Orchids in October and Congratulations

Congratulations to my daughter and her husband. The newest addition, a baby boy, arrived on October 11, 2010, two weeks earlier than the due date. I became a proud grandma again. Even though it messed up my schedule, I am glad that I could help out in time. It's a blessing that mother and baby are doing well, big sister (2 years old) too. I know I will miss ikebana class and next week's BCOS meeting, so I am posting my blooming orchids this time to celebrate.

L. purpurata var.carnea x Bl. Richard Mueller
Most of my orchids are placed outside in a shaded area from May to October, I call it " orchids on vacation." If I discover an orchid's buds starting to form, I will bring them inside the house, otherwise the bugs or slugs will start to eat it. That happened last year for this orchid, no flowers.

C. Pot Mysteve Natsumi
This Cat. is blooming again this year, only one flower again. I wonder why? Maybe it's the species? The flower is 5 x5 inches big, very flat.

Miltassia (Spider orchid) No. 1
These two plants habit are somewhat compact. Vigorous and easy to flower.

Miltassia ( Spider orchid) No. 2
The color, the form and number of the flowers (10 flowers) are much better this year. Happiness!

Autumn Theme Free Style

Close up view and side view
"Autumn is coming!" After the long hot and dry summer, autumn is finally here. Our teacher wants us to think about the colors, the materials and create an autumn themed ikebana arrangement.
My fall colors were maples, marigolds, mums and bittersweets. I grouped them on one side purposefully to show this piece of interesting wood. I like my finished composition, but my teacher suggested a longer bittersweet, so I followed her advice. (10/5/2010)

Hanging Style Nageire " Variation No.4 "

The hanging style is one of my favorite basic arrangements because of its unique style. In this variation No.4 hanging style, the Shin position is in a downwards direction from the mouth of the vase (135 degrees). To do so, choosing a branch is important. I cut a branch (Crab apple) naturally in hanging shape, which was easier to handle. The Hikae (yellow Daisy like flowers) is 75 degrees.(10/5/2010)

Orchids in September

Paphiopedilum " Doctor Calson"
It is blooming this time of year again, I can enjoy it for about 2 months.


"Lady of the night" ( Blc. richard Mueller x B. Cordata). Fragrant at night.
I divided this crowded orchid into three plants last year. They are all blooming now. I donated a smaller one to my garden club, a member bid $16 for it.

Onc. Sherry Baby " Sweet Fragrance" ( chocolate fragrance)
Above are the three kinds of orchids I was supposed to bring for the BCOS meeting's show table, but I was absent this month. Otherwise, I might have won some prizes!

Free Style

Another arrangement on September 20 and I changed the flowers from red Coxcomb to yellow Dehlia on September 27.

I had this new container and some Calla lilies left, also I had the urge to do Ikebana, especially because we are not going to have class until October. So this is my piece of work. (9/9 /10)

Garden Series 4 "Deer"

In spring, young deer usually wander around my backyard looking for food, but this summer has been so hot and dry that I've seen them drinking from our pond. The water level is so low now that a whole family of deer can walk along the inside edge of the pond. Now a few months later, I'm sometimes surprised to discover a young deer has grown into a buck. The deer are cute and always stare at us, but I hate them for eating my beautiful flowers, plants and young trees.

Garden Series 3 "Sunflowers"

When the zinnias started to grow from seeds, I didn't know a sunflower was also mixed in there. Then I found out my ikebana classmate Cindy, who gave me the seeds, might have mixed the sunflower in with the rest. So this was a big surprise, especially its special color.

This giant sunflower is 14 inches in width and 7 feet tall. Huge! Only two survived though, the deer ate all my other young plants. The orange sunflower below is 6 inches in width and 4 feet tall.

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Garden Series 2 " Butterflies"

Praying mantis on the Marigold plants.

Dahlia "colarette"
Can you see a bee in the center of this beautiful dahlia? (click for larger view)

I caught a few snapshots of butterflies on zinnias and tramp vine flowers, but I just can't catch the hummingbirds we have in our backyard, they do not stay still like these butterflies.

Garden Series 1 " Peonies "

Peonies are one of the most popular perennials. If planted properly, they will bloom faithfully every spring. Tree peonies open earliest, at least two weeks before others. Peonies appear in all colors except blue. So far this is my collection of peonies.

P.S. Because we won't be having ikebana classes in September and my orchids usually bloom the least this time of year, so I am publishing my Garden Series.

BCOS 2009-2010 Show Table Awards

The Bucks County Orchid Society (BCOS) gave out 2009 to 2010 show table awards for windowsill grower and green house grower at this past May's year-end banquet. I'm proud of this recognition, which shows my day to day effort, patience, and love. BCOS's new season begins in September.


Zygonisia Cynosure "Blue Birds"
I bought this young plant from last fall's (9/2009) potting party. I didn't expect it to bloom this year but it did in early July, which was a pleasant surprise.