Philadelphia Flower Show - 2014

Main entrance;  with colorful strikingly powerful design

The entrance garden of "ARTiculture" inspired by the paintings and sculptures of Alexander "Sandy" Calder.

The fusion of art and horticulture celebrated in " ARTiculture," an extraordinary presentation of the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show on March 1 to 9, 2014.

Beautiful flowers, gardens and landscapes have always been an inspiration for artists. This year PHS partners with the nation's leading art museums and institutions. "Where Art meets horticulture" explored the influence of natural landscapes on the art.  Floral designers were paired with museums in the Philadelphia area and beyond and given this mission: Find an artist, a painting and interpret it their own way.

Focusing on the Uses of water

Artist -  June Wu

Artist - Mary Swierczynski

Artist - Mary  Swierczynski

There are various ways of using water, such as emphasizing the water surface or showing water through a transparent vase.
My classmates June and Mary, using clear container to create so beautiful and clever arrangement. Mary,combined two different shapes of containers to pile them up in order to secure the branch also to show various features of the water.  (2-25-14)

Sansevieria Leaf

Materials: Sansevieria Leaf, mum, golden rush
Container: Ceramic vase

 I used three  leaves of sansevieria for the arrangement in the class. The sansevieria leaf is a very thick will last for a very long time.  After class, I reused it  to manipulate and arranged in a contemporary way. (2-25-14)

Happy Valentine

Materials: Winter red berry, Lily
container: Ceramic vase

Today is valentine, but we just got a heavy snow storm attacked again yesterday with 10" or more snow around our area.  It was so pretty the scene of field and woods remind the movie from Dr.Chivago.
My neighbor Barbara and Bill gave me some white lilies.  In return, I arranged this arrangement wishing them have a  very happy Valentine's day with attachment by email.  (2-14-2014)

Sunflowers

Materials: Pine and mini sunflower
Container: Ceramic vase 

Old arrangement with new flowers

Its snowed again today! I wished those sunflowers can bring nice weather for us tomorrow. I bought a bundle of mini sunflowers on the lunar new year's day after having celebrated in the restaurant with group of friends.  Pine was left over from previous arrangement, I felt sorry not to finish it.  I spent two dollars for mini sunflowers. Its make me occupied and happy on the snowing afternoon.(2-3-2014)

Lunar New Year arrangement

Materials: Pine,bamboo,winter berry and gerbera daisy
Container: ceramic vase

Side view of arrangement

without red winter berries

January 31, is Lunar New Year's day,the beginning of horse year.     For celebration of New Year red and gold colors has been chosen in this arrangement.  I used painted bamboo, pine, orange color gerbera daisy and red winter berry to bring happiness,fortune, good health and prosperity for the coming year and the years to follow.(1-24-14)

It is a winter time!- A view from window

Materials: White branches, chrysanthemum,button mum.
Container: Ceramic vase and three kenzan

 A major snow storm walloping the Tri-State area has prompted a state of emergency in both New York and New Jersey. Extremely cold weather at east coast and people have been warned to stay in the house to keep warm. Their are 5 feet long icicles hanging from the roofs.  Out side everything was white and road was slippery, the Ikebana class was canceled again. The idea of my arrangement was got from the view through windows for several days. (1-24-14)

Faded Beauty- Using Dried Materials

Materials: Dried celosia (cockscomb), branch

The winter snow storm swiped Northeast of U.S again this pass Tuesday.  Ikebana International #71 has cancel a workshop using materials from our wind-swept winter landscape without water Today, January 23.   Using dried materials is not quite like fresh materials, because their texture and lightness were different which cannot be expressed the same as fresh material.  I  dried cockscombs from last September and color doesn't faded to much at all.  With one bare branch I created an arrangement of dried and faded material. (1-23-14)

Winter time theme

Materials: Nandina, chrysanthemum

Materials: Dried Banana leave,dried branch,chrysanthemum.

Due to  holidays and bed weather, we cancel couple times of classes. Here are two arrangements I did yesterday to show my winter theme arrangement.( 1-07-2014)

Orchid

ROBERT'S  C IOICE 'DEE'

 I purchased this Cattleya three years ago, Finally it bloomed at the end of 2013.  The color supposed white with red lip.  It was a surprise  the actual color turn out so beautiful !

Holiday arrangement

Materials: winter berry and poinsettia

Metallic Mesh fabric,holy, mum. pom pom and carnation

Winter berry ,pine,mum and pom pom in the  basket with mizuhiki

 Due to the bad weather Dec 17. our potluck lunch and last class in 2013 have been canceled. Those were arranged at home for cerebration Christmas and New year.

Ceramics

I created those containers for use in Ikebana arrangement. Since I moved to 55and up community I  joined club activities once a week for ceramic class. It is fun to make something and can use it for flower arrangement.  Making ceramic need a lot of steps, from clay to become a piece, require couple of month to complete and it takes longer to paint a piece .   The club house provided kiln without wheel and hand is our only tool to mould for shape. let them dry and sand them, putting in kiln to burn for 8 hours. Second step is to brush color two or three times according to your design. It takes time to do this process, wait until it gets dry and put back to kiln for second time to burn.  You do the final touch with acrylic and your creation is complete.

Autumn Reflection

A demonstration reflecting Autumn with Kaye Vosburgh.   Kayle is a Riji, the highest rank in the Sogetsu school and has been teaching for 29 years. The program was provided by II international # 71, was held on November 21th 10 am.  Ms. Kayle demonstrated 12 big arrangements were so pretty and unique.  She brought all the containers and materials from New England a day before and  stayed at  Leticia Chen's home . (11-21-13)

Thanksgiving arrangement

I want to use bamboo container for this arrangement which I purchased from Hokkaido, all the colorful fruits bring the Autumn color as a main theme for my Thanksgiving arrangement. I will place this arrangement at kitchen counter to thank every thing we have from God, people, community and earth.(11-19-13)

Materials: Pineapple,persimmon,pomegranate ,orange,bitter sweet & rosemary

This container with peach carnations just perfect for Autumn theme.

Using dried hydrangea & big leaves to create fall arrangement.at home