Orchids on show today

The show begins at 9 am and runs until 6 pm. It continues tomorrow at the same time and venue. Judging was completed yesterday with a very competitive field of orchids of all types. It was an explosion of colour and fragrance to delight the eyes.

American Orchid Society judge Claude Hamilton, a legend in his hometown of Jamaica where he is credited with popularising the art of not only orchid growing and cross-breeding but also producing world class, award winning blooms will lecture on both days at 1 pm. Today, the lecture will be on the Broughtonia species and their hybridization and tomorrow, orchid specialist Hamilton will lecture on the Cuban Encyclias.

The Best in Show was awarded yesterday to Mokara Jairak Heartthrob owned by Tyab Ali. Hundreds of orchid growers are expected to be in attendance at the show this weekend. Hamilton is the brains behind Hamlyn Orchids - a small, family owned business located in Kingston, Jamaica. It was founded in 1983 and had grown from strength to strength.

Hamilton has been growing orchids for over 50 years and is a former President of the Jamaica Orchid Society and is a life member of the Jamaica Horticultural Society.

An Accredited Judge of the Jamaica Orchid Society since 1986 and of the American Orchid Society since 2000 he is also affiliated with the Florida Caribbean Judging Center in Miami and has judged and lectured in over 34 countries. At age 14, he was one of the founders of the St James Horticultural Society in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

He is well-known as a hybridizer (breeder) of orchids and lectures on orchids, orchid culture and orchid judging. Perhaps best known as a breeder of Broughtonias, Encyclia , Myrmecophila, Laelia and their hybrids.

His hybrids have won many awards at orchid shows in several countries including over 200 awards from the American Orchid Society alone.