tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33582311786269265362024-03-18T14:05:29.484+11:00ROADSIDE IKEBANAChristopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.comBlogger661125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-45016883202629580462024-03-17T16:33:00.002+11:002024-03-17T16:33:45.564+11:00AEONIUM ARBOREUM 'ATROPURPUREUM<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">At a recent class in Geelong ...</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqGaIP3MrC1yGZnO-uXfOfp5bmfFBzDIc4WDIZSZiGIiWJrP0nMPMwSGV-f79IJlF4V_fcFiftoKVZfgcoJ6d44Y6_Q7oxWBqVMXfAXsFT7E65R3Z5h72cAp3S23Gn6JfamHO5xZXTWI4Q_3cUnSin7Q74k_LHpzR294zbDbsdCqSUnB0Aau7cqvJqik/s1280/IMG_5477.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="1280" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqGaIP3MrC1yGZnO-uXfOfp5bmfFBzDIc4WDIZSZiGIiWJrP0nMPMwSGV-f79IJlF4V_fcFiftoKVZfgcoJ6d44Y6_Q7oxWBqVMXfAXsFT7E65R3Z5h72cAp3S23Gn6JfamHO5xZXTWI4Q_3cUnSin7Q74k_LHpzR294zbDbsdCqSUnB0Aau7cqvJqik/w640-h578/IMG_5477.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...Jo made an ikebana "Using green materials only". Although the Sogetsu curriculum does not specifically state the number of materials to be used in the exercise, I think, as a generalisation, three should be the minimal number, (</span><span style="font-family: arial;">sometimes </span><span style="font-family: arial;">exceptions are appropriate). In this example Jo used </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coprosma_repens" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Mirror Bush</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Coprosma repens</i><span style="font-family: arial;">, </span><i style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agapanthus"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Agapanthus</span></a> </i><span style="font-family: arial;">and a large </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaumatophyllum_bipinnatifidum" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Tree Philodendron</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjC3PFbaiUSZUQzfWQXC_cXHZEIpF7qSHv_adfayhLdzjzjzyj7HB439XVK5e8dM4siY6rPkPVbauLl6bziDelZked9i35ZCmJlOHTl1hHPsidWlrJ4_YOeDPs34woxdOEg-6nwEUOI6Y1Iy5TTYcHxsgmzK_BO7INsOcD0iJpLlkr-hO61sT3nBn_l-E/s1280/IMG_5473.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="841" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjC3PFbaiUSZUQzfWQXC_cXHZEIpF7qSHv_adfayhLdzjzjzyj7HB439XVK5e8dM4siY6rPkPVbauLl6bziDelZked9i35ZCmJlOHTl1hHPsidWlrJ4_YOeDPs34woxdOEg-6nwEUOI6Y1Iy5TTYcHxsgmzK_BO7INsOcD0iJpLlkr-hO61sT3nBn_l-E/w420-h640/IMG_5473.jpeg" width="420" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Maree's exercise was "Taking into account the view from below". It is convenient that the class room has a high shelf that <span style="text-align: center;">suited the cascading lines of this pink <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranthus_caudatus"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Amaranthus caudatus</span></a>, </i>above which is a pink <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grevillea"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Grevillea</span></a> and a some Bamboo. In this exercise short materials, in particular, may need to be placed at a lower angle than when the vessel is at table level.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-align: center;">The exercise for the senior students was to make a "Basic Slanting Arrangement", with no other criteria specified - a revision of one of the basic forms in the Sogetsu curriculum.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNW9tfymnxChMkksqaFnJmxYmr7lLprQGuFUyXY25gOA-jYtNb0ghEkLs-4hflb95pyUFmiAZHV1HLO_AZsLGhDc9IqliSgm4GknIZlRVFH1UhxhL7mJXEJmpw7ZaPnk15vUCbfAbkwMlTabLKfTdAu8w-cMMRN6bdPUPVZ-PNySH__r1nT8NvP4UKmo/s1280/IMG_5472.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1243" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNW9tfymnxChMkksqaFnJmxYmr7lLprQGuFUyXY25gOA-jYtNb0ghEkLs-4hflb95pyUFmiAZHV1HLO_AZsLGhDc9IqliSgm4GknIZlRVFH1UhxhL7mJXEJmpw7ZaPnk15vUCbfAbkwMlTabLKfTdAu8w-cMMRN6bdPUPVZ-PNySH__r1nT8NvP4UKmo/w622-h640/IMG_5472.jpeg" width="622" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Tess chose to use a tall cylinder as the vessel in which she set Australian native materials; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atriplex_nummularia"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Oldman Saltbush</span></a> <i>Atriplex nummularia</i> and a pale yellow <i>Grevillea.</i></span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAMCM5HHKZSc1uYLvMbk26wSph0P24t3AFmoAvEVbfNQIcrP-LqjPTuBvKLmeDM2x-IUrDGqmnosxW1xFtvaktwT_txZc5n-87qjUvhtxf33o7h2AB2N30rrohuQ_YPzc2oc9SVlH-moLJ0D9Fs5FcQkn0iN7DdCAHFSovLagPaJKHsibsnJENVhhEMA/s1280/IMG_5474.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1031" data-original-width="1280" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAMCM5HHKZSc1uYLvMbk26wSph0P24t3AFmoAvEVbfNQIcrP-LqjPTuBvKLmeDM2x-IUrDGqmnosxW1xFtvaktwT_txZc5n-87qjUvhtxf33o7h2AB2N30rrohuQ_YPzc2oc9SVlH-moLJ0D9Fs5FcQkn0iN7DdCAHFSovLagPaJKHsibsnJENVhhEMA/w640-h516/IMG_5474.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Maureen used two species of <i>Grevillea </i>set in a<i> </i>pale blue <i>suiban. </i>The foreshortening in the photograph makes the flowers look larger than the reality and their line is rather lost.</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLiFH__dG_CZTlXZ1mUSm8atl6s30XtAM2YYEtyz2rh9GbOKzFekw71rtmjkgh4QFIbrucKeGsae68N67Cn1_0Rn_4nHQt2SBfKn7rCOS5A7EIKZFZMszqGMYP2lIqhy0pfirK2OGEVGYVYNqWsE4lcP4mI4xtZPDP2AgyediokaILpzYUUyqNCxtLWk/s1280/IMG_5475.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="1280" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLiFH__dG_CZTlXZ1mUSm8atl6s30XtAM2YYEtyz2rh9GbOKzFekw71rtmjkgh4QFIbrucKeGsae68N67Cn1_0Rn_4nHQt2SBfKn7rCOS5A7EIKZFZMszqGMYP2lIqhy0pfirK2OGEVGYVYNqWsE4lcP4mI4xtZPDP2AgyediokaILpzYUUyqNCxtLWk/w640-h574/IMG_5475.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Ellie also set her ikebana in a suiban. The principle material is <a href="Kangaroo paw"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Kangaroo paw</span></a> with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craspedia_variabilis"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Billy Buttons</span></a> in the flower position on the right hand side. The pale blue-grey material in the centre is a small stem of <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Acacia</span></a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuZ3IcE7M_OMqOCBxeeA1CaK_irTBpf9WOGlcD6q2xQoyFUMeP-CN8UVTug46ghPoPabcUbMfzoAFYKChQCsFHhs2ajwWe419QEcK9FqH1HTTmWQ_QIPsMqtHVpEW4p-Fapp4N5AHG2AdvHa0nwnrynDBspaHrjHwBxDxF0C897ZCF7MH51lvHSfCZhg/s1280/IMG_5524.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="1280" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuZ3IcE7M_OMqOCBxeeA1CaK_irTBpf9WOGlcD6q2xQoyFUMeP-CN8UVTug46ghPoPabcUbMfzoAFYKChQCsFHhs2ajwWe419QEcK9FqH1HTTmWQ_QIPsMqtHVpEW4p-Fapp4N5AHG2AdvHa0nwnrynDBspaHrjHwBxDxF0C897ZCF7MH51lvHSfCZhg/w640-h622/IMG_5524.