New Year Arrangement

May your new year filled with Good Health, Love, Peace and Happiness!

Magnolia branch, Winter berry,  mum and pine
Tall vase with Chinese character "Good luck", "happiness"
or "good fortune". The word say it all- Happy New Year!

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.