November Orchids Bloom

The Cattleya orchids are usually blooming in winter months. Some of them can bloom more than 4 weeks, and some wilt in less than three weeks. I am so happy that I have had orchids blooming almost all year long.

Cat. Hawaiian Lighting. It had three flowers last year.

Blc. Hwa Yuan Beauty 'Pearl" AM/OSroc. 

From left: the 1st and 3rd have faded, the 2nd and 4th are still
 blooming now. (11/30/2015)

Slc. Final Touch "Mendenhall' AM/ AOS

Slc. very nice fragrant in the morning 

Division of C. Benice Foster (Lady of the night)

 This Dendrobium was divided last spring. Other one is budding now.

Surprised the third flower on the right appeared  2 weeks later.

A Rose Bouquet

We received two dozens roses from a family friend to my husband a couple days ago, wishing him a speedy recovery. He is doing very well and I am very happy to use these roses for an arrangement for this occasion. Thanks to you all!

My Meditation

"A Study in Texture"

MWGC held a meeting one week earlier than usual because of the Thanksgiving holiday. The little show's title is "A study in texture". The explanation was not easy to follow. It's said: "Textured plant material to be displayed on any vertical object with texture, such as a picture frame, a furnace filter and or screening". I finally understood. So, I found a piece of wood bark as a vertical object of the back ground, arranged with fresh plant materials; mum, horse tail and bittersweet, all have their own texture. I was so delighted that I did it right and got 2nd place.(11/18/2015)

Maple and Mum Arrangement

My husband and I were supposed to go to Taiwan to attend the 13th Asia Regional Ikebana International Conference, but we had to cancel the trip because of my husband's surgery (Herniated cervical disc). It was scheduled on 11/9/2015, the same day we should have left for Taiwan. After all, health is the most important thing. I wish all of my classmates who went to have a good time and enjoy the Ikebana conference there (11/12 to 11/15/2015).
Autumn's gorgeous scenery has gone. The beauty is always short lived. Shouldn't we cherish every moment of life?
Here is the arrangement for my husband's successful surgery and hopefully, a speedy recovery.

Hata Sensei's Class - Swapping Container and Material

In this class, the assignment was: To exchange your container and materials (must include line material) with your classmate by drawing a number (each one was assigned a number). What I got was a round container, grapevine, berry, mum and green leaves. I looked at all the materials in front of me, and I figured out how to arrange them. At the end, checked by the Sensei, she commented " it's good." It was a challenge and fun. ( 11/2/2015 )

 my arrangement with classmate's container and material

My container and material arranged by a classmate

Sensei changed the bright orange mum to this soft orange color leaves

Display at the Library of Haverford College

Once a year, we Main Line Sogetsu Study Group (Hata Sensei's Class) will display our flower arrangements at the Haverford College library as a tradition for the college's Parent's Day weekend gathering.
This is my arrangement:  Trifoliate-orange branch, mum, hydrangea and leaves in ceramic container. (10/30-11/1/2015)

This was my original design (arranged on 10/27/2015), I was supposed to display it at the library. But the materials could not last long enough, so I changed the whole arrangement to the one above.