2009 GWA Media Awards Recipients

For over 25 years, the GWA has conducted an annual awards program for talent and products published or aired in the field of garden communications. The purpose of the program is to provide recognition for the vast talents of the GWA membership in the area of writing, photography, graphic design, illustration and electronic media such as radio, television and Internet programming. It is a means of showcasing the many exceptional works created and/or published every year.

From 307 awards entries, 45 works were recognized for individual or collective achievement in 2008. Working in category teams (writing, photography, etc.), judges reviewed every entry based upon an objective point system evaluating information accuracy, content, organization, style and originality. Entries placing in the top 10% of this non-competitive scoring receive the Silver Award of Achievement and become semi-finalists for the Gold Awards for Best Talent or Best Product.

The second stage of judging becomes competitive. From the 45 Silver Award of Achievement recipients, the judges, as a group, subjectively evaluate talent (writing, photography, on-air personality, etc.) and product (book, magazine, calendar, etc.) entries for “Best Talent” or "Best Product" awards.

Awards Chair Denise Cowie is pleased to announce the following recipients of the 2009 GWA Media Awards.

2009 Gold Awards for Best Talent and Best Product

Best Magazine Writing
Therese Ciesinski for "Rain Check" published by Organic Gardening Magazine.

Best Newspaper Writing
Kim Palmer for "Homegrown Heats Up" published by Star Tribune.

Best Book Writing
Linda Chalker-Scott for The Informed Gardener published by University of Washington Press.

Best Photography
William Wright for the book Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways published by Clarkson Potter/Random House.

Best Illustration
Gina Ingoglia for The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-ups published by Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Best Graphic Design
Jessica Armstrong for The Veggie Gardener's Answer Book published by Storey Publishing.

Best Magazine
Organic Gardening Magazine - August 2008 published by Rodale.

Best Newspaper
Star Tribune - July 2008

Best Book
Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways published by Clarkson Potter/Random House.

Best Electronic Media
Proven Beauty - Online Magazine created by Proven Winners.

Best Trade
"Trillium Symposium Press Kit" published by Mt. Cuba Center.

2009 Silver Awards of Achievement

Writing - Magazine
Jenny Andrews, “Good Enough to Eat”, Garden Design
Adrian Bloom, “Living Rivers”, Garden Design
Therese Ciesinski, “Desert Bloom”, Organic Gardening Magazine
Therese Ciesinski, “Rain Check”, Organic Gardening Magazine
Willi Evans Galloway, “Long Lived Lettuce”, Organic Gardening Magazine
Beth Huxta, “The Dark Side of Lawns”, Organic Gardening Magazine
Leesa Lawson, “Mulch Madness”, Green Prints

Writing - Newspaper
Kim Palmer, “Homegrown Heats Up”, Star Tribune
Virginia A. Smith “Loosestrife Strife”, Philadelphia Inquirer
Patricia A. Taylor, “Rosing to the Occasion”, Trenton Times
Wendy Tweten, “Miss Snippy Patronizes the Plant Sales”, Northwest Garden News
Irene Virag, “Inspired by a Master of Miniatures”, Newsday

Writing - Book
Linda Chalker-Scott, The Informed Gardener, University of Washington Press
Barbara & Pleasant & Deborah Martin, “The Complete Compost Gardening Guide”, Storey Publishing
Debra Prinzing, “Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways”, Clarkson Potter/Random House

Writing - Technical Book
Brad Lancaster, Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands & Beyond, Vol. 2, Chelsea Green Publishing

Writing - Newsletter/Bulletin/Brochure
Niall Dunne, “The Not-Quite-White Garden”, WPA Bulletin

Writing - Electronic Media
Leesa Lawson, “Garden Vigilantes” A Prairie Home Companion website
Mary Lahr Schier, “Dried Bean Philosophy”, My Northern Garden blog

Photography - Magazine
Stacy Bass, “A Gentleman’s Garden”, Westport Magazine
Chelsea Stickel & Jon Whittle, “Spanish Treasure”, Garden Design

Photography - Book
William Wright, Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways, Clarkson Potter/Random House

Photography - Cover
Roger Foley, The Colors of Nature, Monacelli Press

Photography - Portfolio
Roger Foley, Tropical Garden Photography Portfolio

Photography – Electronic Media
Rob Cardillo, www.RobCardillo.com

Illustration - Book
Gina Ingoglia, The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-Ups, Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Graphic Design - Magazine
Donna Reiss, “Simple Geometry”, Garden Design

Graphic Design - Book
Jessica Armstrong, The Veggie Gardener’s Answer Book, Storey Publishing

Graphic Design - Cover
Gavin Robinson, Organic Gardening Magazine: Nov-Jan 2008

On-Air Talent - Radio
Fred Hoffman, “KFBK Garden Show”, KFBK - Sacramento

On-Air Talent - Television
Fred Hoffman, California Heartland, KVIE - Sacramento

Overall Product – Magazine: Under 100k
Hole’s Publishing, Enjoy Gardening

Overall Product – Magazine: Over 100k
Bonnier Corporation, Garden Design Magazine: May 2008

Overall Product – Newspaper
Star Tribune, “Home & Garden”

Overall Product - Book
Clarkson Potter/Random House, Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways
Storey Publishing, Hardy Succulents

Overall Product – Technical Book
National Gardening Association, Nourishing Choices

Overall Product – Newsletter
Indianapolis Museum of Art, “SEASONS”

Overall Product - Electronic Media
Proven Winners, “Proven Beauty – Online Magazine”, www.provenbeauty.com/magazine

Trade - Newsletter
University of Florida, “The Neighborhood Gardener: October 2008”

Trade - Catalog
Novalis, “The Greener Things in Life”

Trade - Press Kit
Mt. Cuba Center, “Trillium Symposium”

Trade – Radio
UF Center for Landscape Conservation & Ecology, “Gardening in a Minute”

Trade – Kits or Special Projects
UF Center for Landscape Conservation & Ecology, “Water Conservation Electronic Media Kit”

Trade – Calendar
Brookside Gardens, “Brookside Gardens 40th Anniversary Calendar 2009”