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">My ikebana this week comes from a chance finding. A neighbour was throwing out a large clump of <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeonium_arboreum"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Aeonium arboreum</span></a> '</i>Atropurpureum'.<i> </i>I was immediately drawn to the thick curving lines of this material and the dramatic dark maroon-purple of the rosette of leaves. The heaviness of the stems and flower created a challenge because of the snaking curves and the weight of the material. I created a cross-bar fixture that was wired onto two upright bars which were impaled in a large kenzan. This meant that the cross-bar did not have to be wedged tightly against the wall of the vessel, which might have cracked. The materials both project forward of the vase, the smaller one is actually a little further forward of the larger rosette. I like the visual strength of these materials which contrasts with the pale glaze of the vessel. In making this ikebana I was reminded of the following advice when arranging fruiting branches. "If the fruit is heavy, it should look heavy". Therefore it is allowed to hang below the opening if a tall vessel is used. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The vase is by the Victorian ceramicist <a href="https://www.kayepoultonceramics.com.au/"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Kaye Poulton</span></a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">17th March 2024</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-13048959737310201872024-03-09T18:18:00.000+11:002024-03-09T18:18:03.064+11:00MASSED EXPRESSION<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A couple of weeks ago I failed to include a photo of my student, Maree's ikebana. Her exercise was the Book 4 lesson using "Dried, bleached or coloured material". The exercise does not preclude the addition of fresh materials. However, they should be secondary to the dried materials. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqPQ7Qq1tp8LLMcG9rWMm6K5RyuDow8SCYiCbCX8g-RaG_MAZZsXbD-iz3mfoou3kfW9SIBKTmHUnpIEkOyazDkRxymv7doy41dZ9GMqPZHmroVxDAnWuJ69dihVDHVHdbUW1AnjNr4tO3CQFC8dorolZ4WNFTdrZdPNkkDVxZj1ftsAIZDM-zUxY9hg/s1280/IMG_5449.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqPQ7Qq1tp8LLMcG9rWMm6K5RyuDow8SCYiCbCX8g-RaG_MAZZsXbD-iz3mfoou3kfW9SIBKTmHUnpIEkOyazDkRxymv7doy41dZ9GMqPZHmroVxDAnWuJ69dihVDHVHdbUW1AnjNr4tO3CQFC8dorolZ4WNFTdrZdPNkkDVxZj1ftsAIZDM-zUxY9hg/w480-h640/IMG_5449.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Maree chose some bark for the warm cinnamon co</span><span style="font-family: arial;">lour of its inner surface, the outer surface being grey. She set the bark inside three large glass cylinders with crushed white stones in their base. This provided a mechanism for supporting the bark without the need for <i>kenzans </i>or other fixing mechanism. She added some <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craspedia_(plant)"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Billy Buttons</span></a> <i>Craspedia canens </i>which gave a bright yellow highlight to the ikebana. The large "rock" outside the left-hand cylinder is actually a piece of foam plastic that has become tan-coloured with age. At the critique I moved the three cylinders into this triangular configuration which gave depth to the work. It also made the ikebana able to be viewed from all around which was much more interesting.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div> </div><div>The senior students at a recent class were given the exercise of making an ikebana using "summer flowers" in a <i>suiban</i>. In the context of the hot, dry summer conditions typical in the south of Australia, this can be quite a challenge.</div><div><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAHqSoIWAY1C0SAvVbkBtPSKO1Py9k2iJMdM1hdEegqVmhuiQ4B49MKA2mw12DU8bp60zwY4OBAmg9e692kM2KeU68yHZgIhB2fEvyp12OFcGyPku13wNUpRsxxhZk_LMxMeqKdsIkXqRTjdM5BnLFq5MJwuEcfVarYqdUnCCFk0kj-MpBEivE8DheXc/s1280/IMG_5444.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAHqSoIWAY1C0SAvVbkBtPSKO1Py9k2iJMdM1hdEegqVmhuiQ4B49MKA2mw12DU8bp60zwY4OBAmg9e692kM2KeU68yHZgIhB2fEvyp12OFcGyPku13wNUpRsxxhZk_LMxMeqKdsIkXqRTjdM5BnLFq5MJwuEcfVarYqdUnCCFk0kj-MpBEivE8DheXc/w640-h480/IMG_5444.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Christine chose to use some bright red <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerine"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Nerine</span></a> sariensis </i>from her garden. She also decided to incorporate some additional "unconventional material" into her ikebana. It is white, plastic-coated wire, used for binding single pages into calendars or book manuals. The wire was unexpectedly heavy and had to be held up with some strong green stems. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqjkOjCJBYaMA65STqqm7twe09T2rU3IrFBochnZJ9JiNk2U4YNlul8TO3KTxt-DiVUyBp5EtW2mQX7ykwEVI0JYA4yNcgncP0DSllHCtXZEf33Pjhlby3t7hQTqwV7nq_ZRjDcsjCnfSw8LR9c-wUfFVBS8qMPlIkyo6utbrizv1pAQrlIn5SYtbn0E/s1280/IMG_5446.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="1280" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqjkOjCJBYaMA65STqqm7twe09T2rU3IrFBochnZJ9JiNk2U4YNlul8TO3KTxt-DiVUyBp5EtW2mQX7ykwEVI0JYA4yNcgncP0DSllHCtXZEf33Pjhlby3t7hQTqwV7nq_ZRjDcsjCnfSw8LR9c-wUfFVBS8qMPlIkyo6utbrizv1pAQrlIn5SYtbn0E/w640-h568/IMG_5446.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Maureen used the terminal inflorescences of <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucadendron"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Leucadendron</span></a> </i>for the flower component of her ikebana. The principal line was a large dried branch sporting clusters of dried <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Lichen</span></a>. </i>She placed the Leucadendron stems to complement the branch lines and create interesting spaces in the ikebana.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfnzIjLQE9BcFrCQRzq70hHt4cAEwV6HGGH9x6iEwFzFifWSXEDqsAQPBlgCErL2SAd4avIMAPOac-OIqVBptPkFfUFP1Hvb7nr6cJ4mKf-5JrziUUL0eLa03n5-6jknK7DdC-VKRAGRrG6oX1aayvYm0A2y1AANQQTqmcSDNHi8ArxM3nw7MuHdQVEM/s1280/IMG_5447.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfnzIjLQE9BcFrCQRzq70hHt4cAEwV6HGGH9x6iEwFzFifWSXEDqsAQPBlgCErL2SAd4avIMAPOac-OIqVBptPkFfUFP1Hvb7nr6cJ4mKf-5JrziUUL0eLa03n5-6jknK7DdC-VKRAGRrG6oX1aayvYm0A2y1AANQQTqmcSDNHi8ArxM3nw7MuHdQVEM/w480-h640/IMG_5447.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Tess has a garden with an abundance of summer flowers. Such an "embarrassment of riches" can be a challenge in the world of ikebana where it is often said that "less is more". The difficulty is in choosing what to leave out. Tess's ikebana included a single <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Rose</span></a></i>, blue and pink <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limonium"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Statice</span></a></i>, <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geranium"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Geranium</span></a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedum"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Sedum</span></a></i> and <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumbago_auriculata"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Plumbago auriculata</span></a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0EoO5DUz7WXpVN7FQxHWClwHX_2hhGTTvk3xEprmibcQba8d8Vj9exrGP98fGRJOJHTBCGErjf5pS8XnwJPSdkY5uzjFXjOdGTmtq69RIotpEYaA-Q3hkDarGKZXN79F59tnhrfBqvi_2b3I4o_reEDpDc0jdVRsCEkosxN_ZoxJP1KIjaiNdLsh3s0/s1280/IMG_4463.