The objective of SOA is to meet in an organized fashion to facilitate the exchange of cultural information for orchids on Aruba, and increase awareness of this hobby to the entire islan SOCIEDAD DI ORQUIDIA ARUBA
Before the foundation of “Sociedad di Orquidia Aruba” (Orchid Society of Aruba), botanical information and cultural requirements of orchids for the local Aruban climate was very limited.
Lacking a centralized system for the dissemination of cultural information, the local orchid fancier had to rely primarily on personal observations and the exchange of personal experience between individual growers. In the early days, the variety of orchids available on Aruba was limited to mostly species and a few hybrids. Propagation of orchids depended greatly on divisions, since propagation via seeds was out of reach for most growers. Growers gained experience primarily by means of trial and error, and a semblance of a society took shape when growers started to meet on occasion to exchange their personal experiences. In 1972, about a dozen or so orchid fanciers founded the “Sociedad di Orquidia Aruba,” or “SOA” for short. Many of the founding members of SOA, were the growers that were previously meeting informally to share their knowledge and experience. The objective of SOA was to meet in an organized and structured fashion to facilitate to exchange cultural information and to bring orchid cultivation beyond the small group of aficionados to the general public. The driving force of this initiative was the late Mr. Charles P***k, who appealed to many would-be orchid growers through an interview published in the local newspaper Amigoe, published on February 1, 1972. In that article, late Mr.P***k explained that contrary to popular belief, the climate of Aruba was not at all bad for the cultivation of orchids, we just needed more information to allow orchids to thrive here. It is evident that orchids can grow well on Aruba, since Aruba is home to two native genera of orchids belonging to the Cattleya alliance. Aruba still is home to the Brassavola nodosa, but only a few very small populations still exist. This is an aspect that deserves conservation attention and it is imperative that local protection for the Brassavola is enacted, before it lost to our heritage due to ignorance. SOA’s LOGO
Late Mr. Augusto Kelly drew the Brassavola nodosa, a native specimen from Aruba that was part of his orchid collection. Mr Kelly gave permission to SOA to use his drawing for the orchid exposition of 1992. The “Sociedad di Orquidia” used the drawing in various promotional media and has since adopted late Mr. Kelly’s drawing as its logo in appreciation of our native Brassavola nodosa and in recognition of a founding member. Sociedad di Orquidia Aruba is proud to be identified with this drawing.
