Welcome to the Southern Ontario Orchid Society

The MONTHLY NEWSLETTER and the WEBSITE are your main sources of information about the Southern Ontario Orchid Society. Newsletters are sent to members each month. Old ones are available on the website. In addition to event information there are excellent articles recapturing the presentations that are given as programs during the monthly meetings. The website contains lots of orchid information and links to vendors and other Orchid Societies as well as other orchid information sites.

The MONTHLY MEETINGS are usually held the first Sunday of the month, September through June, in the Floral Hall of the TBG. The date and room changes occasionally due to various reasons. The dates of all SOOS events are listed on your membership card and on the website.

The SHOW TABLE is an opportunity for members to showcase their flowering plants. These may be submitted for judging in the category to which they belong. Points are earned for first, second, and third place in each category.. Experienced growers comment on the plants. This is an opportunity to learn how fellow members grow their plants.

The SPEAKER PROGRAM varies each month. Details can be found in the newsletter and on the website. When visiting Canadian and international growers come to speak, you can usually pre-order plants as well as purchase from the ones they bring. If you have suggestions for programs, please see anyone on the executive. We celebrate summer with ORCHIDFEST. In conjunction with judging and a pot luck lunch, invited special orchid experts give two presentations and bring plants that are not easily available.

ORCHID QUESTIONS are answered by the ORCHID DOCTOR. If you are concerned about one of your plants, pack it up in a clear plastic bag and bring it in to consult the Orchid Doctor.

ORCHID CULTURE SNAPSHOTS are short sessions conducted each month prior to the start of the main meeting. Different subjects will be covered each month as indicated in the newsletter.

There are ORCHID PLANT SALES at each meeting. You can purchase plants as well as supplies at most meetings

The MEMBERS' SALES TABLE gives the individual members an opportunity to sell their healthy surplus orchids . Each member is allowed to sell up to 10 plants per meeting. These are to be listed with their prices on the Members sales form found on the website. Both the plants and the form should be brought to the table shortly before the meeting. You will receive your proceeds at the end of the meeting minus the 10% that goes to the Society. You can volunteer to help at the members table to help sell plants.

ORCHID VENDORS who are members of SOOS regularly rent tables on meeting days to sell their own products.

HOSPITALITY in the form of coffee and tea are available throughout the meeting. Donations are appreciated. A social break takes place part way through the meeting. This is an opportunity to socialize and to get to know your fellow SOOS members. Finger foods are generously donated by the members on a rotational basis as outlined in the newsletter.

LIBRARY- SOOS members have full access to the the Weston Family Library at the Toronto Botanical Garden. The loan period for all items is 4 weeks with the possibility of 2 renewals of 4 weeks each. Items on hold for another patron cannot be renewed and will need to be returned to the library by their due date. Late fees are set at $0.25 per day per item to a maximum of $5.00 per item. Books borrowed from the SOOS collection on the day of a SOOS meeting will be due on the date of the next SOOS meeting.

RAFFLE tickets are sold at $1.00 or 3 for $2.00. Prizes are plants and plant related items donated by SOOS members. The draw takes place near the end of the meeting.

Your membership card allows you full use of the TBG LIBRARY . SOOS has a large collection of books on all aspects of orchidology in the TBG library.

SOOS PARTICIPATES IN A NUMBER OF ORCHID SHOWS throughout Ontario and Quebec. You have the opportunity to contribute flowering plants for these displays. One person takes on the responsibility of designing the display and getting the plants and props to the orchid site. The organizer is always looking for help. This is a great way to learn the art of orchid display. Contributing plants to the display not only earns you ribbons and perhaps trophies but also points towards the annual awards.

ANNUAL AWARDS are given to the Orchid Grower Of The Year ( for the most points earned on the show table and show ribbons ) and the Most Active Participant Of The Year.

The ANNUAL VALENTINE'S SHOW , usually held the second weekend in February, is the main showcase for the orchid plants that our members grow. Many local as well as international vendors contribute magnificent displays and thousands of sale plants from all over the world. As this is our major fund raiser, we encourage volunteering at this event. Member involvement ensures the show's continuing success. Volunteering to participate at the show gives you free access to the show. Everyone has a talent to contribute to the success of the show. Proceeds from the show are used to meet the expenses of getting our great speakers and to support orchid Conservation projects.

The CONSERVATION COMMITTEE meets to discuss various issues as they concern orchid preservation.

The TORONTO JUDGING CENTRE of the American Orchid Society is supported by SOOS. Judging occurs the first Saturday of each month throughout the year. You are encouraged to attend to see what happens there and to submit your well-flowered plants for judging.