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0EoO5DUz7WXpVN7FQxHWClwHX_2hhGTTvk3xEprmibcQba8d8Vj9exrGP98fGRJOJHTBCGErjf5pS8XnwJPSdkY5uzjFXjOdGTmtq69RIotpEYaA-Q3hkDarGKZXN79F59tnhrfBqvi_2b3I4o_reEDpDc0jdVRsCEkosxN_ZoxJP1KIjaiNdLsh3s0/w640-h480/IMG_4463.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>On one of our regular walking paths we pass a garden with this very large clump of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaryllis_belladonna"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Belladonna lil</span></a><span style="color: #2b00fe;">y</span> which has an </span><span style="font-family: arial;">especially</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> rich colouring. The clump must be very old as the bulbs have pushed up above the ground surface forming a small mound. I am intrigued by the intensity of the pink flowers.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4LV0AyhvfFB8BhxsUMQEo0eXWVeNpSp6ggIH1JbXqMyPmxCvhez2JmGU_OZJLS5wDS0X_FuyFLQ3iEsmlqpyVM_3met-NSDfLaRLZ91EWwt4qmTdviNIMTiwnZ8JKWkFlYV6e39GnoeWthuGJVemT-ncwFUI9zlSE6cbZKPcOOJ5s_-Ro_SLKHi5PJA/s1280/IMG_5503%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="926" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4LV0AyhvfFB8BhxsUMQEo0eXWVeNpSp6ggIH1JbXqMyPmxCvhez2JmGU_OZJLS5wDS0X_FuyFLQ3iEsmlqpyVM_3met-NSDfLaRLZ91EWwt4qmTdviNIMTiwnZ8JKWkFlYV6e39GnoeWthuGJVemT-ncwFUI9zlSE6cbZKPcOOJ5s_-Ro_SLKHi5PJA/w464-h640/IMG_5503%20(1).jpeg" width="464" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>In our garden the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidago_altissima"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Golden Rod</span></a> <i>Solidago altissima </i>has started to flower more prolifically this year. It is confined in an old concrete laundry trough, the base of which I lined with garden-pool grade plastic. Thus I am able to keep the soil saturated, in spite of temperatures like today's </span><span style="font-family: arial;">39C (!).</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_AI05b8QioBCnKRr_iXqMmC6-G_Fl56974L0pn3LHzAmnS82NHXYS5GUKwVoRYyUrAnnjAWNuE4qLgEUBb6vz-mEPUBgiBI616T7fD_cXPTkNM8JhN5QZIWHnKCRccsEcHg8hwSMIgCTyjYP_SVK-BePsddHH-HvNFbWdqedRkWJNq-9IbHhb3eZ24E/s1280/IMG_5492.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1280" height="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_AI05b8QioBCnKRr_iXqMmC6-G_Fl56974L0pn3LHzAmnS82NHXYS5GUKwVoRYyUrAnnjAWNuE4qLgEUBb6vz-mEPUBgiBI616T7fD_cXPTkNM8JhN5QZIWHnKCRccsEcHg8hwSMIgCTyjYP_SVK-BePsddHH-HvNFbWdqedRkWJNq-9IbHhb3eZ24E/w640-h626/IMG_5492.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>This week's ikebana came about because a neighbour kindly offered me the seed head of some </span><a href="Cynara cardunculus "><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Artichoke</span></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Cynara cardunculus. </span><span>A gift this ikebanist could not refuse. I have used three of the flowerheads, the largest to the left front and the other two partially hidden. Two flowerheads of the Golden rod cascade across the smallest of the Artichokes. Only partially seen at the back are some pale pink trumpets of our Belladonna lily.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>The green galzed flower bowl is by Isabella Wang.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Greetings from Christopher</span></div><div>9th March 2024</div><div><br /></div></span><p></p></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-85303929944982659742024-03-03T13:55:00.001+11:002024-03-03T13:55:16.403+11:00BELLADONA LILIES and SEDUM<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Yesterday was partially cloudy with a slightly chilly wind from the south when we had a walk in Iron Bark Basin, part of the Great Otway National Park.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivD92iBktGCqK1NJz4DfuOEbt5-Q1jvlZg_oId5dqlTsdkDFeYJWrEQ63LbIlnPMVKBMusmZ_0hJhIRC3JtZGMI8ORHGqza_NEPJS0-YLfuP1yOVttATyFzwb7SohoYwJyVaOBQvzdf2_nE7Hnqmna735qiVT9XEzM8bbIvlpiNtsrvWi6KRjGt3IbvqU/s1280/IMG_5478.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivD92iBktGCqK1NJz4DfuOEbt5-Q1jvlZg_oId5dqlTsdkDFeYJWrEQ63LbIlnPMVKBMusmZ_0hJhIRC3JtZGMI8ORHGqza_NEPJS0-YLfuP1yOVttATyFzwb7SohoYwJyVaOBQvzdf2_nE7Hnqmna735qiVT9XEzM8bbIvlpiNtsrvWi6KRjGt3IbvqU/w640-h480/IMG_5478.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The dense bush on the right of the path has an understory dominated by small <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthorrhoea_australis"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Grass Trees</span></a> <i>Xanthorrhoea Australis. </i>These Grass Trees all appeared during the natural regeneration after the 1983 bushfires. Hence they are much the same height and may eventually grow to over 3 metres tall. The left side of the path is bare because it has been slashed as a fire break.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSueeXVcien3SaWLigtAnyr7laUAO84v-YucFh4miyeDFHBP8N65XI5PSX4VHjZLk4h2XVgToq7vvaxdAsPcnRriSB011uF6011oLBiRN6ND-qR4Sew4PzaNQrt2hZyzCvFcbzoud8D-3h5pj_pLYSDUeYr1FPTut9-DubMQof0JSpjoKUnYIctrVHlc/s1280/IMG_5479.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSueeXVcien3SaWLigtAnyr7laUAO84v-YucFh4miyeDFHBP8N65XI5PSX4VHjZLk4h2XVgToq7vvaxdAsPcnRriSB011uF6011oLBiRN6ND-qR4Sew4PzaNQrt2hZyzCvFcbzoud8D-3h5pj_pLYSDUeYr1FPTut9-DubMQof0JSpjoKUnYIctrVHlc/w640-h480/IMG_5479.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Some sections of this path provide glimpses of the sea several hundred metres away.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJTmGNhE9omJictyPBJjVtiyEPjAcLdv6rN0eTvIHBe_J57nOz1vWz9S7o97T-PAsv-eTZ8mliYGGh9e3lo6Re-VVJLDbXgZ3rlnMsxVXnffu-qv_98fRG1fkZiLC77SbgNJXO3IjzDhfFhZ1K7maYRYi8sG3Z92Y7yTm45fQDw_xgLSlkTG5q_M4Wj0/s884/Screenshot%202024-03-03%20at%2010.15.55%20am.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="884" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJTmGNhE9omJictyPBJjVtiyEPjAcLdv6rN0eTvIHBe_J57nOz1vWz9S7o97T-PAsv-eTZ8mliYGGh9e3lo6Re-VVJLDbXgZ3rlnMsxVXnffu-qv_98fRG1fkZiLC77SbgNJXO3IjzDhfFhZ1K7maYRYi8sG3Z92Y7yTm45fQDw_xgLSlkTG5q_M4Wj0/w640-h564/Screenshot%202024-03-03%20at%2010.15.55%20am.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It always reminds me of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Streeton"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Arthur Streeton's </span></a>painting "Ocean Blue, Lorne" brought into the Geelong Art Gallery collection in 2011.