WINTER LANDSCAPES

The seasons are much more clearly defined in Europe compared to Australia. Now that we have travelled to northern Europe the winter is revealled by snow and ice and bare deciduous trees. Below is the sight from our window in Brixlegg near Insbruck.
 
 
Berries in the same garden.
 

These snow capped bushes were in the garden of the Gemaldegalerie in Berlin.


These leaves frosted with a rime of ice were outside the 'Viking Ship Museum' in Oslo.
 

When walking through the Tiergarten to the Brandenburg Gate my attention was caught by these snow drop flowers peeping through the mulch of leaves.  


While in Berlin I made contact with another ikebana enthusiast, Lennart Persson, who writes the blog 'Nordic Lotus'. So, we made a detour to Oslo, where he was a gracious host, and he and I were able to talk about ikebana together.


While we were in Naples I saw this beautiful ball of oak leaves and twiggs decorating the cafe in the gallery of the Palazzo Reale di Capodimonte.
 

The memory of those leaves inspired me to think about a winter arrangement when I came to Berlin. Below is my winter arrangement of some dried plane tree leaves that I gathered to make a mass. I added some other fresh leaves, in the centre and right, that looked a bit like holly.


I then added some rose hips for some bright colour. It was difficult to work in this open wine-glass shaped vase. I improvised by fixing the firmer stems into an apple in the centre of the vase.


I rather like the arrangement 'viewed from above', which I photographed in the bath!



Greetings from Christopher, outside the Munch Museum in Oslo.
2nd February 2013


2 comments:

  1. Winter certainly does have a beauty all its own. Looks like you are having a wonderful time. Enjoying your and Laurie's posts and emails. Hope you have a wonderful week. Best, Michael

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  2. Thanks for taking the time to come to Oslo. Being able to share experiences and thoughts was such an inspiration. I'll re-read the passages in the Sparnon books that you recommended. Enjoy the rest of your trip and let's keep in touch.

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