Hello all,

Last Wednesday was the first class for the year and it was with great delight I welcomed back most of my regular students and one new one.

For the advanced students I had set the theme of 'A Cool Arrangement'. As this is not in the curriculum, there are no rules, as such, to be adhered to, so I allowed students their own interpretation.

For my arrangement, above, I chose cool colours in my materials as well as my self made container. The hydrangeas are in pale blues and mauves and the green stems are the inflorescences of a particular green vegetable, similar to spinach, which I grew in winter and which we enjoyed eating. However, I neglected to dig them up when they started to go to seed and this was the result. I don't know the name of the plant because it came in an Italian seed packet which I lost. Anyway, I loved the shapes that were created and the delicate, mauve flowers scattered sparsely through the stems. Sadly, the flowers died within a day. But I did collect some seeds.

The similarity between mine and Nicole's arrangements is purely coincidental. She, too used cool coloured hydrangeas. She also used a dry, sprayed branch in a ceramic vase.

Vicky made two very different arrangements. In the first, a modern arrangement, she used two dark blue, oval suibans and two very pale pink anthuriums, which she grew herself. The top container had only water.  At the base of the flowers she used agapanthus leaves curled around each other.

Wendy's curriculum theme was 'With Flowers Only'. The choice of materials is very important in this theme. 'Flowers' to be used should be ones that grow out of the ground, such as tulips, jonquils, alstroemerias, chrysanthemums etc. any flowers that grow on a branch, such as camellias, rhododendrons, magnolias, crepe myrtle etc. are not suitable.

Shaneen's theme was 'Green Materials Only'. She used papyrus, diosma, hydrangeas and aspidistra leaves in a ceramic suiban. Although the arrangement is green, there is enough variation in the colour as well as the textures of the materials to make the arrangement interesting and beautiful.

Lei and Mary had the same theme - 'To be Viewed from Above.' 

Mary used some branches of viburnum plicatum tomentosum, which is flowering completely out of season, hydrangeas and gloriosa lilies.

Bye for now,

Hello all,

The piece of nandina domestica nana, above was broken accidently and was the beginning of the arrangement, above. The agapanthus is one I manipulated to create that curve. The ceramic container has a metallic finish on the top half and black on the lower half.

My next door neighbour's Port St John Creeper (Podranea ricasoliana) grows vigorously over our fence and is now in flower. The flowers tend to drop quite quickly but I enjoy using them even for their short duration.

I used a metal container selected for its curved shape to reflect the curves of the vine. I added a small mahonia leaf.

Hello all,

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!

After 32 years of practicing ikebana, I've come to the realisation that roses are more trouble than they're worth. Yes, I can hear your collective gasps through the ether but hear me out. I have always loved roses and have had them growing all my adult life (that's a long time). But I have struggled with spraying them, pruning them, feeding them and dead heading them, only to find that the roses that appear are often damaged by heavy, spring rain or cooked to a crisp by searing summer heat. And then, when I do manage to cut some healthy flowers, many of them do not last in an arrangement for more than a couple of days. So, it's with a heavy heart, that I acknowledge I can't be bothered with them any more. Some will have to go.

However, having said that, when I was deadheading them for the second time this season, I cut the viable ones and made a couple of arrangements. In the one, above, I used the pink Queen Elizabeth roses with white agapanthus at the back in a ceramic vase. The branch is tortured willow, from which I had stripped the bark than sprayed black.

In the arrangement, below, I used two altissimo roses, placed so as to be looking at each other in this double container. The branch is loquat.

My aeonium plant (aeonium arboreum 'velour') has grown very big very fast and, because the stems are very soft, pieces have been breaking off. I picked some up an started playing with them.

The very simple arrangement, above, still required some expertise to arrange. Firstly, I selected an interesting piece and trimmed away some flowers as well as some of the lower petals from the flowers that I kept. Then I used a stick wedged between the stem and the wall of the vase to hold the aeonium upright.

The next arrangement didn't require much work at all, apart from the selection and trimming of the stems. Also, the choice of container was crucial.

More orange and blue. This time it's the agapanthus and the stem of tiger lily (lilium columbianum). I had manipulated the stem of the agapanthus to create a curve but not the tiger lily. It grew amongst rose bushes where it found an obstruction, causing it to bend.

