December Orchids Bloom - Cattlelya

These two large Cattleya orchids were divided last summer. They are fully bloomed just in time for Christmas and holiday. It will last for 3 to 5 weeks depends on room temperature. Both are fragrant (12/24/2013)

Bllra. Tohoma Glacier "Ithan" AM/AOS

Lc. Hallo Wedding "Carmen"

Three Arrangements for Demomstration

A group of Taiwanese American retirees in NJ, named "Living Well Club," meet every Wednesday. Each week they invite a speaker to give a lecture, such as "About Medicare," "How money works," "Wildlife of Costa Rica," etc. This Wednesday, I was invited to talk about "Ikebana, Japanese Floral Art." This was my third time sharing my learning experience and using a power point to explain my Ikebana works selected from my blog. At the end, I demonstrated two basic styles (Nageire and Moribana) and one free style. I am so happy to have had this chance to review and practice my Ikebana arrangement. (12/18/2013)

Basic upright style moribana
Boxwood branch, Mum with ceramic container

Basic Variation No.6 Horizontal Style Nageire
Holly, Carnation and Mum in bronze vase

Free style
Boxwood, berry and mum using driftwood as container

Holiday Arrangement - Merry Chrismas

The red, green and white are the main three colors for Christmas. Occasionally I add silver or shiny materials in the arrangement.  

 Western Style meets Eastern Style for Christmas table arrangement.
There are  Berries, Poinsettias, silver sprayed dried Hydrangeas and holly on 
the Edgeworthia branches 

Poinsettias and holly
Ceramic container with red base 

Berry branch, Poinsettia and Aster arranged in the green ceramic container

Winter Scene Around My House

These couple weeks have been frigid cold. We had 3rd round of snow within 10 days (but not a whole lot of snow 4" only). Last night, we were supposed to go to the hospital medical staff  holiday party, but the road condition was so bad, icy and slippery, so dangerous! We did not even get to half way, we decided to turn around to go back home.
These pictures around my house were so beautiful, peaceful and in holiday atmosphere.  

November Orchids Bloom

With this month's busy schedule, I have been  ignoring my orchids. I missed my BCOS meeting(11/21) and forgot to post my blooming orchids. Here are my three orchids which blooming right after I came back from my three weeks vacation and I found out most of my big Cattleya plants in bud.

Milt. Xenia (Milt. Bluntii  '4n' x Milt. Clowesii  '4')
Vigorous and easy to flower.  Waxy flower, strong fragrant

Oncidum Clom " Wild Cat"

Cornucopia Arrangement - MWGC November Meeting

From my November MWGC Program: Each person will create her own cornucopia at this meeting under the guidance of Pat Mutek, our former president. Most of the materials will be provided by the club. (11/20/2013)

I placed my finished cornucopia at the foyer of my home. After a few days later I took all the materials apart and rearranged it with some gourds and pine cone. The one I made in the meeting was too crowded. I like this one much better. (11/24/2013)
Below: both sides of the picture.

"The cornucopia (from Latin cornu copiae) or horn of plenty is a symbol of abundance and nourishment, commonly a large horn-shaped container overflowing with produce, flowers, nuts, other edibles, or wealth in some form. Originating in classical antiquity, it has continued as a symbol in Western art, and it is particularly associated with the Thanksgiving holiday in North America".(From Wikipedia)

Abstract Design - MWGC November Little Show

As a member of  MWGC we were asked to do a flower arrangement for the title of "Football Season", a Creative Abstract Design. I had no idea what to do with the arrangement that relates to the "Football Season"? All I can think about it is the football season is always in Autumn, so I did a design to signify a fall color with weathering leaves and remaining fruits on the branches in ikebana style.
What is the name of this fruiting plant? I asked my garden club friends. Unfortunately no one can give me an answer. Hopefully I can find the name later. (11/20/2013)

This was my first arrangement (with carnation) for MWGC,
 but it's not abstract design. So I changed my design to the
 above arrangement. 

Thanksgiving Arrangement

Thanksgiving is just a week away, so we were asked to do a Thanksgiving arrangement as the main theme in the November class. I chose a big Champagne glass as the container to celebrate this festive occasion. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everything I have and everyone I love. Happy thanksgiving for all!

Material: Japanese maple, apple, bitter sweet, gourd, green and grapefruit slice
Because I arranged this with less materials compared yesterday's arrangement,
the grapefruit slice seems a bit heavy, so Sensei's suggestion was a good idea
 to cut the slice in half to make it appear lighter overall. (11/19/2013)

Material: Japanese maple, mum,  bitter sweet, green and grapefruit slice
I arranged this one a day before class. (11/18/2013)

Evergreen Taiwan - My Mother Land (5/5b)

These are my last pictures. Three weeks of vacation seems long enough but I am looking at all the pictures now, it seems like yesterday! I would like to share them with you, hoping you enjoy them as much as me.

Coffee shop at Hakka town area, the Cosmos still blooming! we stopped for a
 cup of tea. The owner likes gardening and plant a lot of  flowers(see below). 

Country Inn 

Beautiful wood furniture store and decoration (see below)

My Hydrangea had long gone. Here are the Summer Hydrangea 

Oncidium orchid on the window top

Is this some kind of orchid?

Evergreen Taiwan - My Mother Land (5/5a)

After eight days of Japan, my husband and I flew to Taiwan. Taiwan is a subtropical country, the mountains, fields and plants will remain green. When westerners travel to Taiwan, they are surprised and call out "Illa Formosa!" like the Dutch when they first landed in Taiwan in the sixteenth century.We stayed in Taiwan from 10/25 to 11/6/2013. During this time we traveled on a high speed train from the north (Taipei and surrounding area ) to the south (Kaoshiung area), visited our relatives and friends. The weather was even warmer than Japan and a bit humid, but no typhoon. We were so lucky that the whole three weeks vacation ended perfectly!

Yangming shan (mountain)

Ever green mountain

Lily Pond looks like a Monet's painting

Rice field

View from Shitosan ( Lion head mountain )

Betel nut tree

Plant with lace leaves

The market fair, under the famous special dyed canopy 

Road side musician singing Taiwanese folk songs 

Young women from the A-May tripe

Color dome by Italian artist at Formosa Subway Station in Kaoshiung

Two pairs of  wood clog, gift for my granddaughters