Horizontal Composition

I have not been writing my blog for two months since I returned home from Taiwan. I got sick and suffered severe nerve pain from Shingles (in my left upper leg). It will take a long time to be completely recovered. As of now, my nerve pain has gradually been getting better. I finally am able to update my missing articles. This "Horizontal Style" arrangement was one of November's class assignments. I arranged it at home using bittersweet, mum and hosta with a ceramic container.

Arrangement Using Midollino (paper string)

I made this midollino structure last September, and I used it in my arrangement with Spray mum from my garden, hydrangeas, plus a Ceriman. The container is metal and crescent moon shaped with a stand.   

Traveling Around Taiwan's Hakka Culture Centers

I am back from Taiwan, but still very tired. These two weeks from October 13th to the 26th, I was away in Taiwan with my husband, plus three hundred more people from all over the world, for two Hakka conventions.  We visited the country's Hakka cultural centers, gardens, villages, parks and temples. We traveled all over the island to many places that we've never visited before. A minority group in Taiwan, the Hakka people have a unique culture and have worked to preserve its heritage and traditions. The Hakka language is now considered a national language of Taiwan and is taught in schools.

hand craft oil paper umbrella

Female Hakka outfit in olden times

Hand made crafts using Hakka fabric

Hakka Lanterns

Hakka women wore costumes to welcome all of us

Hakka children singing Hakka songs

Washington, DC Hakka chorus team competes with other teams

Hundred of years old majesty residence of Hakka officer

The old temple in my home town

The Flowering Tree of Hakka Symbol - Vernicia Fordii

The first three pictures are taken from a book.  They are symbols of a Hakka flowering tree. They bloom around April to May in a Hakka town in Taiwan. The falling petals are called "May Snow".

Vernicia Fordii (oil tung tree)

Blooming in the mountain and road side

May Snow

Park near the Hakka culture center, same as below three photos

we saw a lot of these flowering trees along the road side

Cosmos in the field just starting to bloom

Cycling around the rice field

Bicycle kites