Today is the last day of the January. When I woke up this morning, the thermometer outside was pointing to 0 degree F !!! We had a major snow storm two days ago, 7 inches here, 30 inches in Boston area!
Today is also Lunar New Year, the year of the tiger. Unfortunately we had to cancel our family members’ gathering celebration because of the snow storm! But my Cymbidium and Oncidium orchids are blooming beautifully and smell so pleasant for the new year to come. 🎉🥂🧧
I still have those pink alstroemeria, purple stock, yellow and white mums, they were leftover from previous arrangements. So, I picked out a white Lenox porcelain vase and looked for my black painted branches that I saved before. I like the color contrast; with black base, I completed my arrangement.
The theme of this month’s virtual little show for MWGC is “Out of the blue”. An arrangement incorporating BLUE into the creation with our own materials or vessel. I hope this arrangement could chase away the “Blues” out of such a dreary January day. ( 1/20/2022 Wintry mix )
Materials: Alstroemerias, stock, mum, magnolia and blue painted allium / ceramic vase
I don’t like wasting any leftover flower materials. When they still look fresh enough, I often think about new designs to make another arrangement. Here are the two arrangements using nageire ceramic container:
Welcome 2022! We had three class lessons for January; under the guidance of Hata Sensei, we were making a Hana dome structure (lesson 1) and using it for freestyle arrangement (lesson 2). Lesson 3, we exchanged containers and used our own materials to make a freestyle arrangement.
Lesson (1): Making Hana dome structure, Lesson (2): Arranging with made structure
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| Lesson (1): My finished Hana Dome structure |
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| Lesson (2): Mums, magnolia and structure, no kenzan used |
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| Two white mums instead of one mum /ceramic |
For lesson 3, we were told to bring a container that challenges you, and we will exchange containers to see what a classmate does with your choice.
My container was a white plastic triangle shape from Betty. Here's my arrangement below. I brought my own materials thinking they could be used in either moribana or nageire.
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| Hana Dome with lichen covered branches, kenzan for mums and pine |
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| A classmate did a good job using my container |
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| My container |
Today is Jan 7, 2022. It's cold, but there's no wind, and it's 32 degree F. When I woke up this morning, there were 4 inches snow accumulated on the ground! It's wet snow and looks like a winter wonderland in my backyard!
I could not find any fresh flowers outside in my garden, so I used blooming orchids inside my house instead. I feel a bit reluctant to use them, but they are fading away. Why not cut them and arrange them into Ikebana to prolong their beauty for a while?!
The first day of the new year, 2022! I present this bright, gorgeous Cattleya and Oncidium Orchids for you! They have been blooming for a month!
Wish this New Year brings for you lots of joy, happiness and indeed health!
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| 12/14/2021 perfume |
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| 12/15/2021 |
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| 12/13/2021 |
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| 5/12/2021 |
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| Oncidium 3/12/2021 long lasting plant |
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| 3/12/2021 smells like vanilla chocolate |
