2026 Daffodil Flower Show Winners | Arts & Entertainment

Visitors to the show were able to see 1,443 daffodils in the horticulture classes. A highlight of Saturday’s program was the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony inaugurating the opening of the Flower Show. Peter Burke, executive director of the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce, participated in the ceremony and delivered a proclamation issued by Gov. Maura Healey.

The proclamation recognized and commended the founding of the Nantucket Daffodil Festival in 1975 by Jean MacAusland, who was serving at the time as president of the Nantucket Garden Club. In addition to organizing the inaugural flower show, she, together with H. Flint and Corky Ranney, established the daffodil parade and picnic in 1978, traditions that have since become enduring hallmarks of the festival.

Special Awards for Daffodils Grown on the Island

• Best Standard Daffodil in Show (Ann Sanford Bowl): Mark Budaj
• Best Miniature Daffodil in Show (Laird V.W. Williams Award): Dorothy Farrell
• Best Collection of Five Cultivars (Jean MacAusland Award) Kitty Pochman

Best Youth Daffodil (Helene Whitehead Award) Cooper Giles

Most Blue Ribbons Youth Division: Michael Konetchy

Best Collection of three Stems of one cultivar (25th Anniversary Award): Sandra Palchanis

Sconset Trust Award: Sandra Palchanis

Most Blue Ribbons in a Novice Class: Ruth Plandowski

Best Historic Daffodil: Jessica Jenkins

Best Classic Daffodil Single Stem: Mark Budaj

Best Adult Photograph: Diane Dietle

Best Youth Photograph: Abby Heise

Mini Gold: Dorothy Farrell

Silver Ribbon for Most Blue Ribbons: Mark Budaj

Purple Ribbon: Kitty Pochman

Red, White and Blue Collection: Kitty Pochman

Lavendar Ribbon, Miniature Collection of Five: Mary Malavase

White Ribbon: Sandra Palchanis

Tom D. Throckmorton Ribbon: Cosby George

Joe Hamm Historic Collection of 12: Mark Budaj

Marie Bozievich Award: Mary Malavase

Mary Lou Gripshover Award: Porter Shehab

Youth Best Bloom: Cooper Giles

Youth Best Three Stems: Michael Konetchy

Small Grower Award: Ruth Plandowski

Historic Award: Jessica Jenkins

Historic Best Three Stems: Mark Budaj

Historic Daffodil Collection of Five: Mark Budaj

Wells Kneirum Best Photograph Ribbon: Diane Dietle

Best Youth Photograph: Weston Fretzer

Best Classic Daffodil: Mark Budaj

Best Classic Three Stems: Kitty Pochman

Best Classic Collection of Five: Mark Budaj

Intermediate Daffodil: Mark Budaj

Intermediate Best Three Stems: Heidi Drew

Brooke Ager Youth Challenge Class Ribbon: Michael Konetchy

Flower Arrangement Winners

Mass Arrangement (Still Blooming After All These Years): First, Brook Sutton, Daffodil Parade and Sconset Picnic; second, Nathan Wold, Nantucket Spring, third; Bridget Flegg, Memory Lane

Medium Arrangement (Sorta Big, Kinda Bold, Very Daff): First, Susan Nestor Levy, 5 Decades, 5 Faces, 5 Sassy Vases; second, Natasha Bergreen, The Gourmet Picnic; third, Maria Zodda, Dionis Daffodils; Honorable Mention, Lisa Cousins, Shooting for the Stars

Mini Arrangement (Tiny But Mighty, Brightly): First, Lisa Cousins, Sweet Little Thing; second, Neely Bower, Handful of Daffies; third, Diane Dietle, Sconset Picnic; Honorable Mention, Maryanne Worth, Sunshine

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten: First, Eva Gray; second, Abigail Gray

First and second grade: First, Seabstian Olbres; second, Cooper Gray; third; Desmond and Kelly

Second and third grade: First, Evie Burleson and Lyla Souto; second, Robin Wright

Fourth Grade: First, Nina Geagan; second, Salette; third, Alainne and Luke and Louise Vultee

Fifth grade: First Margaret and Eloise Boiling; second, Hayslin, Alison, Valentina; third, Valentina Lima and Lia Silverio

Family: First, Heise family; second, Penelope Touch

Blossom Bash at 50: First, Heise Family; second, Penelope Touch; third, Lia Silverio

Special Garden Club Awards

Most Creative Arrangement—Mary Armstrong Box— Nathan Wold — Nantucket Spring

Most Colorful and Dramatic Flower Arrangement — The Jean MacAusland Ivory Easel-

Susan Nestor Levy — 5 Decades; 5 Faces; 5 Sassy Vases

Best Youth Flower Arrangement — Helene Whitehead Award: Best Youth Flower Arrangement — Sebastian Olbres

2026 Daffodil Photography Winners

Daffodils in the Landscape: First, Tina Lorenzen; second, Katy Fee; third, Jill Sandole; honorable mention, Tara Corbett

Portraits of Daffodils: First, Jill Sandole; second, Diane Dietle; third, Tina Lorenzen; honorable mention, Neely Bower

Monochrome Portrait of Daffodils: First, and AD Ribbon for Best in Show and Nantucket Best Photo in show by Nantucket Adult, Diane Dietle

Daffoidils with people or animals: Diane Dietle

Arranged Still Life or Abstract: First, Betsy Wolfe; second, Robert Graves

Youth (preschool): First, Weston Fetzer, ADS Best Youth Photo

Youth (first Grade): First, Abby Heise, NGC Best Nantucket Youth Photo in the Show

Michael Konetchy: 11 first, three second, two third, one honorable mention

Solveig Olson: three first, one third

Anthony Stamm: two first, five second, two third

Chloe Kunzler: two first, one second, one third

Cooper Giles: two first, one second

Jeremiah Huyser: two first, five second

Alyssa Stone: one first, three second, one third

Audrey Conway: one first, two second, two honorable mention

Blair Zimmerman: one first

Colby Giles: one first, two second

Penelope Touch: one first

Revan Jones: one first, two second, one third

Sophie Bernard: one first

Mary Violet Dell’Erba: two second, one third

Cassidy O’Brien: one second, one third

Evie Burlson: one second, one third, one honorable mention

Hazel Herrick: one second

Indiana Dippitan: one second, one honorable mention

Mace Jones: one second, one third, one honorable mention

Tyler Herrick: one second

Nia Jones: one second, three third

Leah Palanco: two third, one honorable mention

Abigail Bernard: one third

Sydney Zimmerman: one third

Alexa Gray: two honorable mention

Nora Peel: one honoarble mention

Paige Peel: one honorable mention