Arranging with wood

My house is surrounded by woods, like a small forest. I was wandering in the woods yesterday, trying to find the best segment of wood and vine possible for today's class assignment. I used three pieces of wood that I found. I bent the vine and tied it first and arranged them all to support each other. The two pieces wood ended up being the same length, so my teacher suggested putting the Hydrangea in front to cover one piece of wood, then I put Cat tails in the back to give some height. The final composition looks well stabilized and beautiful. It's in the fall theme too! (10/6/09).

This arrangement practiced what we already learned. "Basic upright style Nageire" I was purposely choosing a white vase for the white Daises. What do you think? (10/6/09)

Ikebana International Philadelphia Chapter#71

My teacher invited us, the students, to the Ikebana International (I.I) Philadelphia Chapter's lunch meeting last Thursday (9/24/09). Mrs. Kika Shibata was the guest demonstrator. She earned the prestigious title of RIJI, the highest degree offered by the Sogetsu school. She was appointed the Sogetsu regional Director of North America from 1996 to 2002 and she was chosen by Headmaster Akane Teshigahara as coordinator of west coast in North America. She also remains an active member of I.I. and She is the most active Sogutsu teacher internationally. Mrs. Kika Shibata specializes in unique line designs that enrich living and working environment. (Biography summarized from the I.I. program)

She traveled from San Jose to Philadelphia to demonstrate. She used all different kind of materials and containers to make a big Ikebana flower arrangement. All of them are beautiful. I definitely learned something from the I.I. meeting. Below is her work.

September's Active Start

c. Natsumi
The Bucks County Orchids Society's meeting started this month (we were off July and August). Meetings are held the third Thursday every month. I don't have any new blooming orchids to put on the show table, I only have this one bloom three days after.


Martha Washington Garden Club meetings are held the fourth Wednesday every month. I signed up to be this month's Hostess. So the chair asked me to do the center piece for the refreshment table. This one is not ikebana, just a design idea I learned from the club a long time ago. I think it suits our Fall meeting.

Free Style Horizotal arrangement

For today's assignment, I picked two Azalea branches and carefully trimmed and studied them to see how they should be arranged to suit the low horizontal design. I used only one big Dahlia flower. I think choosing the right container is important too (a flea market find, I painted it black). My teacher said it's very good. I am delighted!

Close look

Happiness is...

Happiness is when you surprisingly discover a new spike appear in your orchids. I went to my orchids' vacation site to check them out today, and I found out they are doing well and most of Cattleyas have a sheath coming out already. I know that by November they are going to bloom. I am so happy.


This miniature Dandrobium bloomed last year for the first time. Now, it is going to bloom again. I am so ecstatic.


Miit. Xenia (Miit. Bluntii '4' xMiit. Clowesii '4')
I predicted this one would spike in September, and it did. I discovered it today. I am so thrilled.


Cattleyas ( Blc. Hawaiian Lighting " colorful")
Do you see the sheath coming out there? I don't know what color this flower is. Because this was young plant when I got it from the society's auction. It must be colorful like the name. I am so excited! All I have to do now is just wait patiently.

Upright Style Nageire Variation No.2

The key point of this style is the line created by the two branches. My teacher's comment is that I trimmed the branches very well, and the three main ikebana lines of Shin, Soe, and Hikee are all at the correct angle. I think I did a good job. (9-1-09)

Repeating Similar Forms or Shape

I transplanted the horsetail plants from my daughter's garden last fall. But not enough to use in today's arrangement, so I added some Zebra plant stems (I stripped all the leaves). I carefully bent them in all different sizes, tall and short. Their shape is rhythmically repeated. Last, I put two Coliopsis flowers, one in front and one in back to complete this composition. (9-1-09)

July and August's blooming orchids

Oncidiums (Sherry Baby) and Encyclia (Green Hornet).

The Sherry Baby Oncidium smells like chocolate. Its fragrance fills the entire room, so good! You should get this orchid. It is very easy to grow.


Hybrid Paphiopedilum "Doctor Calson"

It has been blooming for more then two months already, I think it's going to fade soon.


Dtps. Brother Strawberry (Purple Gem x King Shing's Rose)


Encyclia Green Hornet (cochleatum x Lancifolium)

This one is easy to grow too, it lasts for a very long time. The flowers are unique, but it has an unpleasant perfume in the morning.

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This time of year has the least number of blooming orchids in my orchids collection. I have the least amount of work for me too. Because most of them are outside under a big tree taking a vacation, I let mother nature take care of them for me.

How to secure branches

First, fix branches by tying them with wire, the basic idea is to fix them together at two points. When tying the 4 corners,the point of contact is to be secured tightly (see the picture above). Keep in mind that the wire knot is visible, so use colored wire that suits the materials so that it's not too obvious.

Nageire, Free Style
I used this new technique we learned today and arranged it into a tall vase design. In future lessons, it will be very helpful to use this technique, like in a design without Kenzan in the Moribana style or a design that does not use a container, using big branches to support each other. Very useful!

Combined Styles ( two containers)

Moribana and Moribana (8/4/09)

Moribana and Naageire ( 8/6/09)
We didn't have class in July, but we have three classes in August, and today's class was for a make up. I am going on vacation tomorrow (8/7). So I am just showing my finished arrangement first. When I come back (8/16), I will continue blogging! Until then!