Bye for now,

Hello all,

As arrangements go, the one in the photograph, above, is quite large. The urn itself stands a metre tall. I had used it previously for a Christmas arrangement using pine and giant dahlias. 

Once, safely, on the ground the flowers needed to be prepared by removing dead petals and scraping away the sap that dries on the outside of the 'beak' and looks unsightly. I, then, polished the 'beak' part with an oily cloth to give it a shine but also to bring out its dark green colour.

Before

After

So, having prepared the flowers, I thought I'd give you an explanation of how I managed to use such a big urn. Firstly, I found a plastic bucket that fit snugly in the 'neck' of the urn and cut off the excess, leaving a small piece to act as a handle. I, then, sprayed the edges of the bucket black so as not to show the bright green through the arrangement. I pierced holes and threaded strong wire in a cross pattern just like a cross bar. 

The berries in the arrangement, below, are from the plant 'Arum Italicum pictum', the leaves of which have died down and only the stems with the berries remain. I love them at this stage, before all the berries turn red. I wanted to display them the way they grow but I did add some squigly grass as a contrasting element.

Emily

Hello all,

I hope all of you who celebrate Christmas had as great a day as we did. We've become quite adept at organising large family gatherings and we're lucky enough to have a house that lends itself well to such events. There were 33 of us in the end, with my daughter's family in Holland and another family of six absent due to covid.

Every family brought a contribution to add to the feast but it was still a huge amount of work for the household. Cleaning up afterwards has its own challenges. In fact, I'm so tired, I debated whether I should write a post this week but, after an afternoon nap, I recovered sufficiently.

You can't have a party without decorating the house with ikebana arrangements. And I made a few.

I made a really big one in a large urn under the curved staircase. Securing the heavy branch of pine to face upwards was a challenge but once that was done, the flowers were relatively easy to place. At the back there are white agapanthus, in the middle alstroemeria psittacina, to the right are nandina domestica inflorescence and showing off at the front are three giant dahlias (for which I paid a small fortune and which died the next day). And lets not forget the giant, gold baubles.

This next arrangement is almost as tall as the door and its position is by the front, glass entry. I moved it here to photograph, as it was lost against the glass. I had used this metal structure before at an exhibition at Sofitel some years ago. I added blue and white agapanthus and alstroemeria psittacina leaves.

There were people all over the house and garden making it impossible to take a group photo but I'll share with you this one of some of us girls.

From left - Wendy Sun, Vicky Kalokathis, Lucy Papas, Shaneen Garbutt, Jenny Loo, Nicole McDonald, Emily And squatting in front - Lei Wang and Bredenia Raquel.

With Christmas over, we cast our thoughts to the new year with hopes of a great improvement on the recent few.

Bye for now,

Emily

Hello all,

Our last class was the final for the year when, usually, we make a Christmas arrangement. This year I set the same theme with a slight variation. A Christmas table arrangement.

The photograph, above is of my arrangement, which I made a few days before class. Unfortunately, the hippeastrums did not last until class, so, I replaced them with the only flowers available in my garden - Queen Elizabeth roses. It makes an interesting colour combination - the pink flowers in a red suiban.

The rest of the materials are pine (pinus radiata), ornithogalum flowers , and palm inflorescence sprayed silver.The strands of silver are mizuhiki.

Jenny used asparagus fern, geranium, lacecap hydrangea, red mizuhiki and Christmas baubles in a twisted, cylindrical container. 

Nicole used sprayed pear branches, cyprus, roses and Christmas baubles in a ceramic suiban.

Lucy, who is very busy with the building of hers and her partner's new home, came to class without any materials. I told her to go into the garden and help herself but, before she could do that, the other students contributed enough materials for her to create the arrangement, below. The pine was from my 'bucket', the hydrangea quercifolia from Shaneen, the altissimo roses from Vicky and Lucy, herself, provided the sprayed, dried strelitzia leaves.

Bye for now,

Emily

Hello all,

The strelitzias reginae are looking quite lovely in the garden but even lovelier in my ikebana. In the above arrangement I used two gymea leaves to create the zig-zag design, then added the flowers.

We recently brought an arborist to do some pruning around the garden including removing two of the strelitzia nicolai plants. Once on the ground, I was able to remove the flowers with a longer stem than usual because to do so would damage a number of the leaves. In this case, it didn't matter. 

