March, April and May Orchid Blooms

It is a pity that my orchids have fewer blooms these months compared to previous years. I was so busy with other things that I forgot to water them. It might be that they dried out for too long. They really need your attention and care.
Now all my orchids are outside in a shady place, so I will let Mother Nature take care of them.  Hopefully, the weather will cooperate.

Cattleya, compact plant

Onc. Mtdm. Issaku Nagata

Phalanopsis

Oncidium

My lady slipper orchid (Pinocchio) has been
blooming since last July.

Two Oncidium orchids are waiting for bloom

Arrangement Using "Found Object"

This month, we are continuing our studies of the basic style with the lessons: Variation #3 Upright Style Moribana (1st lesson) and Nageire (2nd lesson). The third lesson is a freestyle arrangement using "Found Objects," anything we can find to create Ikebana.
For example, Hata Sensei used a plastic egg carton to create a beautiful arrangement for her demonstration(first picture).

Hata sensei's other demo arrangement

My arrangement using a piece of plastic fence

Classmate's arrangement

classmate's arrangement

My granddaughter made these paper flowers.

Basic Style Variation #3 Moribana

The 11th World Ikebana International - Okinawa Convention Center

Okinawa is a prefecture of Japan, consisting of many islands. Before Japan annexed the Okinawa islands in 1879, it was an island nation, a kingdom called Ryukyu Kingdom with its palace structure very similar to China. Ryukyu kingdom paid tribute to China for several hundred years until Japan's annexation. The island endured the most severe fighting during WWII, before US invaded Japan.
My husband and I took a short trip to Taiwan after the convention to visit our relatives and friends. The trip from Okinawa to Taiwan only took an hour and half, which is much closer than Tokyo to Taiwan.

Convention Center site at the Ginowan Harbour.

Ginowan Harbor with small park

Fishing boats in harbor

Small park in harbor viewed from hotel balcony

Harbor viewed from hotel room

Okinawa Convention (3) - Member's Arrangements

There were so many beautiful, unique, big and small, simple and complex arrangements displayed in this World Ikebana International Convention. Here are just few of them:

Okinawa Convention (2) - My Arrangement

When I registered to attend the 11th World Ikebana International Convention, I signed up to participate in the member's exhibition, and they put me in a No #176 spot (300 in total, 1100 attendees throughout the world). Some of my colleagues said I am so brave. So, I began to worry about how I was going to arrange it on site without knowing what kind of container and materials to use. If I had my own container, I wouldn't be so worried about it. But it was so inconvenient to bring a heavy, breakable, ceramic vase over there, so I decided to make my own container. It was plastic, recycled, light and disposable! It's Sogetsu!
The result of my arrangement was a simple one.  The container was definitely a plus. A lot of viewers said that it was a clever idea.
I purchased my plant materials onsite.  They were sold by the stem. Each individual flower was much more expensive here than in my home town! It was a challenge and a new experience for me.

Each arrangement needed to fit in a 80cm W x 60cm D x 70cm H space.

Allium, monsteria leaf, peony and a purple plant (I didn't get the name of it.)

I wrapped a shiny mesh cloth around the plastic plant container then put soft wire around it.