Two Oncidium Orchids

My orchids have ended their vacation, already home for two weeks now. The temperature is up and down, not stable, sometimes dipping to 40F degree at night. It’s about time to bring them inside the house. A month ago, I noticed two Oncidium orchid stems appearing one inch. I’m so excited! Especially because I haven’t had any other orchids blooming for a long while, except my Pinocchio (lady slipper), which keeps blooming. (10/27/2020)

Some update pictures on 10/31/2020 and 11/6/2020

Right picture name Epi. Cilive “Xenia” 

I remembered this one, up date to 10/31/2020 

Has not bloomed for a long time

I don’t know what its color is yet

10/31/2020

10/31/2020

Free Style - Fall Harvest Arrangement

I was so delighted to present this home grown silk squash which I picked from my husband’s small vegetable garden. Before I cooked it I would like to make an arrangement to show you how proud of my husband’s little harvest. Haha!😀

silk squash and mum/ ceramic

 

Autumn Splendor - Demonstration for Zoom Class

I was invited to do a demonstration for BuxMount Sogetsu study group Zoom class on October 13. Using wood was the subject. A big piece of bare rooted wood that I found from a discarded wood pile (see below). I used this piece of wood as my base for an arrangement. I gathered all the possible materials that I might like to use, such as bittersweet, hydrangea, mum, hosta and....

I only used two water tubes for mums to keep them fresh. The hydrangea, bittersweet and hosta would gradually dry nicely without water. All these materials I carefully arranged into the rooted hole to complete my composition.

There is another subject of arrangement in text book 4 for composition with dried materials, I can present this one as well.

 This is a rather big arrangement, more than two feet tall:

practice demo on outside patio 

My demonstration arrangement 

Upside down rooted wood

Sign of Fall - Garden Chrysanthemum

Garden Chrysanthemums are blooming, sign of Autumn here in my garden. 

The Hinoki, mum and dry branch were the main materials that I wanted to arrange with or without dahlias, I took three pictures for each arrangement and compared them. In the end, I liked the first one the most. How about you?

Container: ceramic triangular tall vase  

Basic Slanting Style Moribana

The MainLine Sogetsu study group is now meeting virtually. September was our third time for zoom class. Sensei asked us to review book 1,Variation #2, Slanting Style Moribana. In Zoom class Sensei did a demonstration of this style. If we wish, we could make this arrangement and photograph it from the view of front, side and top, and send the photos to Sensei. For next month's meeting, she will offer critiques of  this arrangements.

Materials: Azalea, dahlia and fire throne /  ceramic suiban

Sensei’s critique: overall is good. Suiban is too small, can not show the water (I noticed it), if my container is big enough, kenzan put in the right side, it will be perfect and look beautiful! (11/9/2020)

Front view

Side view

View from top

Gladiolus and Aspidistra

It is hard to believe that we have been in this Covid-19 Pandemic lock down for more than six months, from late Winter to Spring, past Summer to now early fall. We are still not free to get back to our life the way we were! But, one thing for certain, I have beloved Ikebana to think and create, plenty of garden materials I can pick..... Fortunately! I didn’t have to go out to buy any flowers, all were found from my back yard garden and surroundings. Until now, for a change, I purchased a bunch, ten stems of Gladiolus for only three dollars! Here is my arrangement with Aspidistra house plant.