As always with these flowers, a very heavy container is needed to support the weight of them. The vase, below is very heavy indeed. I certainly can't lift it, so I use it infrequently. It worked well in this arrangement under the stairs.

Philadelphus verginalis

Philadelphus coronarias

Vicky's modern arrangement

My naturalistic arrangement. Variegated Iris Japonica and hosta leaves

Bye for now,

Emily

Hello all,

For last week's class I asked the advanced students to make an arrangement in a basket using callistemons. I had noticed, before we left for our trip, that these brightly coloured, Australian native shrubs were in full bloom and thought they might still be usable for ikebana. Unfortunately, most of the many trees in our area were well past their best but we were able find enough to work with.

For my arrangement, above, I used red bottle brush (callistemon citrinus) and a cream coloured one (Callistemon 'Willow Bottlebrush') in an antique Japanese, bamboo basket.

Jenny used the same materials as I did but her red bottle brush were sitting upright compared to my hanging ones.

Emily

Hello all,

Below is the link to the second virtual exhibition, Celebration, of Ikebana International Melbourne chapter. Please click on it to view the exhibition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt1eJQsC0wg

My student, Dianne, brought to class a whole bucket of fabulous material, amongst them these stunning peonies, which she gave to me. She lives in Trentham, which is considerably colder than Melbourne and might explain why she has better success with peonies than the rest of us. Or, perhaps she's just a better gardener. Whatever the reason I was very grateful to have the chance to work with these temperamental but gorgeous flowers. I had to include a close up.

With rhododendron

With Siberian iris

Last week, as I was preparing for class, my brother-in-law, Peter, walked in and handed me two large stems of kiwi vine in flower. He said they were gift from my sister (Vicky). So I put the branch I was working on into a bucket and proceeded to arrange the kiwi vine. The last of my hippeastrums came in very handy as did the inflorescence of the nandina domestica.

Close up of the flowers which have a  delicate fragrance

Emily

Hello all,

Well, we're home with all that that entails. It was by far the most relaxing holiday we ever had. There are many interesting tours available in Port Douglas but we avoided all of them, having done them before.and chose, instead, to relax at the villa, swim in our private pool and EAT a lot. We will pay the price for that vice later.

In my previous post I lamented the fact that I'm surrounded by some of the best tropical materials but could not use them for ikebana. As luck would have it, on one of our walks around the grounds, we came across prunnings from several palm trees....

The materials are palm spathes and inflorescence, on the above arrangement the fruit are quite mature, whereas in the photo below, the inflorescence is in what looks like buds. They are both very heavy and tough to penetrate. I tried using one of the needles from the sewing kit provided, but the stem was too woody and the needle broke.

I placed the arrangements in front of the flat screen TV, using it as a backdrop for my photos. Some green leaves would have improved the arrangements but, even as they are, making them satisfied the need I had to get my hands on some tropical material. I was suffering withdrawal symptoms.

The flowers seem to be growing at the tips of leaves.

So back to ikebana.

For our last class I had set the theme for the advanced students of 'Both Fresh and Unconventional Materials'. This is always a fun exercise and we all enjoyed it.

Jenny used a whole box of coloured pencils, wired into triangles and, then, joined them into a structure attaching it to a triangular, ceramic container. The arum lilies added height as well as the fresh materials.

Then a quick look around for the fresh materials. The loquats picked up the yellow of the foil very well, as did the spuria iris. The mass of white ornithogalums added depth to the back as well as contrast for the other materials. The black vase is glass and has an oval shape.

Shaneen took advantage of the small window of opportunity, whilst iris are available, to do the iris lesson in Book 5. She employed the traditional method of arranging flag iris, with her stunningly beautiful, dark purple blooms and many leaves, as well as a little sprig of Japanese maple.

Wendy's curriculum lesson was 'To be Viewed from all Sides'. The pink flowering branch is called 'buckeye' or 'horse chestnut'. The genus is Aesculus.  She also used Portugal laurel and cottage gladioli in a ceramic, oval shaped vase.

Lei's lesson was 'Focusing on Water'. She used a large suiban and placed a strelitzia reginae flower and leaf diagonally over the top, creating shadows and reflections over the water. The smaller leaves are pinellia tripartita.

Dianne made a 'Horizontal Arrangement'. She used contorted hazel (Corylus avellana 'Contorta'), white flag iris, native mint bush and boronia.

Dianne also brought along her adorable, brand new puppy, Loulou and Vicky fell instantly in love!

