The 2018 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show (1)

The 2018 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, "Wonders of Water" is the theme. "It celebrates the beauty and life-sustaining interplay of horticulture and water." The annual flower show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center is the world's oldest and largest indoor event of its kind, draws hundreds of thousands of people to center city Philadelphia every year. Run by the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society (PHS) from 3/2 to 3/11/2018.
Beyond the garden displays, the flower show hosts a stage for a major juried competition in horticulture and floral arranging (except ikebana, it's only for enjoyment and appreciation), as well as lots of gardening talks and demonstrations...

Orchids in February and March

Here are my blooming orchids for these two months. It's a pity! Since we have moved to this much smaller house, my orchids not only declined but also bloom less each time. I know the reason why:
1) My sun room (or Ikebana room) is not as bright as before.
2) The well water is supposed to be good for plants but we have to add softening to it for household use. I was told the softened water is not good for the plants.  
3) There are not enough shady trees in my backyard to place orchids under, during the Summer time (May after Mother's Day to early October).
4) Less attentive care provided.
I think these are the four reasons causing my orchids to be not as healthy as before! 

Two Free Style- Class of February 27

Two assignments from Meei-Huey Sensei's class:
1) Using wire inserted rope and arranging it. Which I did it in Hata Sensei's class few months ago. This time I used a smaller rope to arrange a different kind of look (please check 4/6/2017 post).  
2) Free Style - I bought a plant which I saw for the first time in the market. It has a strange name "Love-lies-bleeding". I would like to use it in my arrangement. My other materials are Mugo pine, Prairie gentian, Carnation, Wax flower and yellow Siberian dogwood branch with my new glass container.

Glory lily, ever green and baby's breath / triangular ceramic

Three Lessons on Febuary 19 - Dried, Bleached or colored Materials Arrangement and... Two Orthers

Hata Sensei was absent today. Because of she had car problem. I felt a little bit disappointed, but her safety is the most concern, after all, she is ninety years old. But her energy and stamina inspire us a great deal and I think Ikebana could be making everybody look younger!
So, we had Midori Sensei (she is our classmate also a wonderful teacher too) substituted to instruct us. 
Three lessons:
1) Dried, Bleached or colored materials (book 4-13)
2) Color of the container (book 3-10)
3) Choose one of Sofu's 50 principle: express it with your own arrangement

Dried Palm leave, statice, baby's breath and vine

This ceramic container has three holes

Azalea, tulip and Spring flower were picked to suit the glass container

One of Sofu's 50 principle: Line, mass and color are three elements 

Dried Materials Arrangement - Pastel Color

I have been saving all these dried flowers for a while. There were the flowers of pink and purple statice, hydrangea, baby's breath and big and small of silver painted allium. I think the glass container is a good choice for this arrangement.

Bamboo Installation and Bamboo Art at Metropolitan Museum

Hata Sensei mentioned several months ago that the Metropolitan Museum was having an exhibit and installation of bamboo art. The exhibit would also feature an arrangement by Hata Sensei in one of the baskets being shown. The last weekend of January, my husband and I were able to make the trip to the museum with our daughter who lives in Brooklyn. The artistry using bamboo was magnificent. We saw many unique and skillfully woven baskets made by Japanese that were close to 100 years old as well as many modern pieces. They were unbelievably beautiful.

Main hall

Arrangement by Hata Sensei

Installation

MWGC Gala Center Piece

On January 25th, our Martha Washington Garden Club ( MWGC) held an annual Gala Lunch and Presentation. This was our club's major fund raising event. The theme was "Flowers for All Seasons". I was asked to make a big center piece in the hall way. There were more than 140 people attending (double our members' number). We had 17 round tables, so 17 members were asked to volunteer to design the center piece of each table with a different theme of their own idea.

My arrangement, Tulip, Dendrobium, pine and others / ceramic containers

Floral Designer Deborah Moyer, She is our club member.

One of her demo piece ( not complete )

Plenty vegetables and flowers arrangement (big harvest)

Member's table design, July 4th theme

Thanksgiving or Fall design

Spring color

Mardi Gras

April Shower

September school start

Winter

 Summer start

June