National Public Gardens Day Photo Contest Opens May 1, 2012

Winning Photographers To Receive Cash Prizes, Annual Membership To Their Local Public Garden And Free Subscriptions To Better Homes And Gardens Magazine

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Heralded for their stunning scenery and fantastic flora, both amateur and professional photographers regularly flock to America’s public gardens each spring to explore, discover and capture the beauty that public gardens have to offer. Presented in partnership by The American Public Gardens Association and Rain Bird, with support from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, the 2012 National Public Gardens Day Photo Contest invites garden visitors and shutterbugs to shoot and submit photos that capture the beauty of America’s public gardens for a chance to win cash and prizes.

Held in conjunction with National Public Gardens Day, May 11^th, a national day of awareness dedicated to promoting the important role that public gardens play in communities nationwide, contest entrants, who shoot and submit a photo between May 1, 2012 and May 15, 2012, will be eligible 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 American Public Gardens Association member gardens nationwide. In addition to the prize packages, the first 50 entries will be eligible to receive a full year of Better Homes and Gardens Magazine for just $5.99.

To be eligible, photographs must be taken during the entry period via the contest webpage at www.NationalPublicGardensDay.org/photo-contest. Entries will be 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 12:00 PM Pacific Time, May 15, 2012, 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 21, 2012 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.

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