Desert Plants

My husband and I went to New Mexico for vacation for eight days (5/21-5/28/2013). I have never been there, it's so different, like going to another country. There are so many places to explore, such as national parks, museums and American Indian historic dwellings.

I was just amazed with these plants' vitality. I wonder how these plants will be if they grow in other environments besides in the desert area setting, are they going to survive or get worse?

White Sands National Monument
The plants look like they grow in snow

City of rocks

City of rocks

 

These are road side plants and road side's natural Ikebana.

Peony Arrangement- Mass and Line (3)

Three peonies tied together to form a  mass along with Hosta, Willow and
driftwood to make this mass and line arrangement. It's 16 inches long.
Container : Ceramic vase (5/16/2013)

Peony Arrangement- Basic Style (2)

Basic Slanting Style Nageire

Peony and Pine (5/16/2013)
Container : White ceramic vase dress up with net. It looks more attractive.

Peony ikebana - Free Style (1)

All my tree peonies are full bloom now. They bloom earlier than the regular one and their flowers are very big. One flower is good enough for my design this time. (5/ 15/2013)

Material: Peony, Pine and driftwood. Dish kenzan was used
Container: I made this basket using chicken wire and vine

After I came back from New Mexico vacation,  most of my
 peonies almost faded. I changed the materials for another look.

Ikebana with Allium - (2)

Another arrangement with Allium. I used the willow branches to interweave a fence like object which is my new creation for this arrangement. For color contrast I added yellow Iris and a orange Tulip. My husband named this arrangement "Spring Sailing".

Container:  15 inches long ceramic suiban

Ikebana with Allium

I planted the Allium and Tulip bulbs last fall. Now they are blooming beautifully as well as the other flowers. I intend to use whatever I have in my garden to make ikebana arrangement.

Allium, Azalea and forsythia in porcelain vase 

Orchids Bloom in May

Time to post my blooming orchids for the month of May and I would like to bring 4 of them to the meeting (5/16/2013) except the last picture, the big purple cattleya. It's fading now.

Paph. Delenatii  x  Paph. Chamberlainium " long life "
It finally bloom again. I have been waiting for two years and it's better
 than ever. I am so delighted. 

Cat. name unknown. First time bloom
Pure white and it's so cute.

L. Purpurata Var. Carneax Bl. Rachard Mueller
Faithfully bloom every year 

C. Jackfowlieara  Appleblossom
This is a division from the plant ( right).
which got first place last meeting.

Cattleya . Irene Finney.  Large purple

Free Style - Splendid Spring

This vase is delicate and pretty.  Its open mouth is especially unique. But it's difficult to arrange the way I want without any mechanical help. So I have to use the "object" that I made before (see second picture) to secure the materials in place and stabilize it.  I think the overall arrangement is simply splendid.

Material: Dogwood, Azalea and Tulip
Container: porcelain vase, Made in Germany. ( 5/6/2013)

An Arrangement Without Kenzan (Book 4-18)

There are so many beautiful flowering trees in this time of year. I like to arrange something using their branches right this moment. Otherwise all the flowers will disappear before you know it.

Three Eastern red bud branches are secured in place by intertwining each
other without using any wire and kenzan. It's not easy and needs patience.
 Three similar color tulips, from my garden, are added. (5/2/2013)

The Valiant Pine

The 10th world convention of Ikebana International was held in Tokyo, Japan last May 2012. In their beautiful magazine (I just received it not long ago), there was a message which touched my heart. I think it's worth it to quote:
"In a far corner of the Exhibition gallery was a small case containing just two tiny pine seedlings, and a few words of explanation. This was not spectacular display of ikebana magic, so it did not draw crowds. These little seedlings were from a number of seedlings grown from the seeds in a pine cone of a pine tree that miraculously survived the tsunami (Fukushima). The mother tree is dying due to the salt in the soil left by the tsunami, but these seedlings and their siblings will play roles in the reconstruction of the devastated areas and be honored as a symbol of fortitude and resilience."