Blooms & Bamboo - Chrysanthemum and Ikebana Sogetsu Artistry 2 of 6

These great huge bamboo installations, have been finalized to be viewed from 10/3- 11/17/2019, along with Chrysanthemum display and Ikebana Sogetsu Artistry.
The opening ceremony reception was hosted and held by Longwood Gardens. Lemoto Akane Teshigahara wore an elegant kimono and gave a remarkable speech, she designed the Bamboo Structure exclusively to fit in the Conservatory. These twisting, spiraling, and intertwined natural works of art, have never before seen in the United States. 

Lemoto Akane Teshigahara proudly shows her grand design

Blooms & Bamboo - Chrysanthemum and Ikebana Sogetsu Artistry 1 of 6

The team of Sogetsu School, under the leadership of Headmistress (Lemoto) Akane Teshigahara,  traveled from Japan to Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania, USA, to create the largest, towering display of  bamboo structure and natural elements exclusively designed for Longwood Gardens Autumn Show : Blooms & Bamboo - Chrysanthemum and Ikebana Sogetsu Artistry, to be held
on Oct.3 - Nov. 17  2019.

"Although I have created bamboo installations in a variety of styles in Japan and around the world for more than 20 years, the two installations planned for Longwood Gardens will be the greatest and finest of all, both in terms of scale and bamboo manipulated techniques." Teshigahara explained.

"Teshigahara has created an imaginative and never before seen visual experience. Combined with Longwood staff's horticulture expertise for growing chrysanthemums in traditional Asian- inspired forms, Blooms & Bamboo promises to be an exquisite display that celebrates these two Japanese horticultural art forms in a way only Longwood can," said President and CEO, Paul B. Redman.

The imaginative display features 635 rods of bamboo manipulated into twisting, spiraling, and intertwined natural works of art that reach heights of 10 to 15 feet. These larger than life Ikebana structured sculptures, several people can walk through easily. For two weeks, the Sogetsu team from Japan with their skillful and hard work, finished the structure in front of you. We are so thrilled to be a tiny tiny part of it by helping out the minor jobs as volunteer (there are hundreds of local sogetsu people and friends take turns to do volunteer works). On the opening day, when we see it, our expressions were loud WOW! WOW!! AMAZING !!!

Arrangement for Extra Activities

September month was quite busy! One thing after another. I helped to arrange a table center piece for a classmate of Bucks Mont study group, for her special event "Mid Autumn Festival" celebration. All the materials have been prepared and ready for us. It was a little bit of a challenge for me, it is like going for an examination without preparation.
  

The Martha Washington Garden Club first meeting of 2019-2020 session was held 9/25/2019. I was asked to make an arrangement for the food table. I arranged it in Ikebana style instead of western style. All the materials I picked from my garden. There were Dahlias, Sedum, Anemone leaves and green branches with ceramic container. This arrangement was also for a raffle at the end (see first picture below).
The second picture was today's workshop program. Glass container and three kinds of beans were provided to make the layers. Plant materials I shared with members, you made your own. Everyone arranged differently. It is not Ikebana style for sure! It is western style. I show it here for comparison. 

September Orchids Bloom

It's really surprising! I have two blooming orchids this month. I could bring these two plants to the show table of the Bucks County Orchid Society meeting. It began this September 19, 2019, but I didn't go because my husband was busy and I don't like to drive at the night time by myself.    

Cat. alliance " Lady of the night" fragrant at night., long lasting

Cattleya " Roman holiday"

Lesson for September- Bamboo Structure

Summer is almost over! We start our new session class on September 9. The subject is about bamboo structure. We get a practice run as we focus on bamboo for our September lesson, because Sogetsu Headmistress Iemoto Akane Teshigahara from Japan will come to Longwood Gardens to create and install the towering displays of bamboo structure.

Bamboo were provided, three pieces for each person. Hata Sensei talked about and showed how to make bamboo structure design. So in the morning: we did cutting, cleaning, handling, fixing bamboo to make a bamboo structure. After lunch, we created an arrangement with the bamboo structure that we made and plant materials we brought to complete the whole design. Everyone in the class did a different kind of structure and design. Below were some of my classmates' arrangements:

Hata Sensei's demo arrangement

My arrangement using seasonal materials

Eighth Annual Ikebana Exhibition at Shofuso House and Garden

Shofuso is proud to host an exhibition to honor Ikebana International Philadelphia Chapter 71 and their continued support. The 8th annual Ikebana exhibition is provided by members of Ikebana International Philadelphia Chapter of multiple schools. And presented throughout the house and on the veranda. Adding to the beauty of this historic site.
"The annual exhibition is a floral extravaganza increasing the number and scale of arrangements ordinarily on display".

September 6-8, 2019
Reception: 9/5/2019, 4:oo pm -7:oo pm

My arrangement at main tatami room. Using seasonal materials

Ohara school

Ohara school

Sogetsu school, on veranda

Sogetsu, bathroom shelf

Sogetsu school, a big tall arrangement

Ohara school, tea house

Ichio school,left tatami room

Sogetsu school, on veranda

Sogetsu school

Ohara school, entrance

Sogetsu school, outside garden bamboo installation

Ikenobo school, tatami room

tatami room

Sogetsu school, on the kitchen floor

Orchid's Summer Home - A New Pergola

I have moved my orchids from indoor to outdoor since last May. It was not a healthy place for orchids, too shady! So we hired a carpenter to build a pergola next to our shed. It is my orchid's Summer home for now. Hopefully the plants will be happier and healthier compared to last year. When I discovered one blooming yellow cattleya inside the pergola, l was so surprised and delighted! (See first picture below)

C. compact and fragrant, long lasting orchid

first week of blooming

Oncidium

Onc. Sharry Baby "sweet chocolate fragrance"

New pergola next to shed

My orchids

Late Summer Flowers and Arrangement

Japanese Anemone, Dahlia and Horsetail were blooming nicely! If I would like to arrange Ikebana,  there is no shortage for the materials. Here was my example below:   

Japanese Anemone

Big showy Dahlia

Smaller Dahlia

Dwarf Crape Myrtle

Shofuso Japanese House and Garden

Shofuso Japanese House and Garden is located in the Fair Mount Park, PA. Members of Ikebana International Chapter #71 has been providing Shofuso with floral arrangements, by Ikebana practitioners of multiple schools for many years, enhancing the authenticity and beauty of this historic site. It is opened to the public from May to October. Our Main Line Study Group (Sogetsu school) shared the duty for the flower arrangement throughout the month of August. So, my arrangements were assigned for 8/16 /2019 that weekend.

Three locations must be displayed. The house has many different kinds of containers that you can choose to use.
1) At the entrance: Sunflower, hosta, willow and mardi gras helenium / ceramic
2) Main room window shelf (Tatami room): Azalea, Dahlia, hydrangea and lichen covered wood branch / ceramic
3) Tea room: Japanese Anemone and Iris leaves / small basket   

Entrance of the house

Tea room, Chabana arrangement

Main room window shelf  (Tatami room)