"Multi- School Demonstration"

Ikebana International Philadelphia Chapter #71for this month's program was giving members of the different Ikebana schools (Sogetsu, Ohara and Ikenobo) an opportunity to learn from each other.
Below are the different styles of arrangement from 3 major Ikebana schools.

Ohara School

Sogetsu school

Ikenobo school

May Class - 1) Composing With Branches - A Two step Approach

Hata Sensei's class in May have two lessons (book 5) :

1) Composing With Branches - A Two- step Approach
This is a free standing composition using cut branches.
I found a big piece of dead boxwood branch from my friend's yard. I used it to make a two ceramic containers arrangement at home before Hata Sensei's 1st lesson. (see below).
In the class, I looked at the branch, carefully cut three pieces and arranged along with one container, wired and interlocked them to form a structure. One side had strong line and another side had soft line. Hata Sensei suggested to add one longer branch to left side. She said it's very nice.

rearranged at home for better photo

finished in class

rearranged at home

Hosta

peony

peony

May Class -2) Using Seasonal Plant Materials

2) Using Seasonal Plant Materials

There is no problem for finding seasonal (Spring) plant materials for 2nd assignment, there are plenty of in my garden. I arranged it in Horizontal style with ceramic vase. All the plant materials' name I post below.

My arrangement in class

Tried at home before class

Iris

Weigelia

Solomon Seal

Lilac

Peony

Peony

My garden (2)

I am so delighted about my back yard garden this time of year! Thanks to the April Showers! There are blooming flowers of Azalea, Peony, rose, regular Iris and Japanese Iris.

April Showers bring May Flowers (1)

April showers bring May flowers! Indeed. We have just enough rain for this Spring. The grass, the trees are so green and my flower garden are so luscious! They are all my possible Ikebana materials that I can use if I wish to... .

back yard garden

Japanese Iris

horse tail

allium

tree peony

tree peony

Clivia Lily (house plant)

Forget me not ?

Tulip from Holland Ridge Farm N J

My Orchids

Every time I think about my orchids, I feel so bad and sad. Ever since I moved to this house, my poor orchids have not been doing well at all! They don't look healthy. I've gradually lost my enthusiasm. Looking back at my orchids blog, the glory time of my orchids has gone（榮景不再). My heart aches. I've mentioned before the reasons why are: 1) the chemicals to soften our water is not good for the plants; 2) the sunlight comes into my sun room differently, and so is not bright enough; 3) I've gotten lazy and am busier with my ikebana, plus I'm getting older. They need so much of my physical attention during indoor windowsill time (watering); 4) the outdoor location is not as suitable as old house location.
I have not been post my orchids since last December. Even though I still have one blooming orchid for each month. Below are my three long lasting orchids.