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In my Melbourne class last week I set the exercise of creating an ikebana using 'Green Plant Materials", a subject from the Sogetsu extended curriculum. Green is a particularly pervasive colour in the plant world therefore, it is important to turn our attention to that fact. The exercise encourages the ikebanist to discriminate between different greens and, in so doing, reveal them to the casual observer. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlLAVeYr5OdwYhBrv6TqfRdyN9ssiWNIYFGFmaPnPibOJzhPeYD0aoHnled8zkxF6uajMQTmfCcjp8xMRaqREKSpJdgz_e6AMyC4XYTaL5NX_dPw2LbeRJTxFjOAnJ8I8GrL08UpCUNCaH4Vy-5DLShgpG8CpxULOt3R83UqTJZEQ9JnsxWWNIu8iXhY/s1280/Aileen227:2:2024%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="721" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlLAVeYr5OdwYhBrv6TqfRdyN9ssiWNIYFGFmaPnPibOJzhPeYD0aoHnled8zkxF6uajMQTmfCcjp8xMRaqREKSpJdgz_e6AMyC4XYTaL5NX_dPw2LbeRJTxFjOAnJ8I8GrL08UpCUNCaH4Vy-5DLShgpG8CpxULOt3R83UqTJZEQ9JnsxWWNIu8iXhY/w360-h640/Aileen227:2:2024%20(1).jpeg" width="360" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Aileen used Gymea leaves for the main lines and then added a single <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatsia_japonica"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Fatsia Japonica</span></a></i> leaf and a small bunch of green berries. The vertical lines, together with the space created, provide the strong elements of the design; while the leaf and berries invite a closer look.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vJO5U7V2ftCp4oyl4M-tQ-zgBVhq80n9pcYKS6a4l8Y94LNdyfPJMob-7MvgMTqEZtbmrd9iVDc1IETzt_iCeuYXDWDtJRSBjclIRQnOb0oJgw5G43JODlL7gg83ebrx36F7XFwhg0G9_5JQYRasUNXlfrG0kyWihShauXzjxZSH8sfSWGIlYxBvDZg/s1280/IMG_5466.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="861" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vJO5U7V2ftCp4oyl4M-tQ-zgBVhq80n9pcYKS6a4l8Y94LNdyfPJMob-7MvgMTqEZtbmrd9iVDc1IETzt_iCeuYXDWDtJRSBjclIRQnOb0oJgw5G43JODlL7gg83ebrx36F7XFwhg0G9_5JQYRasUNXlfrG0kyWihShauXzjxZSH8sfSWGIlYxBvDZg/w430-h640/IMG_5466.jpeg" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Jacqueline got busy changing the appearance of her stem of <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordyline_banksii"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Cordyline</span></a> </i>so that it didn't look like a small palm tree. She then added an <a href="Escheveria"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Escheveria</span></i></a> rosette and a small stem of <i>Camelia </i>leaves. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjxkqPnRzQGkNoK2pMA5_g9xx9LqJYm7yayvHSUO_539E4s30Ghfd-tn8Lg-tCbuX37Yk0l7EsQ8KnSNFx5yI7M5pXALixEMxBV4v3DI8WSi0flZbhXSEHBocVxo6Vl1kZrqWxIjc5MUf66ZU0maz8M1qcmsU-Ns3OBD2LTjumTeSaXoOupU2AGa1XE0/s1280/IMG_5465.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1280" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjxkqPnRzQGkNoK2pMA5_g9xx9LqJYm7yayvHSUO_539E4s30Ghfd-tn8Lg-tCbuX37Yk0l7EsQ8KnSNFx5yI7M5pXALixEMxBV4v3DI8WSi0flZbhXSEHBocVxo6Vl1kZrqWxIjc5MUf66ZU0maz8M1qcmsU-Ns3OBD2LTjumTeSaXoOupU2AGa1XE0/w640-h560/IMG_5465.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Marisha also had a stem of <i>Cordyline, </i>variegated in this case. The manipulation of her leaves made such a bold design that only a small bunch of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nandina#References"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Dwarf <i>Nandina</i></span></a> could be added without weakening her design.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1H6D_Ux2zlSx78BjoD8L2bxO1QlqmEXsRj-PAq7SW4phhBMOFLYRa0zoXj27NvKi2h018ndK59K3OLxihO48f9SivMzLWazOrhZHeWod7G0owIxXCrInsh2-nEqfZB-KZowrp9Cqsy_HTHcbCx5t2ugUL7R7KfUoz9OHu_yemhnxjgYYLCzyZZUKnAE/s1280/IMG_5464.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="860" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1H6D_Ux2zlSx78BjoD8L2bxO1QlqmEXsRj-PAq7SW4phhBMOFLYRa0zoXj27NvKi2h018ndK59K3OLxihO48f9SivMzLWazOrhZHeWod7G0owIxXCrInsh2-nEqfZB-KZowrp9Cqsy_HTHcbCx5t2ugUL7R7KfUoz9OHu_yemhnxjgYYLCzyZZUKnAE/w430-h640/IMG_5464.jpeg" width="430" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Eugenia used a single leaf of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sansevieria"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>Sansevieria</i></span></a> which she had manipulated to create a bold line. The colour and bold line matched closely the colour and strong lines in the vase. To this she added some fine green lines of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhipsalis"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Mistletoe Cactus</span></a> <i>Rhipsalis</i>, and a small bunch of <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clivia"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Clivia</span></a></i> berries.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0j0QdB1j9uTBmWQ4dM_tv9zYbk9iTt5gb3GaKOu9h7mJd96p2uT1dnO_CRnbVh-pmPx8OH-9koDZ_U7G_5tXkpKVRA5kayOf-M9wuhOobLExt_NtaheYmuU2lowGR_w2Oczf31PIElgkomGXHvNpWkOv50fYaTKCTB92mPOldsp9HXNnQMUpFyETDoo/s1280/IMG_5461.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="836" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0j0QdB1j9uTBmWQ4dM_tv9zYbk9iTt5gb3GaKOu9h7mJd96p2uT1dnO_CRnbVh-pmPx8OH-9koDZ_U7G_5tXkpKVRA5kayOf-M9wuhOobLExt_NtaheYmuU2lowGR_w2Oczf31PIElgkomGXHvNpWkOv50fYaTKCTB92mPOldsp9HXNnQMUpFyETDoo/w418-h640/IMG_5461.jpeg" width="418" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Marcia's ikebana incorporated <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyperus_alternifolius"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Umbrella Grass</span></a> <i>Cyperus, </i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zantedeschia_aethiopica"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Arum lily</span></a> <i>Zantedeshia aethiopica </i>and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malus"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Crab Apple</span></a> <i>Malus </i>fruit. The black annular vase offset the different forms of the naturally arranged materials and the subtle variation in shades of green.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYV9YbuX9opRFNm5GpQ4Z8dUyzam71iR4LmEyNsWP6nY_5X7vDKIVt-E5Hf7ivMlUPlAuaGDI8EmFmsOXGXVuHEqEUkb3kVIzleeIgown1BW8jR46ty3jZXmw0pGy22o45N3yI1dzTfWvGhuMuVtGMbBs38c1pD4f0tL51ApG6B-ELT9s-EJs8ybhr2w/s1280/IMG_5483.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="961" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYV9YbuX9opRFNm5GpQ4Z8dUyzam71iR4LmEyNsWP6nY_5X7vDKIVt-E5Hf7ivMlUPlAuaGDI8EmFmsOXGXVuHEqEUkb3kVIzleeIgown1BW8jR46ty3jZXmw0pGy22o45N3yI1dzTfWvGhuMuVtGMbBs38c1pD4f0tL51ApG6B-ELT9s-EJs8ybhr2w/w480-h640/IMG_5483.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This week the Belladona lilies, originally from my parents garden, have finally flowered. Last year we were in New Zealand at this time and I missed the opportunity to use them in an ikebana. I was keen to use them in my ikebana because of the memories they recall for me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6O7XQN9akHY6FP84CQgGGe-LP1uFqenfyfzDH3UI5IvuR7qyOFzbS3XwXQqVhXrDoOXEF8rANAgZguuXbQkizWxztoz1nmvK4kup8-ud7xAAGyvaB1ZU0yZAgiYeI_IUtXacI9QAM9wAA2vw_09dxP3r-95O52ubcv8jbV9MdOgF3Gk_k0fshiHgH4o/s1280/IMG_5484.