ARTiculture. The Hamilton Horticourt


Last year her name appeared hoisted over the completely redesigned competition area, the Hamilton Horticourt. It’s so much better and brighter now than ever before. Well lit. You can actually see things in glorious detail where you used to have to squint into the gloom and twilight dropped from the industrial convention floods way up overhead. The Hamilton Horticourt is brilliant! But exactly who is this lady, this Mrs. Samuel M. V. Hamilton?

As I stood there wondering what it meant, a sign caught my eye. A face. A smile. There she was. Exactly as I’ve always imagined her. And the mystery explained. After thirty years, Mrs. Samuel M. V. Hamilton has retired from competition in 2014. It’s too bad I won’t be seeing her next year but the Hamilton Horticourt remains a bright spot of my visit.
Mrs. Samuel M. V. Hamilton, thank you.
Now on to the entries.
Upper right, Omcidiumcroesus, Barbara Inglessis, South Jersey Orchid Society; Lower left, Dendochilum convallariiforme “Fishing Creek’s Spiral’, Richard J. Graf; Lower right, Degarmoara memoria Jay Yamada ‘Kaui’, Kathie Rose, Mt. Mary Garden Society
Right, Zygolium ‘Rhein Moonloght’, Joel Greenbrg, Central New Jersey Orchjid Society
Left, Zygopetalum ‘Jumpin’ Jack’, Michael Dunigan, Pinelands Orchid Society
Left, Nepenthes, Mrs. Tristam C. Colket Jr, Moutain Club of Mount Desert, Maine; Center, Cym. canaliculatum x Cym. ‘Malpaso Creek’, Lois Duffin, Greater Philadelphia Orchid Society; Right, unnamed, Cesario Gene Tobia, Pinelands Orchid Society
Top left, Paphiopedilum Invincible ’Spread Eagle’; Top right, Tillandsia cyanea, Lynn Cooj and Troy Ray, Liberty Bell Gesneriad Society; Middle left, Arpophyllum giganteum, Lois Duffin, Greater Philadelphia Orchid Society; Middle right, Vanda tricolor, Mrs. Triostam C. Colket Jr, Garden Club of Mt Desert, Maine; Lower left, Paphiopedilum, Mrs. Triostam C. Colket Jr, Garden Club of Mt Desert, Maine; Lower right, Phragmipedium ’Twilight’, Bill Keating, South Eastern Pennsylvania Orchid Society
Brassocattleya ‘Yellow Bird’, Nicoletta M. Graf
1st row left, yellow Gasteria batesiana, Gerald Barad, Philadelphia Cactus and Succulent Society; 1st row right, Euphorbia platyclada, Brandon M. Huber, Liberty Bell Gesneriad Society; 2nd row left, variegated Gasteria batesiana, Brandon M. Huber, Liberty Bell Gesneriad Society; 3rd row left, Gaseria discolor ‘Liliputana’, Pafticia Toff Foster, Garden Club of Phildelphia; 3rd row right, Fockea edulis, Jeffrey Sedwin, Philadelphia Cactus & Succulent Society; 4th row left, Haworthia retusa, Jacob Beresford Simon, Philadelphia Cactus & Succulent Society; 4th row right, Haemanthus deformis, Jeffrey Sedwin
This tribute collection features some of the past triumphs of longtime competitor and sponsor, Mrs. Samuel M. V. Hamilton.
She retired from active competition this year but her name remains overhead on the Hamilton Horticourt.
1st row right, Begonia ‘Looking Glass, Brandon M. Huber, Liberty Bell Gesneriad Society; 2nd row left, Aglonema commutatum, Tereseta Parintella; 3rd row left, Aglonema ‘Valentine’, Deb Donaldson, The Gardeners; 4th row right, Belchmum brasilense ‘Crispum’ and Apslenum nidus ‘Crispum’, Diana S. Wister, The Garden Club of Wilmington
Bottom right, Nematanthus brasilenesis, Lynn Cook & Troy Ray, Liberty Bell Gesneriad Society
Left, Stenorrynchos specious; Center, Hippeastrum ‘Baby Star’ J R Cruise,
The Shipley School Sprouts; Right, Tulipa ‘Princess Irene’, Charlie Heiser
Clivia miniata cultivars. Alll four above, Michael E Riska, North American Clivia Society
Left, Aglonema commutatum, Diana S Wister, The Garden Club of Wilmington; Center, Huperzia plegmeria, Lynn Cook and Troy Ray, Liberty Bell Gesneriad Society; Right, Begonia lanceolata, Janet Walsh, Huntingdon Valley Garden Club