MR. RUSS EWING & MRS. FRANK RODING
The Esso News of August 8, 1947 features an article on orchid growing among Lago employees. The article pays tribute to the orchid fanciers Mrs Frank Roding, the wife of a T.S.D. employee and Mr.Russ Ewing, an employee of T.S.D.

In the Esso News of March 13, 1950 Mr. Russ Ewing appears in the Picture Parade showing an orchid flower. This orchid flower was the result of a cross made by Mr.Ewing between the Brassavola nodosa of Aruba and the Encyclia cordigera of Venezuela. Mr. Ewing had this primary hybrid registered at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the U K under the name Brassoepidendrum Arubiana registered on January 1, 1950. This hybrid has been remade in 1997 and named Brassoepidendrum Megan. Upon registration at the RHS, it was considered a synonym of Bepi Arubiana by the registrar of the RHS.

The orchid society has been tracing this hybrid through different avenues. The latest information we have is the correspondence with a Japanese breeder of this hybrid. A member of the society has been able to obtain two specimens of the hybrid from Japan.

The Sociedad di Orquidia Aruba, the Aruba Orchid Society, is trying to trace the path of Mr. Russ Ewing after he left Aruba to the USA. We would be very grateful if someone could help us out with information on the orchid legacy of Mr. Ewing.

The orchid society is constantly providing publicity on this hybrid. The newspaper Aruba Today occasionally provides brief information on and a picture of this plant in its centerfold page. In the reference book on orchid culture on Aruba, authored by the president of the orchid society, he made reference to Mr. Ewing and the hybrid. The Sociedad di Orquidia Aruba was founded in 1972 and hosts about 220 members.

The membership of the Sociedad is very active, it hosts shows on a regular basis, the next in 2007 on the occasion of 35 years. It has recently issued a birthday calendar featuring orchid blooms.

We would like to receive input on Mr.Russ Ewing, if possible on Mrs. Frank Roding too and any available information about the orchid culture among the Lagoites

If anyone have any information about Mr. Russ Ewing or Mrs. Frank Roding please send an email to The Orchid Society Aruba at:   sociedaddiorquidiaaruba@yahoo.com

CLICK ON FIRST PAGE OF ARUBA ESSO NEWS TO GO TO LARGER COPY OF MR. EWING
CLICK ON THIS SECOND PAGE OF ARUBA ESSO NEWS TO GO TO LARGER COPY.