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

Japanese Pottery and beyond (5/4)

The city of Kanazawa is called a little Kyoto. It was the place gold was discovered in ancient Japan. We visited the gold leaf shop and made a pair of our own chopsticks using gold leaves. I also got many chances to do window shopping of their pottery (original Noritake facility) they are beautiful but expensive. See below:

My husband and I designed our own chopsticks. Mine are
on the right side.

Japanese Cuisine (5/3)

We had a formal dinner (Kaiseki Ryori) almost every evening. The Japanese style meals are always eye catching and colorful. There are so many beautiful dishes in front of you, just for you. They were all delicious. We enjoyed them very much! Here are few samples:

 Sweet and Green Tea (Mocha) served after Tea ceremony