New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show

Grand entrance to the orchid show






Finally, I got the chance to go N.Y.C Botanical Garden's orchid show with my daughter during her spring break (she is a high school teacher in Manhattan). It was a gorgeous spring day, and the B.G. is very impressive. The orchid show was much bigger than Longwood garden's orchid show. The pictures I took are only a small part of the show, and there are thousand of beautiful orchids exhibited at the B.G. (did you know there are 25,000 to 30,000 orchid species in the whole wide world?). I think I've inherited my late father's passion for orchids. I started to grow my own as a hobbyist more than 15 years ago, and in a way, I do it to remember my beloved father. Beside that I am always fascinating by their unique and characteristic nature. Once you enter the orchid world, there is no return!

Keeping in mind the view from below

This arrangement should keep in mind that it must be viewed from below, just above eye-level. I found a small wild rose bush in the wooded area near my house. I cut the whole bush out and carefully trimmed the branches. I reserved one particular branch that was hanging down, then I added two philodendron selloum, yellow and white daffodils, and last, I put one white hyacinth close to the container's rim so that the view from below can be focused there. My teacher loved it. At home, I put it on a high pedestal.

Side view (4/6/10)

Upright Style Moribana Variation No.3

Shin 15 degrees, Soe 45 degrees, Hikae 75 degrees (in the center).
Spring is here! When you take a walk outside, everything is alive again, so fresh and beautiful. My ikebana arrangement this time also shows Spring colors. It makes me feel happy and thankful. Japanese Quince and pear blossoms are used here for my arrangement. (4/6/10)

Longwood Gardens SEPOS Orchid Show

I am so happy that I got first place in the Southeast Pennsylvania Orchid Society (SEPOS) Orchid Show (Cymbidium group) held at Longwood Gardens last weekend. We B.C.O.S. totally had about 40 plants, including five of mine (pictures shown here). Unfortunately, our society didn't get a group design prize this time, but several of our members did get individual prizes.

Southeast Pennsylvania Orchid Society (SEPOS)

Cym." Eastern Promise" and Oncidium "Hawaii Sunset"

Lctna. Mighty Titan ' Parkside' AM/AOS

M.W. Garden Club 75th Anniversary

Huge centerpiece by our two master gardeners.
It's truly a beautiful masterpiece.

I arranged this free style Ikebana for display. The vase is a Japanese bronze antique and the branches are Japanese quince.

I only have this Cymbidium to show for the celebration. I have five other freshly blooming orchids at Longwood Gardens (they have an orchid show this weekend) to present with our B.C. Orchid Society entry--together we have about 40 plants to exhibit. Hopefully we can get a prize, we got 2nd place last year. (3/24/10)

Upright Style Moribana Variation No.2

I chose yellow mums with a brown center to match the container and I wanted to use butterfly maple branches instead of evergreen because they are so pretty. They are just starting to bud and have tiny red tips. Shin 15 degrees, Soe 75 degrees and Hikae (flowers) 45 degrees are in the variation no. 2 arrangement. (3/16/10)

Multiple miniature containers arrangement

We have to use at least five objects or containers to do this assignment. I have one vase, one seashell fossil, a rock, one orange miso soup bowl cover and a tea light holder. I used a tray to arrange them into three groups (at my teacher's suggestion) and then I put the calla, pine and a waved willow vine into the vase and let the vine flow from one arrangement to another. The purpose of this practice is to teach us how to arrange these objects to achieve artistry. My classmate said it looks so peaceful! (3/16/10)

Focusing on the Use of Water

Calla lily and Cymbidium leaves
For today's assignment I had two arrangements. I used two transparent glass containers for both designs. The beauty of water as well as the plants are equally important elements in this arrangement. Which one is prettier? (3/2/10)

Calla lily, willow and sea shells

Upright Style Nageire Variation No.1

In this arrangement, the shin 15 degrees should lean firmly to the right back, and together with Soe 45 degrees and Hikae (carnations) 75 degrees, form 90 degrees from left to right.

Right picture is side view (3/2/10)

Reflective Design "Hearts Delight"

The materials are spray painted Hosta, Nandina and pine corn, carnation, bittersweet.

I didn't have ikebana class last week due to the winter blizzard, but we had our M.W. garden club meeting yesterday. The little show's subject for this month is a reflective design"Hearts Delight". Reflective materials must be integral to the overall design. You may use shiny metal, plastic, paper, etc. For my design, the judge said my vase is overpowering. So I changed the smaller vase and rearranged it after I came home. Does it look better?