Submitted by Debby Walters, BBBGC
BALDWIN, WI – For the past nine years, the Botany Belles and Beaus Garden Club (BBBGC) has sponsored a Nature Photography Contest during Chili Fest. Local amateur photographers submit their photos in six categories: Birds, Bugs & Beasts, Edibles (including fungi, edible or not), Landscapes, Plant Portraits, Sunrise/Sunset, and a Youth category.
This year 40 photographers participated in the contest. Each photographer shows a different aspect of the world around them and shared the beauty that they found with Chili Fest attendees. The Garden Club is so appreciative of the photographers who took the time to send in their entries and the over 250 Chili Fest attendees that took the time to vote on their favorites.
In the Birds, Bugs and Beasts category, Laurie Bornman’s Juicy Meal took first place. Sheila Hill’s Sweet Nectar took second place and Sheri Erickson’s Stay for Lunch photo took third place.
The Edibles category included fungi (mushrooms) this year, whether they were edible or not. First place goes to Heidi Eliason’s Mushroom in the Forest, Mike Hyland’s Luscious Strawberries took second place, and Brianna Faye’s Inky Cap Mushrooms earned third place.
So many beautiful landscapes in the area, the states and the sky! The Northern Lights appeared in our skies many evenings this year, and Tambri Lawless captured a photo of the Northern Lights over Woodville which took first place. Kelli Larson’s Reflection photo took second place, followed by Sheri Erickson’s Pot of Gold at the End photo.
Plants which are near and dear to every gardener’s heart are the fourth category. First place is Willow Oosten’s After the Storm photo. Second goes to Ashley Smith’s Hidden Gem and Sheri Erickson’s Peaceful placed third.
And who hasn’t admired a sunrise or a sunset? As in all the categories there were wonderful submissions. Somehow Amy Boldt captured the silhouette of a buck on The Buck Stops Here which took first place, second place went to Sheila Hill’s Dancing Aurora, and Hot Pink by Anne Immel placed third.
Youngsters 16 or under have quite the eye for beauty in the natural world also. There were more entries than ever in this year’s youth category, so it was even harder to vote. Seven-year-old Lennon Larson took top place with her Sure-Footed Goat. Second went to Charles Smith’s (age 10) Bee Awesome and third place goes to LaReina Smith (age 5) for her butterfly picture.
The top photographer in each category receives Chamber Bucks which can be spent at many area businesses. As one of the photographers said it isn’t about the winning, but about sharing her photography in a fun way. Garden Club members enjoy sharing the entries with the public, and appreciate the venue that Chili Fest provides. Look for notices about the 2025 contest near the end of July and submit your photos. For sure categories are Birds, Bugs & Beasts, Landscapes, Plant Portraits, Sunrise/Sunset and Youth entries. The last category can vary from year to year.
2024 Nature Photography Winners – Contest sponsored by Botany Belles & Beaus Garden Club. The categories are followed by the First, Second and Third Place winners.
Birds, Bugs & Beasts: 1st Place – Laurie Bornman – “Juicy Meal,” 2nd Place – Sheila Hill – “Sweet Nectar,” 3rd Place – Sheri Erickson – “Stay for Lunch.” Edibles: 1st Place – Heidi Eliason – “Mushroom in the Forest,” 2nd Place — Mike Hyland “Luscious Strawberries,” 3rd Place – Brianna Faye – “Inky Cap Mushrooms.” Landscapes: 1st Place – Tambri Lawless – “Northern Lights over Woodville,” 2nd Place – Kelli Larson – “Reflection,” 3rd Place – Sheri Erickson – “Pot of Gold at the End.” Plant Portraits: 1st Place – Willow Oosten – “After the Storm,” 2nd Place– Ashley Smith – “Hidden Gem,” 3rd Place– Sheri Erickson – “Peaceful.” Sunrise/Sunset 1st Place– Amy Boldt – “The Buck Stops Here,” 2nd Place – Sheila Hill – “Dancing Aurora,” 3rd Place– Anne Immel – “Hot Pink.” Youth: 1st Place– Lennon Larson (age 7) – “Sure-footed Goat,” 2nd Place– Charles Smith (age 10) – “Bee Awesome,” 3rd Place – LaReina Smith (age 5) – “Butterfly.”
