December Orchid Bloom

December is the month my Cattleya orchids bloom the most. But I noticed that some of them have fewer flowers compared to previous years. The reasons are because of the lack of my attentive care and environment change (I was busy moving and ...).  But some of the blooms do last for a long time and most of them are fragrant.
Below are my cattleya orchids. The pictures of the peach orchid shows a series of blooms(check the date).

Blc. Hwa Yuan Beauty" Pearl"

Slc. Final Touch "Mendenhall" AM/AOS

The 3rd bud appeared, it really surprised me.

Holiday Arrangements

" Full moon on Christmas night"

Siberian dogwood, poinsettia, baby's breath, Douglas fir and
Xmas ornaments. /black rectangular ceramic container 

Free Style

 Douglas fir, baby's breath, Alstromeria in the glass container. The soft wire added to get more pop.

Holiday Arrangement for Japanese New Year

The traditional Ikebana materials for cerebration of Japanese New Year are Pine, Bamboo, Berry, Mum, Rose, Narcissus...and Mizuhiki (Japanese paper strings with gold and silver for happy occasion). My materials used: Bamboo, Pine, Winter berry, Carnation and Baby's breath. This arrangement is larger than an usually one. The tallest bamboo is 3 feet, the shortest one is only 3 inch. The ceramic black container is 16"x 9"x 2.5"

Holiday Arrangement for Christmas

December's class ( Hata sensei's class 12/12/2016) features the Western Christmas arrangement with a touch of Japanese influence and the Japanese New Year arrangement.
Here are the three main colors for traditional Christmas arrangement of Ikebana free style.
Red Winter berry, Poinsettia, Green holly and White porcelain container. Plus Pine cone and Xmas ornamental object.    

Happy Thanksgiving to you All

This is my arrangement for Thanksgiving holiday. I used the same structure from previous arrangement for Longwood Gardens. All I did just to change the materials to Magnolia leaves and mum. This was an easy way to have another different image.
All my children and grandchildren came home to cerebrate Thanksgiving. We have 12 family member gathering in our dinning table to enjoy the wonderful Turkey meal. Yes, we all have many blessings to thank for. I am so grateful!
 "Happy Thanksgiving" to you all!

Thanksgiving Table Arrangement

In Hata Sensei's class (11/21/2016), beside doing basic style, everyone should do morinomo spreading arrangement using fruits or vegetables for upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
Here were arrangements of Sensei's demo. mine and some classmates.

Hata Sensei's arrangement

Arrangement by me

Classmate's arrangement

Classmate's arrangement

I.I. Chapter #71 Meeting- "The Faces of Plants"

 Ikebana International (I.I.) Philadelphia Chapter held its monthly meeting earlier this month (11/10/2016) because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Our program was Ryusei-ha Ikebana, demonstration by Masako Gibeault Sensei. She was born in Japan where she studied Ryusei-ha Ikebana. Now she has lived in New York and is a board member of the NYC chapter of I.I. Her demonstrations and arrangements have been at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and in the Ryusei-ha 130th anniversary flower exhibition in Tokyo, Japan.
Ryusei-ha ( 龍生派）Ikebana is new for me. To gain more knowledge and understanding, I searched google at: http://www.ryuseiha.net/english or www.ikebanahq.org/ryusei.php

Using Washi paper as part of arrangement to cover all different
kinds of containers, so it looks whole.   

This container is made out of newspaper.

Masako Sensei inserted pebble into each orange
Chinese lantern plant so they would sink to the
bottom of the glass container. Maple leaves
 float on top.

My Ikebana Room

Three years ago, we bought a very old house (1950?) because of its location; It's near a park and has beautiful surroundings. We also kept in mind that our daughter, who is an architect, could redesign the house and have a builder renovate it for us. We have moved into this new, downsized (after 21 years living in a big house), smaller house. Now it's only two of us living here. Thanks to our daughter! This is a lovely home, well designed, cozy and comfortable. Especially, I have my own place to work, the sun room or Ikebana room. Watering my orchids is no longer cumbersome. Arranging my Ikebana is enjoyable with no mess. I always feel that I am so fortunate! For that, I am very thankful!    

Inside the cabinets are full of Ikebana containers  

I painted the oil paintings on the wall few years ago.
The book case is full of Ikebana, orchid, and garden books

Ikebana International Exhibition at Longwood Gardens

Last month, I was busy preparing for exhibitions. One for our Sogetsu BuxMont Study Group(see my last post), one for Longwood Gardens annual Ikebana International show (Philadelphia chapter). This year, as in the past, we are part of the annual Chrysanthemum Festival. This was my first time to participate at the Longwood Gardens exhibition(10/29-10/30/2016) along with other three major Ikebana schools ( Sogetsu, Ohara and Ikenobo). There were 22 arrangements in total. My arrangement was displayed on the 16"x 16"x 32" high pedestal. I am happy with my arrangement.

The material: winter berry, pink ornamental cabbage, red and 
 pink mum (placed in the back), statice, drift wood and green

The purple ornamental cabbage was no longer good for exhibition.
 I changed pink one instead (see above picture).  

The huge arrangement by Sogetsu Buxmont Study Group
member. Chih Huang, June Wu and Doris Liu  

The big arrangement by Ohara school 

By Pat

By Mary

By Betty ( center )

October - November Orchid Bloom

Bucks County Orchid Society (BCOS) held an orchids auction at our October meeting. Since we have moved to our much smaller house, our sun room is only half the size of the old one. Therefore I have to reduce my orchids collection to accommodate the new sun room. So, I donated some of my orchids to BCOS. I know someone there can take good care of my orchids, I won't feel so sad.
Now, my sun room looks like a small jungle. It also functions as an Ikebana room (it has granite counter top, sink, underneath the cabinets are full of my container collection). I always thought how fortunate I am! I have my very own hobby place. Whenever I need to be alone, I go there to read, to do flower arrangement, meditation or even daydream...

My sun room or Ikebana room

Cat. "Roman Holiday". Left one faded, right one still blooming  

Bllra. Pacific Treasures "Everything Nice"

Onc. Xenia, strong fragrant 

"Lady of the night" Fragrant 

Long lasting flower. 

    

Back to Basic and Free Style- Hata Sensei's Class

This month's lessons continue our study of basics. It's a good thing that I must review all over again. Especially because I should practice these arrangements from behind, as a teacher or demonstrator would do.
Lesson 1) Basic Upright Style Moribana.
Lesson 2) Basic Upright Style Nageire.
Lesson 3) Free Style: Using Fall Color or Practice and prepare for annual Ikebana exhibition at Long wood Gardens. It will be the last weekend of October (10/29-10/30/2016).

Lesson 1 upright style Moribana

Lesson 2 upright style Nageire

My practice and prepare for Long wood Gardens.
Material: Drift wood, Winter berry, ornamental cabbage, mum,
 statice and green. Container: Pottery  

My Fall arrangement
Vine, hydrangea, mum, nandinar, winter berry and
green in the ceramic tall vase 

Free Style: Hata sensei's demo, front view 

The view from back,  I like this side better

Hata Sensei's another demo