On the morning of October 18, the “Chan Heart Flower Arrangement” class of Fo Guang Shan Chicago held an outdoor learning activity. Led by instructor Ting-Fang He, the students visited Orchids by Hausermann in Villa Park, a suburb of Chicago. The staff provided a warm welcome and a guided tour, introducing various seasonal orchids and explaining the cultivation process and daily care techniques. Through the tour, students gained a deeper understanding of orchid varieties, selection, composition, and maintenance.
The Hausermann family has been in the horticulture business in the Chicago area since 1912 and began specializing in orchids in 1920. Now in its fifth generation, the estate covers approximately 3.5 hectares and is one of the few orchid gardens open to the public in the Chicago region. The nursery cultivates a diverse range of orchids, including Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Dendrobium, Masdevallia, and Miltonia, and regularly hosts orchid exhibitions to engage with floral enthusiasts.
In the afternoon, the students returned to the Fo Guang Shan Chicago classroom for a hands-on session on orchid arrangement. Instructor He provided personal guidance, leading the students in creating compositions based on the color, height, lines, and bloom size of the orchids. The students worked with great focus, carefully adjusting and securing their plants. The final works displayed a sense of Chan (Zen) serenity and aesthetic beauty, showcasing the vitality and tranquility of floral art.
Participant Christine expressed her delight in visiting the orchid garden and learning about various species and care methods. Student Zhong-Xiu Duan remarked that it was a rare opportunity to visit a century-old family business and receive a professional guided tour of rare orchid varieties. Yao-Yao Gong was particularly surprised to see the Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla orchid), native to Mexico, successfully cultivated in Chicago. Samantha Boie shared that the transition from the field trip to the hands-on session was very meaningful, providing insights into design, purchasing, and composition. Sandy Watson expressed her gratitude for the instructor’s teaching and for sharing her expertise in the art of flower arrangement.
Instructor Ting-Fang He noted that she hopes students can experience the full spectrum of floral art through diverse learning. She emphasized that floral art is not just about design, trimming, arranging, and displaying, but also involves an understanding of how the plants are nurtured and grown. Only by deeply understanding the nature and characteristics of each plant can one fully realize the value and contribution of its life, truly embodying the spirit of “Chan Heart Flower Arrangement.”