The conference featured tours of homes in Buffalo’s Cottage District, Elmwood Village and on Lancaster Avenue, as well as a visit to Frederick Law Olmsted’s Delaware Park, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House, and an evening at Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens. Tours continued to Draves Arboretum and Southtowns private gardens, as well as a visit to Niagara Parks in Canada.
In addition to touring the beauty of Buffalo and surrounding areas, #GWA2017 also featured 30 education sessions covering horticulture, writing, technology, business and publishing; including keynote addresses from Kevin Gaughan and Robin Wall Kimmerer. This year’s Conference & Expo also featured over 50 sponsors and exhibitors from across the industry.
“This year’s GWA Annual Conference & Expo exceeded my expectations – from the pre-conference workshop, to the story tours, to the learning sessions, to the discussions and networking that occurred between events and in the expo hall,” said Kirk Brown, GWA Past President. “This event was also about the celebration of growing GWA as an organization in the garden communications sector.”
During the GWA Awards & Honors Dinner, sponsored by Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs and emceed by Dr. Allan Armitage on Monday night, the recipients of GWA Honors and GWA Media Awards Silver Medal winners were recognized, and the 2017 Media Award Gold Medal winners were announced.
Best Magazine Writing
“Outdoor Dining - Our Well-Tended Gardens: A lunchroom for Wildlife”
Bill Johnson
Best Newspaper/Newsletter Writing
Everybody Gardens
Doug Oster
Best Digital Writing
Grieving Garden: This, Too, Is a Garden
Leesa Lawson
Best Photography
Private Gardens of South Florida
Rob Cardillo
Best Overall Digital Media
Savvy Gardening
Amy Andrychowicz, Niki Jabbour, Tara Nolan & Jessica Walliser
Best Overall Broadcast Media
Cultivating Place: Conversations on Natural History and the Human Impulse to Garden
Jennifer Jewell
Best On-Air Talent
Cultivating Place: Conversations on Natural History and the Human Impulse to Garden
Jennifer Jewell
Best Overall Magazine
Mini Gardens & Terrariums
Meredith Corp.
Best Overall Book
Master Gardener Manual
Nancy Knauss, Sue Wyble, Jennifer Bair, Amanda Kirsten & Penn State Extension
Best Trade
Bloom, Fall 2016
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Additionally, the newly elected officers and directors were introduced during the organization’s annual business meeting on Saturday afternoon. GWA is pleased to announce these officers and directors, who will join the existing leaders on the 2016-2017 Board of Directors:
Officers
- President: Becky Heath
- Vice President: Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
- Treasurer: Maria Zampini
- Secretary: Ellen Zachos
- Region II: Kathy Jentz
- Region VI: Mary-Kate Mackey
- Region I: Carmen DeVito
- Region II: Teresa Speight
- Region III: Susan Martin
- Region IV: Cheval Opp
- Region V: Shelley Cramm
- Region VI: Tova Roseman
- Region VII: Rob Howard
For more information:
www.gardenwriters.org