THE WOODLANDS, TX – (Friday, October 16, 2009) – Over 450 aspiring artists competed in the annual poster contest for The Woodlands Wildflower Festival, a popular tradition set for Saturday, October 24, 2009 from 10 am until 2 pm at Cochran’s Crossing Shopping Center. Amy Havern, John-Bradley Greene, Megan Parise and Emma Buesinger were the first place winners in the contest, according to Susan Vreeland-Wendt, director of marketing for The Woodlands Development Company (TWDC).
Amy Havern of The Woodlands was the first place winner in the adult category and won $300. Havern playfully painted children holding balloons in a field of Texas Bluebonnets on a sunny day. Some balloons are floating in the blue sky with faint stars in the background. Her drawing will become the official Wildflower Festival poster, sold at The Woodlands Lions Club’s booth during the event. Jacqueline Beck Smith, an art teacher at Bear Branch Junior High School in Magnolia and a resident of Spring, won second place in the adult category. She painted a bouquet of blue Morning Glories.
John-Bradley Greene of The Woodlands was the first place winner in the teenage category, 14-18 years of age, and won $100. Greene’s drawing is a detailed image of a single, blue Morning Glory.
Megan Parise of Spring won first place in the age 8-13 year old category and received $100. Parise drew two pieces that will be combined together for the official
tee-shirt sold at The Lions Club’s booth at the festival. She drew The Woodlands’ 35th Anniversary logo surrounded by a variety of native wildflowers including the Texas Bluebonnet set on a blue-chalked background. In her additional picture, she drew an assortment of bright, vivid wildflowers including the Indian Paint Brush. Second place was awarded to Jessica Brown of The Woodlands. Her painting depicted Sunflowers that were surrounded by Bluebonnets, complete with a bee. Magdalene Hall of Spring won third place in this category for her painting entitled “Bluebonnets of Sunset”.
In the youngest category, up to seven years of age, Emma Buesinger of The Woodlands won first place and was presented $100. Buesinger drew a bird, butterfly and bee flying over wildflowers on a sunny day with a squirrel in the foreground. Second place went to Rebecca Juranek for her drawing of wildflowers, birds “tweeting” and a smiling dog and child. A rainbow is in the sky.
The merchants at Cochran’s Crossing Shopping Center, the Community Associations of The Woodlands and The Woodlands Development Company are the presenting sponsors of the festival. The Brickman Group, Ltd. is a participating sponsor. Proceeds from the tee-shirt and poster sales benefit The Woodlands Lions Club.
At the festival, a variety of free wildflower seeds will be distributed by local businesses. Also featured will be informative landscaping and environmental exhibits, native plants and gift items for sale, a free petting zoo and pony rides, balloon artists, face painting, food and family fun. Lovable mascot of The Woodlands, Puffy Pine Cone, will make a special guest appearance from 11 am until 12 noon. The Houston Chronicle’s “Lazy Gardener”, Brenda Beust Smith, will be a special guest at The Woodlands Garden Club’s booth.
The Woodlands is a 28,000-acre master-planned community located 27 miles north of downtown Houston. It is a project of The Woodlands Development Company, a limited partnership of Morgan Stanley and General Growth Properties, Inc.
PHOTO CAPTION: The Woodlands Wildflower Festival poster contest winners proudly display their artwork as associates from The Woodlands Development Company (TWDC) and The Woodlands Lions Club congratulate them. From left to right: Susan Vreeland-Wendt, director of marketing for TWDC; Megan Parise, grand prize tee shirt contest winner and winner in the age 8-13 year old category; Amy Havern, grand prize poster winner and winner in the adult category; John-Bradley Greene, first place winner in the 14-18 year old category; Emma Buesinger, first place winner in the up to seven years of age category; and Cathy Bleakley, president of The Woodlands Lions Club. |
