Upright Style Nageire Variation No.2

The key point of this style is the line created by the two branches. My teacher's comment is that I trimmed the branches very well, and the three main ikebana lines of Shin, Soe, and Hikee are all at the correct angle. I think I did a good job. (9-1-09)

Repeating Similar Forms or Shape

I transplanted the horsetail plants from my daughter's garden last fall. But not enough to use in today's arrangement, so I added some Zebra plant stems (I stripped all the leaves). I carefully bent them in all different sizes, tall and short. Their shape is rhythmically repeated. Last, I put two Coliopsis flowers, one in front and one in back to complete this composition. (9-1-09)

July and August's blooming orchids

Oncidiums (Sherry Baby) and Encyclia (Green Hornet).

The Sherry Baby Oncidium smells like chocolate. Its fragrance fills the entire room, so good! You should get this orchid. It is very easy to grow.


Hybrid Paphiopedilum "Doctor Calson"

It has been blooming for more then two months already, I think it's going to fade soon.


Dtps. Brother Strawberry (Purple Gem x King Shing's Rose)


Encyclia Green Hornet (cochleatum x Lancifolium)

This one is easy to grow too, it lasts for a very long time. The flowers are unique, but it has an unpleasant perfume in the morning.

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This time of year has the least number of blooming orchids in my orchids collection. I have the least amount of work for me too. Because most of them are outside under a big tree taking a vacation, I let mother nature take care of them for me.

How to secure branches

First, fix branches by tying them with wire, the basic idea is to fix them together at two points. When tying the 4 corners,the point of contact is to be secured tightly (see the picture above). Keep in mind that the wire knot is visible, so use colored wire that suits the materials so that it's not too obvious.

Nageire, Free Style
I used this new technique we learned today and arranged it into a tall vase design. In future lessons, it will be very helpful to use this technique, like in a design without Kenzan in the Moribana style or a design that does not use a container, using big branches to support each other. Very useful!

Combined Styles ( two containers)

Moribana and Moribana (8/4/09)

Moribana and Naageire ( 8/6/09)
We didn't have class in July, but we have three classes in August, and today's class was for a make up. I am going on vacation tomorrow (8/7). So I am just showing my finished arrangement first. When I come back (8/16), I will continue blogging! Until then!

Wall Design Ikebana

We planted some bamboo in our backyard 14 years ago, when we built this house. Now it looks like a bamboo forest. In ikebana, we use bamboo quite often. For my wall design, I used bamboo to make an irregular shape, then hanged a trimmed Japanese maple branch, and next glued a piece of tree bark to cover the water tube so I could add an iris and sweet peas into the arrangement. The right side of the hard board leave a negative space. My teacher said this was necessary and important.

After my teacher's criticisms, she said do it again and title it for next lesson. She said that my bamboo should stick up and stick out at the top. But I had no more iris and sweet pea, so I substituted Clementius. Some of flowers wilted already( I picked them that morning), but the teacher said it was okay. I think this is a natural way to show that life is not always perfect. So I titled it, "Don't worry, be happy."

Orchid fest (7/24-26/09)

Vendor #1

Vendor #2

Vendor #3

Parkside Orchid Nursery greenhouse #1

The Parkside Orchid Nursery (www.parksideorchids.com), located about an hour north of Philadelphia, holds an orchid fest annually on the last weekend of July. It draws many vendors (orchid grower) from all over the northeast region, sometimes as far as from Hawaii. The local Bucks County Orchid Society usually sponsors the event. As a member, I am glad to be a volunteer to help out. I saw a lot of orchid lovers come all over the place from far and near, to expand their orchid collection. They are not cheap, but for some people money isn't an issue, they just love orchids so much and have to have them! (prices range from $10 to $100+ for each plant)

Even if you don't buy anything, just come to enjoy the beauty of orchids. It's worth the trip.

Three former arrangements

I created this one entirely, even the container. Using wire to make a round shape first, I then used honeysuckle vine to weave around it. Clever, right?

Tulips, Callas, and Willow twigs to make a curved line moribana.

Basic Upright Style Nageire. The red Tulips and vase match perfectly.

Echoing the shape of container

I bent the willow twigs in three different sized ovals to echo the shape of the container.Using Black eyed susans and hostas to complete this assignment. ( 6/30/09 class)

At home, I composed another arrangement. Same idea, different flowers. The purple flowers were Spider wort.
Which one do you like better?

Life is hard but beautiful

It has been a year since I took my first Ikebana lesson. I can see myself improve a lot and gain knowledge. I feel so fortunate to have Ms. Lin as my teacher. She is a Sugetsu school Ikebana Master. She inspires me in so many ways. She has been through so much in her life and has overcome a lot of hardship by studying for a masters degree and becoming an Ikebana master. She continuously pursues her beloved flower arranging.

I like the way she teaches. We have to prepare all of our own materials for the class, and before that, you have to decide what kind of container, branches, and flowers are best suited for the teacher's coming assignment.

In our class we have 13 students in total, but not a full house most of the time. (We have lessons twice a month for two hours each time, and have 4 text books to follow.) Everybody learns at their own pace and has different levels. By the end of the class, when everyone finishes their arrangement, we offer comments and criticisms to each other. If needed, the teacher will correct our arrangements. Always, she has a magic touch. We are all so amazed by the result.

I don't have to go to Japan to learn Ikebana. Right here near Bucks County, I found a terrific teacher, Ms. Meei-Huey Lin. I feel so lucky and appreciative. (She is not Japanese. She is Taiwanese American, so am I. We have known each other for so many years. I've been waiting for her to open this class, and happily she started the class one year ago.)

Last month's class, she created a wall design with a brown hard-board for the background, using twigs and white Calla lilies. On the hard-board, she wrote "Life is hard but beautiful!" I was so moved.