Orchids in December: Cattleyas

C. Percivaliana " Summit"
This one is called "Christmas orchid", It was blooming during Christmas last year too, but it only bloomed two flowers. It is a good thing that I can check my blog and keep track from year to year.

This is a big Cattleya. It has 3 sheaths; each one has 4 flowers, which is a big improvement than last year. It's also very fragrant. (see below left picture)


Bllra. Tohoma Glacier " Ithan" AM/AOS
Its perfume fills the whole room in the morning. This one is not as great as last year's. There are only three flowers. (see above right picture)

New Years Arrangement Horizontal Style

The materials for my new years design this year are pine, white mums, and red roses. Because I'm using a horizontal style, also I had a bunch of painted white twigs that could balance the pine beautifully. This arrangement from tip to tip is 36 inches long. After I came home from ikebana class, I rearranged and placed it on my dinning table, it looks very pretty for the holiday season. (12/14/2010)

Composition of Mass and Line (Striaght or Curved)

The mass of orange mums is contrasted with dark blue container. The curved bittersweet creates artistic tension in the space.( 12/14/2010)

Two or More Containers ( Merry Christmas)

The tall vase towards the back of the wood platform creates a strong impression. I used holly, Poinsettia and red Nandina berries, and for contrast I arranged same materials in the much smaller vase towards the front. I placed vines and ivy connected to each other first, then arranged flowers and leaves for both containers. This is also a Christmas themed arrangement. My teacher said it was beautifully done. (12/7/2010)

I gathered all the materials and followed my idea to arrange this one day before class.(12/6/2010)

Vertical Composition

I found a bunch of wild raspberry plants outside my wooded area. They grew upwards and now only a few leaves remain at the tip. I thought these would show the beauty of natural lines, so they became my design for today's lesson "Vertical Composition." The colorful mums arranged at the bottom brighten the whole arrangement. I followed my teacher's final suggestion to make one branch higher to create a more harmonious look overall--there is no rule about the ratio between vertical length and horizontal width. (12/7/2010)

Full of Surprise

C. Skinneri Alba "Debbie"
I had another one that faded last month. This is the new, same "Dabbie" blooming after I came back from a visit to my daughter's home. Only four days later I noticed that on some of my Cattleyas, their sheaths had become plump or their buds had come out. Three or even four in one sheath, I am so pleasantly surprised!



Paph.(Lady Slipper) "Sukhakulii" and Cymbidium in the right

Orchids in November

Oncidium "Saint Dawn Gold" (Dancing lady Orchid)
Look! It looks just like a group of yellow dressed ladies dancing together having a ball.
C. Skinneri Alba " Debbie" Fcc/Aos ( Fragrance)
This cat. blooms faithfully every year during Thanksgiving time.

Pot. Mysteve Natsumi
I was surprised that this one has two flowers for the first time. Another one I posted last month is still blooming.

Morimono For Thanksgiving Dining Table

View from front (top) and back ( bottom).

I arranged these at home the day before the lesson. Bottom pictures are side views.

These arrangements are for the Thanksgiving dinner table. Even though I made one last year, this time the teacher wanted us to use vegetables, fruits, and one that should be viewed from all angles. Display on plate, cloth or large leaf was our choice. So this year's Thanksgiving center piece design, as you can see above, suited all my teacher's requirement. I used a drift wood to connect both sides. My teacher made a very good point that one side should be smaller, so I took some vegetables and fruits out.

Compared to last year's arrangement, I like this year's better. Going through all my ikebana blog pictures, I think I am improving not just skills but also in confidence. So many things to be thankful for, this is one of them! ( 11/16/2010)

Horizontal Style Nageire Variation No.6

The horizontal style is characterized by Shin, which is placed almost horizontally or extended near to the side from the mouth of the vase, 85 degrees, Soe is 65 degrees and Hikae is 75 degrees. There are flower pear tree branches and mums, just like dividing a circle into three equal sections. (11/16/2010)

Vines Design

I was so delighted that I could reuse the flower materials (Oncidium orchids and sunflower), from last week's M.W.G.C. Gala raffle prize for today's lesson" Vines" design.
I couldn't find any vines with leaves or berries at that time, and I also had an idea to use a grapevine wreath combined with orchids and a sunflower. At first I separated and reassembled the wreath into two circles with a thick willow twig to secure them into the tall vase and last I inserted the flowers to complete the composition.(11/9/2010)

My classmate Barbi's vines design and my first try.

