Botanical Garden Magazine Wins Top Honor
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden has received the Garden Writers Association (GWA) Silver Award for Achievement for the Winter 2014 issue of Bloom, its popular new member magazine. The award was announced by the GWA on Thursday last week. A full listing of winners from around the country is posted at gardencomm.org.
This national award recognizes individuals and organizations who achieve the highest levels of talent and professionalism in garden communications.
“This is a huge honor for our budding institution,” says President and CEO Stephanie Jutila. “As one of 51 silver awards awarded this year, we are humbled to be included on a list of great writers, photographers and publishers across the nation.”
The 32-page quarterly magazine is a benefit of Botanical Garden membership. Designed locally by Annabel Wimer under the editorial direction of Kelly Norris, the magazine tells the stories of the Botanical Garden as it evolves into a new cultural institution while showcasing the expertise of its staff.
Since the early 1980s, the GWA Media Awards program has recognized outstanding writing, photography, graphic design and illustration for books, newspaper stories, magazine articles and other works focused on gardening. In recent years, the awards program has expanded to include on-air talent, production and direction for radio, television, video, Internet and other electronic media. GWA is an international organization of more than 1,400 professional communicators in the lawn and garden industry.
“The Garden Writers Association Media Awards showcase the writers, photographers, editors, publishers and trade companies that have pursued excellence in gardening communication in print or electronic communications,” says Larry Hodgson, president of GWA. “The Media Award winners have been judged by industry experts and show significant distinction and merits that exemplify exceptional work.” The Botanical Garden is located at 909 Robert D. Ray Drive and open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except major holidays. More information about membership and its benefits can be found at dmbotanicalgarden.com/support.
About Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
On Jan. 1, 2013 the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden launched a new beginning. After years of planning, a bold vision, generous community support and a new staff, the Botanical Garden assumed operatorship of the iconic geodesic conservatory and 14 acres of land bordering the Des Moines River. Armed with a mission of exploring, explaining and celebrating the world of plants, we are a garden now. The Botanical Garden is a 501(c)(3) privately governed, not-for-profit institution with ten years of operating support at $645,000 per year from the City of Des Moines, Des Moines Water Works and Bravo Greater Des Moines. In addition, Phase II fundraising will grow the total endowment to $3.6 million.