservatories, educational gardens and historical landscapes, many of the APGA’s 500 member institutions will mark the day with special events and activities for schools, families and thousands of visitors.

For more information on National Public Gardens Day, visit www.NationalPublicGardensDay.org, “LIKE” the National Public Gardens Day Facebook page and follow the National Public Gardens Day Twitter feed, @NPGD.

ABOUT NATIONAL PUBLIC GARDENS DAY

Scheduled for May 6th, 2011, National Public Gardens Day is a national day of awareness in which communities nationwide are invited to visit and learn about the important role their public gardens play in promoting environmental stewardship and awareness, plant and water conservation, and more. Now in its third year, National Public Gardens Day was created in partnership between the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) and irrigation product and service provider, Rain Bird. www.NationalPublicGardensDay.org