Bye for now,

Emily

Illawarra flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolius)

Well, we finally made it. We were supposed to go on our holiday at the end of August but, as some of you might remember, Covid reared its ugly head and our trip was postponed.

And this is me working on the blog. I lugged my heavy, ancient laptop with me just for this task.

It is so quiet that the only sounds we hear are the rustling of leaves, some birds, the babbling of the water features and the resident gecko, who clicks away every so often. And the biggest surprise of all, no insects!

Oh how I'd love to get my hands on these crab claw heliconias (Heliconia bihai)

On Saturday we went for lunch at Ospreys Restaurant, Thala Beach Nature Reserve. The last time we were here we could not get a reservation, so this time we booked ahead and it was worth the effort. The restaurant is set high, with views of the tree tops and beyond that, Thala beach.

The view from our table.

                                 

And this lazy visitor (some kind of Monitor) stayed sleeping on the tree trunk for the duration of our meal.

Yesterday we took a drive to Palm Cove, mainly to see the majestic Paperbark Melaleucas, some of which are reported to be over 400 years old. They are protected, so much so, that buildings are built around them. You could be sitting in a restaurant with a giant tree trunk next to you. The rows of palm trees are, also, quite lovely in this village.

Sam in front of Paperbark Melaleucas. If you look closely at the background, you'll see trees growing through the roofs of buildings.

We drove past this shrub, below, several times and were struck by its full, vibrant flowers. Luckily Sam was driving as it would have been a dangerous distraction for me. We stopped and took photos, which, unfortunately don't do justice to the shrub or the colour of the flowers. In fact, the star shaped flowers are small, yellow ones surrounded by large apricot/pink brachts. It's name is Mussaenda erythrophylla.

Close up

Hello all,

My clematis was particularly prolific this year, despite the constant, relentless rain and I was able to cut enough flowers to make the arrangement, above. I've reached a point, after so many years of practice, where I make my arrangements instinctively, without thinking about a particular theme, unless it is for a class lesson. However, after completing a piece, I sometimes think about which theme it falls under. In this case, 'Using Only One Kind of Material', 'Wall Arrangement', 'To be Viewed from Below' and 'Colour of the Container'. Although, in the photograph, the mauve tones of the container are not visible.

The rain has done a great deal of damage to much of our spring flowering plants but it seems churlish to complain when people across the country are suffering floods and losses beyond measure. Our thoughts are with them.

The rain was, also, responsible for the sight, below.  One could be forgiven for thinking it had snowed all over my compost bins. In fact, they are the flowers of my snow ball tree (Viburnum Opulus), whose branches hang over the bins.

The two themes that were selected were 'Basic Upright Nageire' and 'In a Suiban Without a Kenzan'. No matter our level of expertise, I believe it is necessary, periodically, to go back to basics. 

My arrangement, below, is 'In a Suiban Without a Kenzan'. I used large branches of Portugal Laurel (prunus lusitanica) with flower spikes in bud. I photographed it when I brought it home and, with the luxury of more time, I refined it a little and added a third strelitzia.

Shaneen, who has just started book 5, made a 'Seasonal Arrangement'. She used a number of spring  materials from her impressive garden.

I leave you with this next arrangement, featuring my one and only peony flower. I have a number of plants, stubbornly refusing to flower, except for this tree peony, which produced one flower. Cause for celebration!

Bye for now,

Hello all,

The arrangement, above, requires no explanation. I simply used two of my favourite materials, wisteria and Altissimo roses, in my self made vases.

I began the class last week by demonstrating the traditional way of arranging flag iris. This is quite prescriptive and there are many rules but the end result is of a beautiful, naturalistic arrangement. I used one stem of blue and one of white iris and leaves. I finished it with two sprigs of Japanese maple.

My arrangement, below, is in a large, heavy, glass container allowing for part of the stems to be inside while the bulk of them is outside. My strelitzia plants are producing quite a few flowers and, I think, they work well with the up-side-down branches.

Emily

Hello all,

First and foremost, an announcement:

The Ikebana International Melbourne Committee is pleased to present our first Online Exhibition. 

This is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnsuFmXNDjE

On Saturday I attended an Ikebana International workshop run by Naomi Cullen, Head of Ichio school of Ikebana. The theme she chose was 'Ikebana Using Vegetables'. She demonstrated three arrangements using vegetables as well as other plant materials. 