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="1280" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6O7XQN9akHY6FP84CQgGGe-LP1uFqenfyfzDH3UI5IvuR7qyOFzbS3XwXQqVhXrDoOXEF8rANAgZguuXbQkizWxztoz1nmvK4kup8-ud7xAAGyvaB1ZU0yZAgiYeI_IUtXacI9QAM9wAA2vw_09dxP3r-95O52ubcv8jbV9MdOgF3Gk_k0fshiHgH4o/w640-h592/IMG_5484.jpeg" width="640" /></a>a</span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I also wanted to use the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hylotelephium_hybrids"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Sedum</span></a></i> Autumn Joy, (a <i>Hylotelephium</i> hybrid) because it provides a good colour harmony with the Belladonna lily.<br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SbgETPiTTNQgcpPmTTIhoavER5iRIJLUpm6VRowvrIoR7m_yy08C9f506kdaVGUn2eNJPDITley9X2xofwkebc7ra8EzVjChxuQLgYvviyxS1FZfuBtmuKO1Yqqq-pRaHKVcCI6mrqewNSS7_2aaCPSvioD8lmRC3jXvG98O3KR_rO5t5HrOO22Korg/s1280/IMG_5455.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="961" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SbgETPiTTNQgcpPmTTIhoavER5iRIJLUpm6VRowvrIoR7m_yy08C9f506kdaVGUn2eNJPDITley9X2xofwkebc7ra8EzVjChxuQLgYvviyxS1FZfuBtmuKO1Yqqq-pRaHKVcCI6mrqewNSS7_2aaCPSvioD8lmRC3jXvG98O3KR_rO5t5HrOO22Korg/w480-h640/IMG_5455.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I have arranged the two materials naturalistically closely placing the Belladonna stems to emphasise their vertical movement. Unfortunately, I did not photograph them as soon as I finished the ikebana; and in the warm room two more of the flowers opened. The consequence was that I missed the strength of the buds reaching upward. However, it reminds me that <i>ikebana</i> can be translated as "living flowers". The rich pink of the Sedum flowers and the green leaves make a strong mass at the base of the ikebana.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">3rd March 2024</span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-16164692189019129192024-02-26T10:57:00.000+11:002024-02-26T10:57:11.981+11:00DRIED MATERIALS<div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Last Wednesday evening I took this photo with my mobile phone. A storm cloud in the east was illuminated by the rays of the setting sun. They were coming through the haze of bush fire smoke and turned the cloud to shades of amber. The storm was exceedingly heavy in the Dandenong Rangers east of Melbourne and the bush fires were causing great losses in some of the smaller communities in the west of the state. It seemed to me that the camera captured the fearful beauty (and drama) of nature's some times violent events.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eJniFgNXz4tLvGOyRYGm-Ks4dmFgBwgkNxqiMAizcyALLnPzicQ-xa6rlVYkwOL_amVZqWLg9Qf6NNbCd-klGQ9VUMvZ6jqmgnbt1yRBW0XyBgsuhVarbvBwZWE1aJGxZpdilIrHq8JPKsIs9z6pmwU1NBAzYAsO1c_p8untpYc0bR_ikY3SxYRM3Mg/s1280/IMG_4429.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1265" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eJniFgNXz4tLvGOyRYGm-Ks4dmFgBwgkNxqiMAizcyALLnPzicQ-xa6rlVYkwOL_amVZqWLg9Qf6NNbCd-klGQ9VUMvZ6jqmgnbt1yRBW0XyBgsuhVarbvBwZWE1aJGxZpdilIrHq8JPKsIs9z6pmwU1NBAzYAsO1c_p8untpYc0bR_ikY3SxYRM3Mg/w632-h640/IMG_4429.jpeg" width="632" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the previous week I had set my Geelong students the task of making an ikebana expressing their, "Memories of summer (holidays ?) ". Their interpretations were surprisingly varied, as were those of my Melbourne students that I posted two weeks ago. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Tess and Helen thought back to childhood memories.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkcb8ouP8z1btX8Zvo49rF9mk3JJuY9Ys5T62oNcFRPA3yaBQKKvt0pwMiujsTY-Rh3-0lEDLbQJUOIGVC4TLxyvRYdHIw6mHgpjRsjEMkzQeyX2y16txHcF6mhfY2a7fz23N_FF6hb1F0cYXc9zMSbvteTFrBg0-yRaYH7OUNLDeEijqy1sVOvyVrqU/s1280/IMG_5398%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1046" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkcb8ouP8z1btX8Zvo49rF9mk3JJuY9Ys5T62oNcFRPA3yaBQKKvt0pwMiujsTY-Rh3-0lEDLbQJUOIGVC4TLxyvRYdHIw6mHgpjRsjEMkzQeyX2y16txHcF6mhfY2a7fz23N_FF6hb1F0cYXc9zMSbvteTFrBg0-yRaYH7OUNLDeEijqy1sVOvyVrqU/w524-h640/IMG_5398%20(1).jpeg" width="524" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p>Tess grew up in Cornwall UK and had memories of walking on the Quantock hills of the Somerset Moors. Her ikebana, using materials available in her garden, invokes the memory of ferns, English Heather and Broom.</p></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeqaiI7uFanTMGZLBwdS2d1Fb4ynoPidGtUCXzz8LyloxMfqm2WZNS8WrygGI_cA1w5DgGX03gt9BEts4KfZP-39ssIt6yrx3LpItt-cLiv7-C7qzqmJEAKUum87zRV3aBYCF3B7_2Y3iqPTySqH5vCi3P2-j9yy3Hf1-DpFC0wR2Qms2_MEYYLuchNI/s1280/IMG_5394.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeqaiI7uFanTMGZLBwdS2d1Fb4ynoPidGtUCXzz8LyloxMfqm2WZNS8WrygGI_cA1w5DgGX03gt9BEts4KfZP-39ssIt6yrx3LpItt-cLiv7-C7qzqmJEAKUum87zRV3aBYCF3B7_2Y3iqPTySqH5vCi3P2-j9yy3Hf1-DpFC0wR2Qms2_MEYYLuchNI/w480-h640/IMG_5394.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Helen spent her childhood in rural western Victoria. Her memories were of visiting her grandparents' property, where her grandfather kept a productive vegetable garden. When I saw the silverbeet leaves, my first impression was of tall poplar trees. Partially hidden in the vessel is a small Zucchini flower.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HO-T_x4koLfNv1rUB4oZisSZgDzOruJM7PKu-sv1gncYmHAesFlR1UhQRnwSTeB6SdBGhOWojTqLfEddiX90KVtlLB96XDczM0ap-YPISZBYDW0Zzzn3Kmp8iqDQeIQueyktZdup2eGHg3rxy500o00HAGR2h0LQhC9Vw9wGO_JCDfdi-nbWRdPnkzs/s1280/IMG_5396.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="967" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HO-T_x4koLfNv1rUB4oZisSZgDzOruJM7PKu-sv1gncYmHAesFlR1UhQRnwSTeB6SdBGhOWojTqLfEddiX90KVtlLB96XDczM0ap-YPISZBYDW0Zzzn3Kmp8iqDQeIQueyktZdup2eGHg3rxy500o00HAGR2h0LQhC9Vw9wGO_JCDfdi-nbWRdPnkzs/w484-h640/IMG_5396.jpeg" width="484" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Maureen's ikebana represented the "...ups, downs and ups..." experienced over the holiday period. She used the maroon coloured central rib of Strelitzia like a bar graph to show the progress. the other materials represented periods of optimism.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX0vx4sH7ElCC2Hdw0n5Eb3mLxZjVdOQLfabtXKPx02kaP5yDBGQLBz1sFwQKRzyhAICJK1UzbQseWva6i4OvMKxqftc6or6S74VwCbuQqlxuuLTOxoN6nGyR9opeLcSk8wtNBkoKJJDn24KfNTf4LlcoadXQppMdcgtslO68hXqozsgG1vNI0_ykgWg/s831/IMG_5395.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="831" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX0vx4sH7ElCC2Hdw0n5Eb3mLxZjVdOQLfabtXKPx02kaP5yDBGQLBz1sFwQKRzyhAICJK1UzbQseWva6i4OvMKxqftc6or6S74VwCbuQqlxuuLTOxoN6nGyR9opeLcSk8wtNBkoKJJDn24KfNTf4LlcoadXQppMdcgtslO68hXqozsgG1vNI0_ykgWg/w640-h572/IMG_5395.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Christine saw a lot of her grandchildren over the summer holidays. Her ikebana represents the much repeated game of 'hide and seek' with the grandchildren.