2016 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show (2)

This year's theme is "Explore America" and celebrated the National Park Service's 100th anniversary. The flower show event is hosted by PHS (Pennsylvania Horticultural Society). It runs through 3/4 to 3/13/2016. I was there twice, hosting for the Ikebana section. At my break time I was able to explore the whole convention center--the flower show, and witnessed the magic transformation of the convention site to the beautiful, magnificent scenic, landscape and garden flower show.

Flower arrangement to mimic the background's national park picture

Cradle of volcano 

Independence National Historical Park, 12-foot Liberty Bell
covered in red, white and blue blossoms

Waterfall and wild flowers 

Yellowstone the Arches National Park display with
layered flowers in the shape of the park's rock formations.

2016 Philadelphia Flower Show Preparation (1)

This year I got to participate in the Ikebana exhibition at the Philadelphia Flower Show. I am so excited and honored. My preparation and setup of Ikebana fell on the first rotation, which started on Thursday (3/3) and broke down on Monday night (3/7). Selecting my materials to last 5 days long was very important. So my flower choices were pincushion Protea (Tango), alstromeria, leucodendron and philodendron.
When we got to the convention center (the flower show site) to set up our arrangements, I saw all kinds of construction going on...big trees, small bushes, lots of potted flowers, cinder blocks, peat moss, etc... all scattered everywhere. It looked like a war zone. It was hard to believe that it will be finished and beautiful to face the public the next day!
These are the pictures I took when some arrangements were finished. Different lighting shows the different color result. (3/3/2016)

My arrangement on a 2' x 2' x 2'.5" platform.
Siberian dog wood, painted bamboo, protea,
alstromeria, leucodendron and philodendron.
Artist signed ceramic vase from Taiwan (Sogetsu) 

Wood structure and arrangement made
 by Meei Huey Sensei (3' x 3' x 3' platform)

Arrangement by Sarah and Debby ( 3' x 6' x 1' Sogetsu school)

Arrangement by classmate Mercia (Sogetsu School)

Ohara school, this will be displayed whole time (4'x8'x18")

Ikenobo school

Ikenobo school

9

Ikenobo school

Hata Sensei's Class

Lessons for February 22:
1) Vegetables and /or Fruits in an arrangement (book 4-10). It's not a morinomo style.

My composition with fruits, vegetable, lily and pine

Hata sensei's demo : Leek, pepper and lettuce

2) Free Style: Container with a Narrow Neck
Material: Lily, forsythia and anthurium leaf
Container: Dark blue ice wine bottle

Another narrow neck vase which matches my material
choice of the mum and pine

3) Lesson of your choice or Flower Show practice:
I am going to have my Ikebana arrangement to display in the Philadelphia Flower Show next week. It's my first time, I am so happy that I have the chance to do it. I have been working on it and got the approval from Hata sensei. Will show it next time.

February Orchid Bloom

Some of the orchids below are just bloomed this month. Some below have been blooming since they first opened in January, extending till now.

C. Purple Star bright

Brassia, Spider orchid. (Close up view) 

Left plant was a division of the right.
 Onc. Winter wonderland " white Fairy " 

Dendrobium. one plant divided to became two from last year.

More flowers than ever before
(long lasting)

Onc." Wild Cat"

Cattleya, tall and big plant, fragrant

Cymbidium 

Finally wilted today (2/22)

An Extremely, Dangerous Cold Temperature

We experienced the blizzard last time with record amounts of snow. Since then, we have had a couple times of snow showers, also a heavy rain which melted and washed out most of the snow. Now, we have extremely cold temperatures (record low, days at teen and nights at below zero degrees), this is Fahrenheit, not Celsius. The coldest winter by far. I want my relatives, friends who live in tropical regions or countries to realize how cold it is! (2/14/2016)

Mother Nature's creation of Ilebana

Don't be fooled by the blue sky and sunny day.
 It is dangerous cold out there! Gusty wind forms the
snow looks like a moon in the frozen pond.

MWGC - Gala 2016

The Martha Washington Garden Club Gala and covered-dish luncheon was held on 1/27/2016. It is our major fund raising event for scholarships for students pursuing a horticulture/floral related field.
The program: Presenting Alan Kiryluck, he created a number of unique floral arrangements which were raffled off after the event.
I am glad that I could contribute a big arrangement for the entrance hallway table and donated an orchid basket to be raffled off for my club. I was happy to receive many compliments on my arrangement, which is supposed to be viewed from all sides. My ikebana arrangement was an interesting contrast to the western-styled arrangements.

An arrangement to be viewed all around
Material: Silver painted bamboo, Alstroemeria, carnation, Winter
 berry, nandina and Cyprus with a set of ceramic container

Back side view

One member's table arrangement 

My dress up orchid basket

Another table design setting

Few of some wrapped baskets to be raffled off (total of 40 plus)