Sunday, February 14, 2010

Happy gbbd, v-day, and Cny


Did you get them all? Garden Blogger's Bloom Day, Valentine's Day, and Chinese New Year!


Nothing blooming outside - we're still under cover here in Maryland. Lots of winter berries strikingly illuminated with the white backdrop of snow though. Today I stopped by my favorite garden center in search of something to bring to my parents' house for Chinese New Year. Since the holiday coincides with Valentine's Day this year, I had a wide selection to choose from. I was looking specifically for something red - which is generally an auspicious, symbolic color for Chinese New Year. My parents loved the red peace lily I picked up. Phew, since it seems everything is either a symbol of good luck or a symbol of bad luck!

Though I have not had much success with orchids, I have been inspired by friends in tropical climes and their gorgeous photos recently, and could not resist these totally adorable orchids! I decided to buy myself one. To put it in perspective, this is my 5 year old's little hands holding the orchid.

Finally, these lovely bulbs are in bloom today. Notice the container. This antique is over 100 years old and was specifically made for forcing bulbs to coincide with the day or so before Chinese New Year. You may know the red envelope is filled with money and is typically given by elders to their unmarried juniors (for example, uncle to niece, mom to son, grandmother to granddaughter, etc). If you're lucky, your elders won't pay too much attention to the married piece and give you a red envelope anyway (I'm lucky).

I'm a day early for GBBD this month, so starting tomorrow, check out May Dreams Gardens to see what's blooming in the rest of the world.

Autumn Belle has written several posts about how she has been preparing for and celebrating Chinese New Year. Check out this post - as well as the posts around it to learn more!

Have a romantic Valentine's day (or have fun rebelling against it if this is more your style), and gung hay fot choy if you're celebrating the lunar new year!

Posted by Wendy at 5:29 PM
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24 comments:

  1. Wendy, Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Lunar New Year to you and your family!

    This year, like every year, I need to spend money giving out red packets to the unmarried guys/gals, also to the garbage collectors, postmen, electric and water meter readers who knock at the door to greet you Kung Hei Fatt Choy! But the most wonderful part is receiving the red packet special from my dear on New Year cum Valentine's Day!
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  2. Hi Wendy, thanks for stopping by! You were smart to combine valentines day and GBBD posts! I am having a hard time coming up with much for GBBD at this time of year! Take care, Jan
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  3. Wendy, I am linking you post to my Valentine's cum CNY day post. Hope you don't mind. You have the narcissus bloom I'd like for my CNY.
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  4. Thanks for all your romantic movie comments on my blog. You had me cracking up. You are way OK with picking more then one movie. No eliminations on that.

    Good luck with the orchid.
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  5. Hi Wendy, that is a very cute Phalaenopsis, it was forced to bloom even at just the 2-leaf stage. Very nice for the office too. BTW, i always feel like eating the boiled soybeans on your header. Do you know that when boiled it tastes lovely? We use to play with it in our mouth when we were kids, as when you press the pod the seeds come out with pressure that sometimes it goes didrectly to your throat! However, i dont see them now anymore here. I miss it when your site reminds me.
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  6. That orchid is very sweet — which is not a word I usually associate with those flowers!
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  7. What a sweet tiny little orchid! I love it!
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  8. The orchid blooming in this container is very very interesting. This shows you your can get an orchid blooming with so less space.Happy chinese year and GBBD to you as well.
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  9. Hiya Wendy,

    What a beautiful container for your little bulbs.
    I wonder if you would treat us to a close-up of the pattern on that lovely container. Tried to enlarge the picture, but it wouldn't.
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  10. Beautiful orchids, Wendy!
    Totally forgot about CNY...I'm not one to celebrate it by myself here in NJ but it's a big do for my family in California! Yes, those red envelopes were our favorite to receive! :)

    Btw...what day are you attending the Philly Flower Show? Hope to meet up if possible...
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  11. I am jealous of you folks with orchids. I wish I had the thumb for them.
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  12. Forced Flowers for Fickle February, a lovely show.
    Happy Bloom day.
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  13. Hi Wendy,

    I hope you had a wonderful cny,vday!
    Beautiful orchid... that is a tasty color.

    What would winter be like without these forced bulbs and flowering houseplants. Dismal.
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  14. Happy Chinese New Year... I love the flowers displayed. Cute little hands with colorful nails, and somehow the color match the flower so well.... ~bangchik
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  15. Hi, Wendy;
    What a cute little orchid! Who knows? You might have better luck than you think with re-blooms on that baby.

    PS: That bulb container is fantastic.
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  16. What a sweet little orchid being held by your sweet little one. Happy New Year and Happy GBBD.
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  17. aloha wendy,

    you forgot presidents day , if you from the US....i love that miniture phal too!
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  18. Thank you for sharing your Chinese New Year traditions with us
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  19. Hi Wendy~~ And then there's President's Day today. It seems the celebrations are clustered.

    A happy Chinese New Year to you. And may your new orchid thrive. It is a beaut. And stay warm.
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  20. Wow, what a lot to celebrate in one weekend. In Ontario it is also a public holiday today, called Family Day. And I needed it after Valentines Day!
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  21. Gosh, all those special days and today being Presidents' Day really makes this a busy holiday weekend. (When will Boom Day be recognized as a national holiday?) The shallow tray for forcing bulbs looks like a really special plant-related antique. To think that the act of forcing bulbs for New Year's would be so important as to rate its own special device. I think that speaks really well of a culture.
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  22. ah, that's right. How could I forget President's Day?! We celebrated by ANOTHER day at home together.

    Deborah, after being snowed in for so long, Family Day is the last thing we need. Can you say CABIN FEVER???!!!

    Joco, the designs on the dish are mostly fruit, I think peaches. Remember what I said about things either being good luck or bad luck? Well my 5 year old "bought" my father a plastic peach from a bin at the arts and crafts store for Christmas, just because she knows he grows and likes to eat peaches. Turns out it is a major symbol of health, longevity, luck, etc.

    Lynn - I'll check back on your blog in case you don't check back for comments. My friend and I are taking a little field trip with a garden center. We'll be there on Tuesday 3/2. I'm sooooo excited to meet up!!!
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  23. Oh, and thanks everyone for looking and leaving a comment. GBBD is so fun. Can't wait to see what you all have blooming (and/or most snow pics!!).

    The orchid is still alive, but I've only had it for 2 days.
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  24. Happy Chinese New Year Wendy. Hope you manage to get a handful of angpows.
    And thats a lovely orchid plant too.
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