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzzEKx8Hi1L9y6mIGx74sQS8cQ9hTO9OaCXhFBoywfljlhgbja8n5VCVvXmI9GFpgGpyQO0VdnotfYJebwN6q3tscNRilJWZfYiSPrVkape4CUiKy9bC7O0A8ehnOCQMVEA8-y9axO46qJxQ1FujDfS3GJHKQgwSJlQaaUFy7sH3mN-rg1YkvaB9m7Mk/s1280/IMG_5392.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="1280" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzzEKx8Hi1L9y6mIGx74sQS8cQ9hTO9OaCXhFBoywfljlhgbja8n5VCVvXmI9GFpgGpyQO0VdnotfYJebwN6q3tscNRilJWZfYiSPrVkape4CUiKy9bC7O0A8ehnOCQMVEA8-y9axO46qJxQ1FujDfS3GJHKQgwSJlQaaUFy7sH3mN-rg1YkvaB9m7Mk/w640-h496/IMG_5392.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Ellie's ikebana is her response to the hot, dry weather over summer and is represented by the dry grass, orange coloured <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helichrysum"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Helichrysum</span></a></i> flowers and the unglazed ochre coloured vessel.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">My own ikebana this week was made at the first meeting and workshop of the Victorian Branch of the Sogetsu School.<br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0vRthOXeCBRg8QsntmqgletG6k7PuoiBV29a_qsDZ-F_S5cHjvxpkNXhyphenhyphenND7iL0flNMT8bCta7ug9mBBjbOE9VgLYINMvVY0ev_BwsYr9zAj6jxg90_nYR40NhyphenhyphenlIXjKBYowNVFt72N0zOuTkmaaIJ2B3uJSklIBjhmy3dL15rvxx9N5LQK3Wb0lC0k/s1280/IMG_5409.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0vRthOXeCBRg8QsntmqgletG6k7PuoiBV29a_qsDZ-F_S5cHjvxpkNXhyphenhyphenND7iL0flNMT8bCta7ug9mBBjbOE9VgLYINMvVY0ev_BwsYr9zAj6jxg90_nYR40NhyphenhyphenlIXjKBYowNVFt72N0zOuTkmaaIJ2B3uJSklIBjhmy3dL15rvxx9N5LQK3Wb0lC0k/w640-h480/IMG_5409.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The theme of the workshop was the preparation and use of dried materials in ikebana. I used a, now rather old, dried unopened bud of <a href="Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Artichoke</span></a> <i>Cynara Cardunculus var. scolymus. </i>It was given to me by my student Marcia. Also a dried <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspidistra"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Aspidistra</span></a> <i>A. elatior </i> and some green, spent <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agapanthus"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Agapanthus</span></a> <i>A. praecox </i>flower heads. The Aspidistra leaves were curved before drying. The fresh green material brings the ikebana alive.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The ikebana vessel is by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ningarchive/with/53532788912"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Tom Cockram</span></a> who, at the time I bought the piece, had his studio in Daylesford Victoria.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Further photos from the <a href="https://sogetsuikebanavic.weebly.com/recent-workshops"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Victorian Branch workshop</span></a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">25th February 2024 </span></div><div><br /></div></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-51665051472033331712024-02-17T16:29:00.000+11:002024-02-17T16:29:20.579+11:00A SMALL MASS: TWO HYDRANGEAS and SOME LEAVES<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Last week I posted a photo of the ikebana which I had re-set at home after the I.I. Melbourne workshop. Other photos from the workshop are now available via this link: <a href="https://melbourneikebana.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ikebana International Melbourne, Chapter 29</span></a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Two weeks ago I had set my senior Geelong students the task of making an ikebana 'emphasising the surface of the water' in a <i>suiban.</i> Given that we were then just over 2/3 of the way through summer, it seemed like a cooling idea. As usual, and very pleasingly, the students' work showed a variety of expressions of the idea.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MX5q2HnCk7GcpGonsu2m7Kj4Mn5Y2QS8nipbVE61tOEwQk5_Tl-Rzf6Gf5FX3626RTHb8qE-1yIwUvyw4gv4C3U1ANvsLYh9psWKQP6gsaJ8ks00h8enAbPmIMGfCFf0WXi3ZJouW0YIkHQCWZmxh8h_TjqURdsKyGCX60kaAxnI25JcBB4BXWQgMWg/s1280/IMG_5344.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="1280" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MX5q2HnCk7GcpGonsu2m7Kj4Mn5Y2QS8nipbVE61tOEwQk5_Tl-Rzf6Gf5FX3626RTHb8qE-1yIwUvyw4gv4C3U1ANvsLYh9psWKQP6gsaJ8ks00h8enAbPmIMGfCFf0WXi3ZJouW0YIkHQCWZmxh8h_TjqURdsKyGCX60kaAxnI25JcBB4BXWQgMWg/w640-h524/IMG_5344.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p>Tess created a loose ikebana using bamboo stems and a pink <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limonium"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Statice</span></a>, <i>Limonium</i>. The open ikebana felt like a light breeze was blowing.</p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQWjA1m0LysVQ0eLJnALQENEmhnXbaiwzvy42eNjd8pHMeuLs40i82Mak74Y4QBylC9MsF93cp7gJEhn4tzo-hzG7j2Fl7dPUltkcauNfNhE7_MLySOpMHgluogTSx6C6kJeVpDFHXVp8mZYdhlCU_9CPCoVqMAQDcVLl6A4TTNEpNKL1EdnnWHpiZYQ/s1280/IMG_5345.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="853" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQWjA1m0LysVQ0eLJnALQENEmhnXbaiwzvy42eNjd8pHMeuLs40i82Mak74Y4QBylC9MsF93cp7gJEhn4tzo-hzG7j2Fl7dPUltkcauNfNhE7_MLySOpMHgluogTSx6C6kJeVpDFHXVp8mZYdhlCU_9CPCoVqMAQDcVLl6A4TTNEpNKL1EdnnWHpiZYQ/w426-h640/IMG_5345.jpeg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Maureen set five stems of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyperus_alternifolius"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Umbrella grass</span></a>, <i>Cyperus alternifolius,</i> and a small group of Asiatic lily buds in a black <i>suiban, </i>creating reflections on the surface<i>. </i></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04DArUvn0BT7FTKtCzX20jFPu0qrithUnu_tThhb6PSMOm4XnZkGmzaAm2VdBWEybQtqkC-0cRutjlUN0ww70JRrZ1WmyGkeaXGNVPJntH7VeCjCnhGkfMHJq2e7L2HcMDfsgHzMmBVVEvzGe182scx7d00adbv5jXWX5K5UtwVqtAegE2IpTUXy28aU/s1280/IMG_5346.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="926" data-original-width="1280" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04DArUvn0BT7FTKtCzX20jFPu0qrithUnu_tThhb6PSMOm4XnZkGmzaAm2VdBWEybQtqkC-0cRutjlUN0ww70JRrZ1WmyGkeaXGNVPJntH7VeCjCnhGkfMHJq2e7L2HcMDfsgHzMmBVVEvzGe182scx7d00adbv5jXWX5K5UtwVqtAegE2IpTUXy28aU/w640-h464/IMG_5346.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Christine took a different approach by creating an abstract design with strong stems braced across the <i>suiban</i>. Small <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malus"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Crabapple</span></a>, <i>Malus,</i> fruit were contained between two of the lines. A third line was added to break-up the larger space on the right side of the <i>suiban.