My Arrangement at PHS Philadelphia Flower Show 2025 (3)

It happened that my daughter came to visit us, I asked her to work as my assistant for my arrangement at the Flower Show.  The first rotation ended 3/3 Monday 8:00 PM. I and my daughter started setting up my arrangement right after they empty the spot, making a seamless transition for the 2nd rotation (3/4 -3/6). I really like my final arrangement, I think it’s beautiful! It’s my style also! 

Materials: Mitsumata, forsythia, chrysanthemum, hydrangea, peony, baby’s breath and Philodendron. 

Right side view 

Left side view 

Part of 2nd rotation arrangements

Ohara school’s main fixture for the entire week 

Sogetsu school 

Ichiyo school 

Prepare for Flower Show (2)

I knew my platform measurement and color scheme, I decided to use this ceramic container which I got from auction. I bought a small bouquet of flowers to start the arrangement that I would like to make. I changed the structure three times after I saw the real site where the flower show officially opened to public. I was there on duty for hosting the Ikebana section of the 1st rotation. (3/1/2025)

My first attempt, the breached mitsumata need to
make much higher 

Added forsythia and changed Mitsumata to upright 

Final outline, imagine the white board is blue gray
3 feet circle, 16 inches high from ground 

Buxmount study group’s design 

Mainline branch’s design 

Prepare for Philadelphia Flower Show 2025 (1)

After February class lessons, it time for thinking about PHS Philadelphia flower show (3/1-3/9/2025). I am in the 2nd rotation. The layout below: #4 is my spot. It’s a large two layers platform, the bottom is 4feetx4feetx1feet, the circle is 3feetx4inches. (2/23/2025)

Back side

Ceramic container, I will use this side

My first attempt design 

Dried Flower Arrangement

I didn’t attend the Ikebana International Philadelphia Chapter meeting on 2/20/2025. I missed Mary Jane Risch’s demonstration and workshop. But I made an arrangement at home using all dried materials which I collected and saved from time to time.

Dried materials: Hydrangea, safflower, nandina berry, palm, Philodendron and tree branch / ceramic vase

February Class Lesson (1) - With Leaves Only

We had two lessons on 2/18/2025, using the same leaves materials for both arrangements.    Lesson (1): With Leaves Only (book4 - 2).   Lesson (2): Composition Expressing on a Movement (book5 - 18);  use the same materials from lesson one, adding flowers if you like. 

I chose ceramic triangular shaped container (with three holes in each side) for my first lesson, the leaves materials were Philodendron, Aucuba, Aspidistra and cymbidium leaves. 

In class 2/18/2025

Sensei’s Demo 

Arranged at home day before (2/17/2025)

2/17/2025  different angle

February Class Lesson (2) - Composition Expressing on a Movement

Create a composition by developing its idea from a VERB of movement (Book 5-18). There are so many verbs indicating movement. For example: Rise, climb, roll, flow, overflow, fly, fall, bounce, turn …etc.  I thought it would be hard to use the same leaves to create a movement at first, and then I figured that I could use cymbidium leaves and Aspidistra to make an arrangement by which could be felt “Fall” or “Blow”.  (2 /18/ 2025)

Sensei wanted me to add more tulips to be better balance

Original design, added tulips to look like Falling 

Sensei’s Expand movement 

Tulip and Golden Maple Branches

This winter seems very long and cold! But when I step into the supermarket these days, there are a tons of tulips, all kind of colors! I wonder if spring is coming or not far away?!

Only One Kind of Material - Nandina

We have class lessons once a month. In between, I usually would find something or use leftover flowers to make one or two arrangements for my own pleasure.  It’s been very cold, there is nothing in my garden except nandina bushes, I have a lot of them!  So, here is my arrangement:

Winter Snow Scenes- Winterscape

It has been a cold winter! Even though we don’t have much snow in our area, but it is the coldest winter so far! When my children reported to us they had 5 inches snow in their area Rhinebeck, NY,  we had none! But our winter scenery looked like a work of art!  The trees and bushes covered with ice, clear and bright like crystal, so beautiful!  (1/9/2025)