Gloucester Daffodil Club members Dianne Spence and Carla Stanley received the Mid Atlantic Regional Service and Leadership Award on Nov. 1 during the regional meeting of the American Daffodil Society held in McLean, Virginia in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Washington Daffodil Society.

Julie Minch, regional vice president of the American Daffodil Society, presented the award, saying it is given to members that have “gone above and beyond planting and showing daffodils. Their goal is to stimulate and encourage wide interest in daffodils through education, exhibition, and dissemination of information.”

Spence is an accredited American Daffodil Society judge, has been a member of the ADS for 31 years, and is currently the awards chairman, said a press release. She volunteers many hours and has held multiple positions in the Virginia Daffodil Society, Garden Club of Virginia, and Gloucester Daffodil Club.

Spence has been recognized for being a mentor and helper to younger exhibitors, said the release. She has been a member of the Garden Club of Williamsburg for over 50 years and a non-resident member of the Garden Club of Gloucester and Mathews for over 20 years. In 2024, she received the Garden Club of Virginia’s Massie Medal for Distinguished Achievement.

Stanley has been showing and growing daffodils for over 20 years, said the release. She is an accredited American Daffodil Society judge, an ADS Mid Atlantic regional director, and a former president of the Gloucester Daffodil Club.

As a retired school teacher, Stanley has a passion for children and serves as the club’s youth program chair, said the release. Her children’s workshops have educated hundreds of youth about daffodils, and many of her students have joined the American Daffodil Society and are showing daffodils in local shows. Stanley also created the Gloucester Daffodil Driving Tour and is the Gloucester Daffodil Show committee chair.