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJ2IlsIfStKHVkmWieQ7ufwNcwnJctgCHl8WYwjR4vUEnCihZezKSTMMGnejf4RweoJu_kgy3g5XTYzR0ujQRJ1hfuaOMPXgb1He80ovNHtXIXPy8qdPh84KgS2mi5k5-sg8i-Vf4u75mOlD_nync-84IWkdbPBB8TLnrdyoxQYgwakuV4pP8FJwW5X4/s1280/IMG_5350.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="848" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJ2IlsIfStKHVkmWieQ7ufwNcwnJctgCHl8WYwjR4vUEnCihZezKSTMMGnejf4RweoJu_kgy3g5XTYzR0ujQRJ1hfuaOMPXgb1He80ovNHtXIXPy8qdPh84KgS2mi5k5-sg8i-Vf4u75mOlD_nync-84IWkdbPBB8TLnrdyoxQYgwakuV4pP8FJwW5X4/w424-h640/IMG_5350.jpeg" width="424" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Ellie's ikebana featured three green <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Lotus </span></a></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">pods</span></a>, </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Nelumbo nucifera</i><span style="font-family: arial;">, two variegated <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspidistra"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Aspidistra</span></a> </i>leaves and a small mass of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedum"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>Sedum</i></span></a>. Her ikebana was set to the right edge of the circular <i>suiban </i>to allow the reflection of the material to be seen in the water surface. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4gZnvXac9WjzSJyStxmDSOxoE0-3O-2y3EIGhubuwg66usK62-ftgBCnwpgTUIkucrw3vH4Sy_5OIUNnrJNxQwMOI6RzA_Pxgq6OOz442tcpwMWAaRpzD_pj5X2aVrm50umMAcFMYvsTJSzb7lpcl3VgTuo_5kmYTswDjf84FP1y7lu6hYUCAsgpxxw/s1280/IMG_5351.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="1280" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4gZnvXac9WjzSJyStxmDSOxoE0-3O-2y3EIGhubuwg66usK62-ftgBCnwpgTUIkucrw3vH4Sy_5OIUNnrJNxQwMOI6RzA_Pxgq6OOz442tcpwMWAaRpzD_pj5X2aVrm50umMAcFMYvsTJSzb7lpcl3VgTuo_5kmYTswDjf84FP1y7lu6hYUCAsgpxxw/w640-h524/IMG_5351.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Maree's exercise was to create an ikebana "Using both Fresh and Unconventional (man-made) materials". In a flat-sided glass vessel she arranged masses of black and unpainted wooden pegs. These were contrasted with a single line of <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumbago_auriculata"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Plumbago auriculata</span></a>.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-p78n37vej4XIX3nj3n6IyyrndJ-pjUv3MI9M98nfk_R5bhxsbYKyghAbAnOOr1-J5In9dqIsJctYfbQHWzrCcAYX8t5qJFiSBJS_PxA8Jj83kgh5iz-JCePmywwPeVGvPiLc-WMnGP7sB8Zw6lDMZ8g65wEQpoRuJhEDRzMzLFT1TtQKDK3GgYBLHE/s1280/IMG_5353.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1030" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-p78n37vej4XIX3nj3n6IyyrndJ-pjUv3MI9M98nfk_R5bhxsbYKyghAbAnOOr1-J5In9dqIsJctYfbQHWzrCcAYX8t5qJFiSBJS_PxA8Jj83kgh5iz-JCePmywwPeVGvPiLc-WMnGP7sB8Zw6lDMZ8g65wEQpoRuJhEDRzMzLFT1TtQKDK3GgYBLHE/w516-h640/IMG_5353.jpeg" width="516" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Jo's exercise was to take the 'unconventional material' idea one further step. That is, she was to make a purely sculptural work using only man-made materials. She used black rope-like oval shapes, that reminded me of quoits, which she massed into a tall irregular structure. To create a focal point she added a small mass of blue plastic ties and some blue bubble-wrap.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is a challenging exercise to which students, consciously or not, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">bring lessons that they have learnt from their ikebana studies. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">*</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> *</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> *</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> *</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> *</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the garden the pots of <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrangea_macrophylla"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Hydrangeas</span></a> </i>have started to dry off. Their colours are fading and becoming more muted. I am hoping that some will survive into the autumn without being burnt by the sun. In that case, there is a good chance that they might develop rich red tones. I picked three small flower heads for my ikebana.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMf6Bb-mLxBHqBkCnXgz6O_cPe0ku7sY3Mh86etZcaLsvzktR_8olcSzzyiH5RN3gQH3zq2TgijY3patRh-HrcBaVUjusS15YXUxh8hObzoxn-MEd0HAPz0gTXgaVUPa58b9gAbIIJnBjF3yex4f3wXY6wUc3WmvE8EDlMhycLnLAtmlC3q31gZneiyNo/s1280/IMG_5401%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMf6Bb-mLxBHqBkCnXgz6O_cPe0ku7sY3Mh86etZcaLsvzktR_8olcSzzyiH5RN3gQH3zq2TgijY3patRh-HrcBaVUjusS15YXUxh8hObzoxn-MEd0HAPz0gTXgaVUPa58b9gAbIIJnBjF3yex4f3wXY6wUc3WmvE8EDlMhycLnLAtmlC3q31gZneiyNo/w480-h640/IMG_5401%20(1).jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>The colours in the flower heads are warm and muted. Some of the leaves are bright red at their tips and I wanted them to be seen also. However, this looks too busy...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfTzoflQD0lPGNNQkYzHTBfWm0p0-z3S9stZrGJUAKO9OA2m2BCc46gWNs5t0TuF2qnOW58DSSGv8T_fjtxoVW6DLxFdKYmiA0XxLBzG3Uqp8s6S7PrQKJXYCbj0d6UZZ7wuDb3UewwDMG2huS0hZ-L6Ro1qhlYWq8ObB6EfRc6AM9QEPIEIy5LvcR10/s1280/IMG_5405%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfTzoflQD0lPGNNQkYzHTBfWm0p0-z3S9stZrGJUAKO9OA2m2BCc46gWNs5t0TuF2qnOW58DSSGv8T_fjtxoVW6DLxFdKYmiA0XxLBzG3Uqp8s6S7PrQKJXYCbj0d6UZZ7wuDb3UewwDMG2huS0hZ-L6Ro1qhlYWq8ObB6EfRc6AM9QEPIEIy5LvcR10/w480-h640/IMG_5405%20(1).jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>...so I carefully removed two of the downward hanging leaves. This draws more attention to the the flower on the right and strengthens the asymmetry of the design. The botanical materials form the mass in this ikebana. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">In this instance the vase </span><span style="font-family: arial;">provides the line. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The elegant six-sided Japanese vase has a very dark brown Temoku glaze.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">17th February 2024</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span><p></p></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-54660593196292399182024-02-11T17:19:00.000+11:002024-02-11T17:19:21.101+11:00BACK TO CLASSES<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Two weeks ago marked the end of the school holidays, with students returning to classes on 30th January. The following weekend, 3rd and 4th February must have been the most perfect beach weather. Sunny, but not too hot, with a cool light breeze.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ7o9R2nD8-lf7bDNFPNYxACO2Rv1ARghLVljH0tMFzjADy5k1dokmu-5uzXQm9jhGgXVNtz-z-Clzuw8TgGx4x9WmLnXKf713_YX-mHfWcfo-SuoGcptHfHbbS65ORSYCosecrgMpCiEtrZ-g0gKqBcu0BomUcMutAC3Kwz1IwNueUbI4odRC0a4v7c/s1280/IMG_5332%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ7o9R2nD8-lf7bDNFPNYxACO2Rv1ARghLVljH0tMFzjADy5k1dokmu-5uzXQm9jhGgXVNtz-z-Clzuw8TgGx4x9WmLnXKf713_YX-mHfWcfo-SuoGcptHfHbbS65ORSYCosecrgMpCiEtrZ-g0gKqBcu0BomUcMutAC3Kwz1IwNueUbI4odRC0a4v7c/w480-h640/IMG_5332%20(1).jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>The tide was low in the middle of the day and many people took the opportunity to enjoy themselves.