2022 National Meeting Photo Contest - Center for Plant Conservation

National Meeting Photo Contest

Incredible snapshots of rare plants, teams in the field, and beautiful habitats took center stage at the 3rd Annual National Meeting Photo Contest. Entries were received from across the CPC network. Joe DeWolf (Conservation Specialist, San Diego Botanic Garden) took first place with a stunning close-up image of Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) pushing new growth in the Anza Borrego Desert.

Image of Fouquieria splendens (Ocotillo) pushing new growth in the Anza Borrego Desert. — Fouquieria splendens (Ocotillo) pushing new growth in the Anza Borrego Desert. Photo by Joe DeWolf.

Second place was awarded to Meg Engelhardt (Seed Bank Manager, Missouri Botanical Garden) for a photo that features Meg getting a close-up look at the very tiny federally endangered Geocarpon minimum.

Image of Meg Engelhardt getting a look at the very tiny federally endangered Geocarpon minimum. — Meg Engelhardt getting a look at the very tiny federally endangered Geocarpon minimum. Photo by James Faupel.

Third place went to Rachel Sadowski (Conservation Specialist II, San Diego Botanic Garden) for her image of Clematis lasiantha climbing through a steep canyon in San Diego County’s Otay Mountain Wilderness.

Image of Clematis lasiantha climbing through a steep canyon in the Otay Mountain Wilderness. — Clematis lasiantha climbing through a steep canyon in the Otay Mountain Wilderness. Photo by Rachel Sadowski.

Congratulations to our Photo Contest winners, and thank you to everyone who participated!

Euphorbia telephioides recently removed from wild population in imminent threat.
Harvesting seed from an Encephalartos longifolius at the San Diego Botanic Garden. Hat for scale. Photo by Jeremy Bugarchich.
Fluorescent dye testing with the rare Texas endemic Zapata Bladderpod, Physaria thamnophila. Photo by Sara Johnson.