I.I. Philadelphia Chapter #71 Opening Luncheon - Demonstration

After more than 18 months of the Covid-19 Pandemic, we decided to resume the annual I.I. September opening luncheon.  We have missed so many kinds of classes and events in person. Since most of us have gotten vaccinations and stayed in good health, every member was welcome to attend this event hosted by the Mainline Sogetsu study group. Under Marcia’s leadership, some of us did our best to contribute something! Especially our leader and her major team.  Not only did they spend hours and days coordinating us behind the scenes, but they also assisted our Sensei on stage for her demonstration.

The day (9/23/2021) finally came, and it was a huge success!!! There were around 80 people in attendance. We made 12 centerpieces, 6 arrangements to raffle out, and Hata Sensei demonstrated 10 pieces of spectacular work! Each arrangement was a work of art, and a lesson to help us all to learn.

The finally arrangement 

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I.I. Philadelphia Chapter #71 Opening Luncheon - Center Piece and Arrangement for the Raffle

Materials for center piece: Sunflower, aucuba, mesh, tree bark, wooden sake cup as container + Mizuhiki. We made 12piece in total, I posted only three here.

Below are six raffle arrangements by six I.I.members, the containers (provided by I.I.) with designed materials.  If you were lucky, you got one!  

My arrangement 

My arrangement 

Bye Bye Summer

When you see a lot of goldenrod (weeds) along the roadside turning bright yellow. You realized the summer is almost over! Autumn is in the air! 

Materials: Sunflower, goldenrod and gold dust aucuba / Lenox porcelain 

“Take It Outside” - MWGC Virtual Little Show

It’s beginning to feel a bit like fall. It’s September, our first in person meeting of MWGC will be at nearby  Core Creek park (9/22/2021). The program for September is “succulent/pumpkin Make-and-Take”. I will not be able to attend, but I will make an arrangement for the Virtual little show. The theme is “Take it Outside” Traditional or creative design to interpret an afternoon barbecue, picnic or dinner alfresco. 

The title of my arrangement is “Rustic Beauty”, made for a picnic table. The materials: Dried branch, Limelight hydrangea, Autumn joy, Solomon seal, turtle head and hosta / ceramic container  

September Orchid bloom - Lime Green Cattleya Orchid

This is a small compact orchid plant, I posted it twelve days ago (budding). It’s blooming now! I love its lime green color and pleasant fragrance!

9/19/2021

Focus on Container

My husband and I love to strolling around the park, especially in this beautiful fall like weather! If I would spot something nice and it catch my eye, I can’t help but think doing Ikebana.

The Chinese juniper with tiny berries caught my eye this time, for I intended to use it, I looked through my container collection and driftwood, I was wondering could they complement each other or not? You are the judge. (By the way I love this ceramic container)

Cattail and Sweet Pea

It’s early fall now, cattails are everywhere like weeds!  I intended to use them as Ikebana material with this container which I haven’t used for a long while. 

Materials: Cattail, Japanese Anemone and sweet pea / ceramic 

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Orchid Plant - Summer to Early Fall

These orchids have been with me for many years. They faithfully bloom every year around this time.

Cattleya “Roman holiday “ #2. (8/11/2021)

8/21/2021

9/10/2021

A Hint of Autumn

This is my old French ceramic vase, well made but it has tiny mouth and flat body. See below: 

Dried and fresh philodendron leaves and the flowers (zinnia and Helenlum Madi gras) I picked freshly from my garden and arranged them carefully into this nice vase. A hint of fall colors!

Spontaneous Arrangement - Repeating Similar Forms or Shapes

Looking around in my Ikebana room, I saw this new found vase (glass), wondering how am I going to arrange using it? Looking around again, I found a white mesh and old vine that I made circles repeatedly before. All I need were flowers: Zinnia in my garden and a bunch of wild flowers I picked from an open field, still in the water bottle. Without any intention, my arrangement falls into the subject “Repeating similar forms or shapes”. (textbook 3 - 17)

Crape Myrtle Arrangement with Tall Vase

I think the Crape myrtle is the most popular flowering tree in summer. The pink and red pink trees are blooming beautifully in my front and back yard. But they could not survive in my son’s area, in upstate New York, too cold!  I gave one for him to plant a few years ago, it didn’t pass through the winter. But if you are going south to my daughter’s hometown in Baltimore, Maryland, you will see a lot of them. They are just like Cherry blossoms in summer!

Materials: Crape Myrtle, Japanese anemone and Philodendron / ceramic tall vase