February Orchids Bloom

I have five blooming orchids this month, including Pinocchio (lady slipper) and Sherry baby (Oncidium), both are still blooming. They are not only brightening up my sun room (or Ikebana room) but also the sweet fragrance fills the air! Especially looking out from the window, all you see is the vast expanse of whiteness of snow. It’s not going to melt any time soon!

Oncidium, division from one plant (2/15/2021)

Compact Cattleya blooming every year (2/15/2021)

This is my second cymbidium plant

Orange Cattleya budding(1/30/2021)

2/6/2021

Five flowers(2/ /7/2021)

MWGC February Virtual Little Show - Functional Table Setting arrangement

For our February virtual little show, we are focusing on Dinner On The Orient Express: A functional table setting using a serving tray. It is interesting to see how different my Ikebana style is and other members’ western styles are! (Please see below #2 sample.) We can learn from each other, for me I learned a lot from our Martha Washington Garden Club (MWGC). (2/23/2021)

“Afternoon Tea” is the title of my arrangement. (top picture)

Making an Arrangement In Glass Container for February Zoom Class

For February zoom class, I chose this beautiful blue crystal bowl from my collection. This time, I have the container first and then thought about materials to suit it, not the other way around.

In this month’s zoom class 2/15/2021, whoever would like Hata Sensei’s critique, should take a photo of their arrangement from front, side and above and then submit to Sensei ten days before class. I really like this arrangement of mine and can’t wait to hear Sensei’s comment. (2/5/2021)

During our zoom class, when my arrangement showed on the screen, Hata Sensei asked me to explain my arrangement, she then said that my color combination was good, she liked my materials choice, and overall it was very good. I was delighted for the rest of day! (2/15/2021)

Materials: Rose, mum, hydrangea, baby’s breath, painted branch, allium and white net / crystal bowl

Front view

View from above

Side view

A Moment of Beauty - Icicle and Daffodil (3)

 I am continuing to make icicle arrangements. Here is my last piece. By accident, I found out my Icicle arrangements fall into the category of  “ Essence of Creativity #48: Remember there are always new, surprising themes and approaches to arranging Ikebana.” This is according to “The Fifty Principles of Sogetsu” by Sofu Teshigahara, the founder of Sogetsu School. (please see textbook #1 page 127 and textbook #5 page 102 )

A Short Lived Beauty - Icicle and Daffodil (2)

Because of freezing temperatures, I have plenty of icicles to play with, but I have to act quickly and carefully or it will change the shape and melt into a pot of water 🤭. It’s slippery and fragile, l broke many pieces of icicles many times!

Boxwood sculpture

Longing for Spring - Icicle and Daffodil (1)

 Looking out from my family room window, I see many icicles dripping down from the gutter. I am curious about how it is possible to make an ice sculpture and arrange it.  Keeping that in mind, I went to the supermarket to buy a bunch of daffodils. Hoping Spring is not far away!

Snow Storm - Winter Scenery

Within a week there were two major snow storms in this early February! 8 inches and 10 inches in our area. Even though it caused some inconvenience, it looked like a beautiful winter wonderland! The earth stayed still, pure and peaceful! 

Glass Container (1) - Clear Champion glass

I was inspired by Hata Sensei’s demonstrations in last month’s Zoom class, which was all about glass containers.

Making an arrangement using glass containers, there are various types of glass containers. I used a transparent wine glass, which showed hydrangea and colored glass seashells inside. The composition on the top were berries, mum and ivy around the rim of container.

Glass Container (2) - Red Crystal Bowl

I made another glass container arrangement using a colored crystal bowl as my container. It is a beautiful translucent red crystal bowl, for which I picked some red flowers and other colors for balance, overall to look harmonious!

Soft wire inside to make arrangement easier