It’s Cool to make Hydrangea Arrangements

It’s been so hot this July month! Up to 90 plus degree F for most days. We are all sheltering at home due to COVID-19 pandemic, so we don’t go out anyway and keep cool in the house.
I made two arrangements using Hydrangea and some kind of wild vine growing from bushes next to the fence with my neighbor. I thought it’s cool and fun to create Ikebana using it.

Self made basket

Purchased moss ball

Why My Cornflowers are Missing Petals This Year

This summer, I noticed some of my cornflowers' blooms are missing petals? They bloom beautifully each year but why not this time? I was so disappointed! So, I did the google search:

“It appears your plants might be infected with Eriophyid mites, microscopic mites which live inside the flower buds and suck nutrients from the flowers. This results in stunted and distorted flower parts, such as your missing petals.”
“It is important that the plants be cut back to the ground in the fall and be removed from the area and destroyed to prevent re-infestation the following year. Do not compost these plant but place them in a black plastic bag and dispose of in your garbage.”

My husband said, because they got COVID-19, that’s why!!

I wish this information could help you too! It surely answered my question. Even though, the cornflowers still do attract many butterflies, bees and yellow finch birds, and I still can enjoy watching them flying around the flower seed pods!

yellow tiger swallowtail 

black tiger swallow butterfly 

yellow finch

tiger swallow butterfly

female yellow finch

male yellow finch

The Two Oncidium Orchids ( Dancing Lady Orchid)

I posted this Oncidium orchid on 6/20/2020 which is still budding. Now, more than a month has passed, it reached its peak blooming time and is gradually fading away (Issaku Nagata). But another smaller cute oncidium is still going strong (second below). 

6/19/2020,. Issaku Nagata

7/4/202, in full bloom

7/15/2020, no name

7/23/2020 

7/15/2020 here are the three kink of orchids on display

Happy Birthday to Hata Sensei

The students of Hata Sensei's New York Wasetsu Sogetsu study group and Philadelphia Main Line study group gathered together on Zoom to celebrate Sensei’s birthday last weekend.
I made an arrangement for this special occasion to express my thought for Hata Sensei’s forever young birthday!
All the flowers were from my garden, the big silver allium, which I have saved for many years, just perfectly added a festive effect!

Two ceramic suibans pile up together with flowers and allium

viewed from above

Hydrangea Arrangement and How to Prolong its Beauty

The hydrangeas are so pretty! I just love them. But after cutting, they do not last long and wilt easily!
How to prolong its beauty to last as long as possible in an arrangement? I learned this tip:1) Cut stems at an angle, snip off all the leaves. 2) Dip cut stem in a jar of Alum powder (in the spice aisle of the supermarket), the alum keeps the end of the stem open so it will take in as much water as possible.
I cut some of my hydrangeas in the morning, quickly placed them in a water container, then I followed the tip to condition the flowers.

My arrangement materials: Round shaped ceramic container with round hydrangea flower head and other lacecap hydrangea, cherry branch and boxwood to complete my arrangement.

without background

Hydrangea and Tissue Box Container

Summer is in the air! Summer flowers are continually blooming in my garden. The hydrangeas have more flowers than last year. I have two kinds of hydrangea; regular and lacecap hydrangea (see below).
Here is an empty tissue box that I used as container (glass cup inside). Lacecap hydrangeas seems more suitable for this arrangement.

lacecap hydrangea

regular hydrangea

Three Arrangements from a Bouquet

It's a pity if I just let the bouquet flowers fade and don't do any arrangements. I would feel ashamed. So, I did three arrangements using some of the bouquet flowers and other materials from my garden.

1) Orange lily, yarrow, horsetail and hosta / ceramic

2) White and orange lilies, green branch, golden rod and hosta / tilted ceramic container

3) Gerbera Daisy, yarrow and wisteria vine / ceramic

Happy Birthday To Dear Agong (Grandpa)

This particular birthday was very special and unique. My husband turned 80 years old this month and in the middle of this pandemic. After a lot of discussion with the family, we decided for the kids and grandkids to come home for just the day. We all missed seeing each other very much. We were very cautious, eating lunch that we ordered in separately, socially distancing in our families. We also wore masks inside the whole time. My daughter brought balloons and a large bouquet to add a festive feeling, and luckily, they actually matched my Oncidium orchid! We were thankful to celebrate together and we were so happy to see everyone. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, MY DEAR!

All my grandchildren and Sidney the dog

My youngest grandson in our back yard garden

Magnolia Flower and Basket

Headmistress Lemoto Akane Teshigahara, Sogetsu School of Ikabana. She once said the Magnolia flower is one of her favorite flowers. I love it too.
In my front yard there are three Magnolia trees. The flowers are big, fragrant and showy but short lived, last only a day! Why not catch its beauty and prolong its life!

Orchids - Oncidium (Dancing Lady) - Spectacular

I bought one Oncidium orchid from the Bucks County Orchid Society two years ago. It had two upright long stems, full of flowers and looked very healthy! The name tag said: Odontocidium Catatante 'Kilauea Karma'. I had been enjoying it for a long while, until its flowers faded, then I forgot about this plant completely. This past May, I noticed there was a new spike about 5 cm. I watched it grow longer and longer, when it started to bloom, 5 weeks had passed already. The flowering stem is up to more than 4 feet long.
This orchid produces spectacular flowers of bright orange and gold color on a very arch like flowering stem, because it's long and heavy. I am thrilled and proud!

The flowers from this orchid are bountiful (approximately 80 flowers) and bright, demanding attention.

6/18/2020 in full bloom

close up view

6/14/2020

5/13/2020

6/2/2020

Onc. Mtdm. Issaku Nagata

6/17/2020

The Ocidium orchid is an easy to grow hybrid that will tolerate the average home temperatures and require a well- lit spot, but no direct sunlight during the growing season.