In the Sogetsu curriculum we have a lesson 'Fruit and Vegetables' and, as a Sogetsu teacher, I felt I had to keep to the teachings of our school. I made the arrangement, above, using fruit and vegetables. I had fun injecting a bit of whimsy using this quirky, resin container.

On Sunday I conducted a workshop at The Bulleen Art and Garden Centre. It was attended by a group of interested and engaged ladies. I demonstrated the Basic Upright Moribana arrangement, the very first lesson in the Sogetsu curriculum. I provided materials, kenzans and containers for the participants to, then, make their own arrangement. I always enjoy introducing ikebana to people who know nothing about it and am often pleasantly surprised at how well they do on their very first try. 

I took along three different arrangements as a very small sample of the vast array of styles in Sogetsu ikebana.

Miniatures seem to have a universal appeal.

I confess, I make a version of this arrangement in my self made container almost every spring.

I reworked this large arrangement by replacing the green goddess lilies in the original version with snow ball flowers (viburnum opulus)

I've been playing around with simplified arrangements. This next one started with this translucent, resin container I bought recently. When I brought it into my studio, I noticed the green goddess lily in 'the bucket' almost calling to me. Usually simplified arrangements are small but this is an example of a large one.

Then I challenged myself to create a simplified arrangement from a large, ceder branch (Cedrus deodara) with one cone on it. I removed all but one tuft of needles and the cone and placed the stem in a stainless steel container.

And last but not least, it can't be spring without a wisteria arrangement. My wisteria has been disappointing to date, with very few flowers. This year she has produced a few more and, if she continues this way, she might be allowed to live.

Wisteria and rhododendron in self made container

Bye for now,

Emily

Hello all,

My friend, Merryl, surprised me with two branches of contorted hazel (Corylus avellana 'contorta'). This shrub is very slow growing, so, to get such branches is a real treat. I have one in my garden but I use it very sparingly. 

The arrangement, above, looks simple enough but it did require some mechanics to secure such tall stems just on a kenzan. The photograph, below, shows the main  branch, which had two stems coming from the centre creating a 'fork'. I shortened the main stem and hammered it into the kenzan. But the weight of the branch could not be supported by the kenzan alone. By placing a horizontal fixture over the 'fork' part of the branch and catching it under the rim of the container, I was able to stabilise the main branch. Then, the rest of the materials were supported by the main branch.

The new growth on deciduous trees or shrubs can, often, wilt as soon as it is cut. One method that usually helps to prevent this from happening is to cut the stem under water and scrape about 1 to 2 inches from the bottom of the stem before placing in the arrangement. See photo below.

Shaneen's class theme was 'Seasonal Materials'. This is identical to the spring arrangement, however, she was not required to use a nageire container. There were five different materials in her arrangement.

Emily

Hello all,

Last week I visited my elderly uncle and untie, bringing them some dinner, when I noticed their cherry tree and magnolia tree in full bloom beckoning to me. They readily allowed me to cut some branches from both but I was careful to only cut a small amount from each. I checked with google for the name of the magnolia and, I think, it is Magnolia Soulangeana Rustica Rubra. Whatever the name it is quite delightful and the flowers have lasted for four days, which is unusual for a magnolia.

Their cherry tree actually produces fruit and is not just ornamental, however, the fruit are only enjoyed by the birds. I arranged the branch in a basket and added bright red rhododendron and camellia flowers. I see it as a very happy, spring arrangement.

Jenny Made a variation No.1 Upright style, moribana using the pink colored Toona Sinensis and red roses. The other arrangement is Variation no. 4 horizontal style, nageire reversed, which is made up of a beautiful but, rather, foul smelling pear blossom branch and red roses.

Nicole used pussy willow and alstroemeria in Variation No. 4 upright style, nageire and Variation No. 4 slanting style, moribana, using an Australian native branch, the name of which I don't know. The alstroemeria is a connecting element in the arrangements.

Shaneen used seven different materials but was able to prevent her arrangement from looking western by grouping her materials and allowing some space in the middle with some stems showing. She, also, left part of the lip of the container free of materials.

Wendy's class theme was 'Lines at the Base'. She used yellow broom and Dutch iris, with the clean lines of the stems coming out of the centre of the container. She chose the materials because the yellow of the iris picked up the yellow of the broom.

Emily