Phalaenopsis ( Moth Orchids)

Phalaenopsis are America's favorite house plants.They are easy to grow, and the flowers last for months. Bright, indirect light is required and should keep in mind they don't like to be soggy.
Above are all my blooming phalaenopsis pictures that I took from May to July.

Combined Styles Variation #8 ( Nageire and Nageire)

Combination of slanting style and upright style


Left: Basic slanting style was composed of Shin(75 degree) and Hikae by omitting Soe.
Right: Basic upright style of Shin 45 degree, Soe 15 degree and Hikae 75 degree.
I used Azaleas, Zinnias and Hydrangeas in the same color tone for both containers. Because of their similar materials and basic variation arrangement, it's better to use two vases of different color or heights. To combine their individual beauty together, I need to pay attention to how I compose them as a whole.( 7/21/10)

Disassembling and Rearranging the Materials

My Hydrangea bush has been eaten by deers. I was mad, but it suddenly occurred to me that I can use this eaten branches to create my teacher's assignment today, "Disassembling and Rearranging the materials". So I cut them off, stripped all the leaves and just left the branch's lines and Hydrangea's flower head that I want to use. I choose a perfect container ( from my container collection) for this design. I only used one kind of material( Hydrangea), I cut it (disassembled it), rearranged it, and put flowers into the vase. I also added another branch to complete this arrangement.( 7/20/10)

Oncidium orchids ( Dancing Lady Orchids)

Onc. "Wild Cat"

Onc. Sherry Baby" Chocolate" fragrance

Onc. Mishima
Only the "Wild Cat" is still blooming now. The three others were blooming at different times, but sherry baby bloom twice a year, which delights me.

Taiwanese American East Coast Summer Conferance

Grand center piece in the lobby

My teacher wanted us to observe how this big project was made from start to finish (it is about 6 feet x 6 feet). It involved drafting the design first, arranging the materials, and securing and stabilizing the branches with the help of a crew.

Stage piece in the Auditorium.
The S shaped road of sunflowers symbolizes Taiwan's historic struggle for independence.

There were more than 600 people coming from all over the east coast of the US to celebrate July 4th and attend the East Coast Taiwanese American Conference (TAC/EC). My teacher Mrs. Lin designed two arrangements for this big event. One for the lobby, one for the stage (the two pictures above). She also hosted a popular ikebana workshop where I helped as one of her assistants.
TAC/EC has had 41 years of history so far. The conference includes interesting workshops and discussion. Discussion topics included Taiwan's relationship with both the United States and China and an overall assessment about Taiwan's future. This year's conference was held at the University of Delaware from 7/2 to 7/5. The conference's theme this year was "New Thinking, New Action."


By me, Betty, and Chih

By some of the workshop students and mine

By Mrs. Lin and Mrs. Chen

Side view of Mrs. Lin's grand arrangement and demonstration piece

Ladyslipper Orchids

Paph. and Phrag., the tropical ladyslipper orchids, are easy to grow and very rewarding. They need re-potting every six months if possible, and they need lots of water with good drainage and light fertilizer. They are long lasting orchids too.

Phragmipedium "Don Wimber" (Eric young x besseae)
I have this one blooming every year. It always gets first place at the show table. After it bloomed four flowers and they faded one by one, I was just about to cut the stem off and I found a new bud forming. So surprised!

Paphiopedilum " Golddollar"

This one didn't bloom last year. This year, it not only bloomed but also had two flowers (usually it only has one flower). It's rare to see two flowers together.

Paph. " Pinocchio" (Three flowers blooming together is very rare! The day after I snapped the picture on the right, one of the flowers fell.)
I highly recommend this one for your orchid collection because they seem to never stop blooming, the buds are produced one after another. This one flowered for 18 months straight two years ago. I will see how long it will last this year. It started to bloom last April and it's still going strong. Do they look like three pairs of lovely dancing shoes?

Sunflower Arrangement

After last week's ikebana lesson, I still have a few beautiful sunflowers left. I randomly made two arrangements using sunflowers to celebrate summer (but it's too hot now!).

An Arrangement for Exhibition

My teacher Ms. Lin is going to have workshop for the Taiwanese American Conference/East Coast in two weeks. She's not only teaching ikebana but also will hold a flower arrangement exhibition too. So we all have to make arrangements for this coming event. The table is 3x3x3 ft, so I was thinking my arrangement should not be a small one. I found a handsome wild rose bush and I did a lot of trimming. Together with two big sunflowers and a piece of wood was my original idea, after my teacher's final touch, the result was quite nice. I didn't like the picture I took. It's not as pretty as the real thing. (6/15/10)

Side view and my teacher's piece

Wedding Reception Table Arrangement

All right! I am going to try this topic that my teacher just assigned to us, especially since my daughter is planning to get married next summer. She wants me to do some flower arrangements. I think pastel colors are suitable for her. They are soft, feminine, happy and elegant. The pink ribbon is a good touch (my teacher's hint). Maybe I will try something else next year who knows?

Teacher's demo piece and my first version.

Cattleyas

These five different kinds of Cattleyas were blooming from time to time in April and May. They lasted from three to six weeks. I have moved most of my orchids outside under two big pine trees. They have been there since Mother's Day and are on vacation now.