Slanting Style Moribana Variation No.5

This composition was arranged with two Kapu (Azalea branches and roses). Shin 45 degree, Soe 15 degree and with their subordinate materials arranged in the back, the other Hikae 75 degree placed in front. In this style the water between the two groups should be seen clearly as if the water was flowing through from the back toward the front. ( 11/9/10)

November Gala at M.W.G.C.

The November Gala is our (Martha Washington Garden Club) major fund-raiser for scholarships that we award in June to students in horticulture and related fields. I was lucky enough to win a big ikebana like arrangement in a raffle. As you see above, it is beautiful! (11/5/2010)

Orchids in October and Congratulations

Congratulations to my daughter and her husband. The newest addition, a baby boy, arrived on October 11, 2010, two weeks earlier than the due date. I became a proud grandma again. Even though it messed up my schedule, I am glad that I could help out in time. It's a blessing that mother and baby are doing well, big sister (2 years old) too. I know I will miss ikebana class and next week's BCOS meeting, so I am posting my blooming orchids this time to celebrate.

L. purpurata var.carnea x Bl. Richard Mueller
Most of my orchids are placed outside in a shaded area from May to October, I call it " orchids on vacation." If I discover an orchid's buds starting to form, I will bring them inside the house, otherwise the bugs or slugs will start to eat it. That happened last year for this orchid, no flowers.

C. Pot Mysteve Natsumi
This Cat. is blooming again this year, only one flower again. I wonder why? Maybe it's the species? The flower is 5 x5 inches big, very flat.

Miltassia (Spider orchid) No. 1
These two plants habit are somewhat compact. Vigorous and easy to flower.

Miltassia ( Spider orchid) No. 2
The color, the form and number of the flowers (10 flowers) are much better this year. Happiness!

Autumn Theme Free Style

Close up view and side view
"Autumn is coming!" After the long hot and dry summer, autumn is finally here. Our teacher wants us to think about the colors, the materials and create an autumn themed ikebana arrangement.
My fall colors were maples, marigolds, mums and bittersweets. I grouped them on one side purposefully to show this piece of interesting wood. I like my finished composition, but my teacher suggested a longer bittersweet, so I followed her advice. (10/5/2010)

Hanging Style Nageire " Variation No.4 "

The hanging style is one of my favorite basic arrangements because of its unique style. In this variation No.4 hanging style, the Shin position is in a downwards direction from the mouth of the vase (135 degrees). To do so, choosing a branch is important. I cut a branch (Crab apple) naturally in hanging shape, which was easier to handle. The Hikae (yellow Daisy like flowers) is 75 degrees.(10/5/2010)

Orchids in September

Paphiopedilum " Doctor Calson"
It is blooming this time of year again, I can enjoy it for about 2 months.


"Lady of the night" ( Blc. richard Mueller x B. Cordata). Fragrant at night.
I divided this crowded orchid into three plants last year. They are all blooming now. I donated a smaller one to my garden club, a member bid $16 for it.

Onc. Sherry Baby " Sweet Fragrance" ( chocolate fragrance)
Above are the three kinds of orchids I was supposed to bring for the BCOS meeting's show table, but I was absent this month. Otherwise, I might have won some prizes!

Free Style

Another arrangement on September 20 and I changed the flowers from red Coxcomb to yellow Dehlia on September 27.

I had this new container and some Calla lilies left, also I had the urge to do Ikebana, especially because we are not going to have class until October. So this is my piece of work. (9/9 /10)