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQC6JIW15xDJqFMwdp4rF9ZTVSXiZeZ5qHgF6hpZhaxAeYcQuPNaNWuvKUWCm7zRv72WyqzhGLdVAxGIQiRQO6rCL5-a7__PDYCBQpi_B8KoaUMtXCyWhWvLMddZmciIMt-kE42LA09IwgyZgu6-uoQswtkB_sZoXqLYisECmiliHTj6Q84MuP7BM0Yp8/s1280/IMG_5333%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQC6JIW15xDJqFMwdp4rF9ZTVSXiZeZ5qHgF6hpZhaxAeYcQuPNaNWuvKUWCm7zRv72WyqzhGLdVAxGIQiRQO6rCL5-a7__PDYCBQpi_B8KoaUMtXCyWhWvLMddZmciIMt-kE42LA09IwgyZgu6-uoQswtkB_sZoXqLYisECmiliHTj6Q84MuP7BM0Yp8/w640-h480/IMG_5333%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This photo shows the west end of Jan Juc beach.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Last week marked the return to classes for my students in Melbourne and Geelong. I had set my Melbourne students an exercise called "memories of summer (holidays?)". A topic that is wide open for interpretation.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEKfrf89piK7l457Yj8uU501PwguIVIURV9iff4u5gLnirzt3UFCB4yrCTrBj94q1BFfA3iuKn5JhQawSd4pMc8fIiCqwz4E0NrOqCQoAOJQemagGUHkFAA0XET_HH-8BL5FJcmJ6_fCGFNqLd-KZRosCZBetViYjL28zztuYytuUlH4MnW1cq4GyJNw/s1280/IMG_5337.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1217" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEKfrf89piK7l457Yj8uU501PwguIVIURV9iff4u5gLnirzt3UFCB4yrCTrBj94q1BFfA3iuKn5JhQawSd4pMc8fIiCqwz4E0NrOqCQoAOJQemagGUHkFAA0XET_HH-8BL5FJcmJ6_fCGFNqLd-KZRosCZBetViYjL28zztuYytuUlH4MnW1cq4GyJNw/w608-h640/IMG_5337.jpeg" width="608" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Marcia's simple, somewhat stark, interpretation featured a forked branch of <a href=" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_suber."><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Cork Oak</span></a> <i>Quercus suber. </i>The branch is part of a much larger one that came off her tree in a wind storm. She is particularly fond of the bark's colour and texture and was pleased this piece did not go into the mulch. The leaves on the branch had dried and fresh leaves were massed in the black vase.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAt__dnDt9-SN8bQzzNGJNw3zErNRpYbsGKVsMkX5qi22ucVELUwi9e3q-insfA3Gii4HNLDaQs59n4UKK3umw2jPhk4Gm-CKTOIyPSn5eROMMFvE0X14M5Xdo09XesmIzpFe2b8qs7UwQSOPrUv9Sggis1-NPuSgRyG6spaxjAqEepI6sTqXIC29LZ4/s1280/IMG_5338.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1126" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAt__dnDt9-SN8bQzzNGJNw3zErNRpYbsGKVsMkX5qi22ucVELUwi9e3q-insfA3Gii4HNLDaQs59n4UKK3umw2jPhk4Gm-CKTOIyPSn5eROMMFvE0X14M5Xdo09XesmIzpFe2b8qs7UwQSOPrUv9Sggis1-NPuSgRyG6spaxjAqEepI6sTqXIC29LZ4/w564-h640/IMG_5338.jpeg" width="564" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Marisha chose roses which flower in this season. She selected some beautiful orange ones with petals that were a darker colour on the outside. These are contrasted with deep green leaves in the main lines, but harmonised with a mass of Dwarf Nandina leaves at the front which are beginning to colour yellow and red. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRROFc3R7_fngPYyTmnbi8b9h-uJxyLGW9Hm6_tcOmhDWQcHH87PDqScSxjkZfeVR-Lbu2-RSZW9FTSMbnur0cOybUcLvgpyans7PK3XdXf-xO3umgMqi6UjJQ1MNS-9ozzzZZvzKs_5SAQ6roFKV6YjON75tm5wq4ETVbgD1iqWJbxS2BFDl5U3L9Xw/s1280/IMG_5339.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1280" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRROFc3R7_fngPYyTmnbi8b9h-uJxyLGW9Hm6_tcOmhDWQcHH87PDqScSxjkZfeVR-Lbu2-RSZW9FTSMbnur0cOybUcLvgpyans7PK3XdXf-xO3umgMqi6UjJQ1MNS-9ozzzZZvzKs_5SAQ6roFKV6YjON75tm5wq4ETVbgD1iqWJbxS2BFDl5U3L9Xw/w640-h486/IMG_5339.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Jacqueline's mind went to images of the setting sun colouring the clouds lit from behind in bright yellows and deep reds. She cut three leaves from her <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canna_%27Phasion%27"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Canna Phasion</span></a> thinking of their shape as well as the intense colours seen in a sunset. The roses which are just peeping from behind the leaves were yellow, orange and deep red.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Yesterday the Melbourne Chapter of Ikebana International held its first meeting of the year. The guest presenter was a Japanese born and trained potter, <a href="https://www.kikupotterystudio.com/"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Naoko Coghlan</span></a>, who now lives in Australia. Naoko gave a short overview of the history of pottery in Japan and demonstrated her own work. Members were asked to bring ceramic vessels to the meeting in which to arrange their ikebana.<br /> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOnpr7kiK5D9IaayO6VzpU8AY5SUJmBrLd_cdhOFsAO9QqX46NkyB7hXuhwuxfO8vBgMwnZYuU2333rV2tgHWw1MrKB9LCOMQrYDezQJV3iDT_qkdx6N7UJXF1CzEUinTxmVzF6d29zAuFx_Uegu_wE4v42Fo1AMVE8w2GvpItwMgWXQ-IUiSUSXzbcI/s1280/IMG_5384.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOnpr7kiK5D9IaayO6VzpU8AY5SUJmBrLd_cdhOFsAO9QqX46NkyB7hXuhwuxfO8vBgMwnZYuU2333rV2tgHWw1MrKB9LCOMQrYDezQJV3iDT_qkdx6N7UJXF1CzEUinTxmVzF6d29zAuFx_Uegu_wE4v42Fo1AMVE8w2GvpItwMgWXQ-IUiSUSXzbcI/w480-h640/IMG_5384.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><br /></div>I was pleased to have an opportunity to use this Bizen vase that I bought in Kurashiki last November. The unglazed clay body is a dark brown marked with irregular lighter blue-greys and tan that have occurred during the firing. I selected <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscanthus_sinensis"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'</span></a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nandina"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Nandina</span></a> </i>and <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrangea_macrophylla"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Hydrangea</span></a> </i>from the garden to make this naturalistic ikebana. This photo was taken at home, where I re-set the ikebana.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Bizen vase is by <a href="https://www.nippon.com/en/images/i00018/"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Isezaki Jun.</span></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">11th February 2024</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-8061262482381707952024-02-04T18:19:00.001+11:002024-02-04T18:19:34.217+11:00SOME EUCALYPTUS BARK<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A few nights ago, as we were having our dinner in the conservatory, Laurie drew my attention to the shaft of late afternoon sunlight that was backlighting a <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canna_%27Phasion%27"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Canna</span></a></i> 'Phasion' </span><span style="font-family: arial;">leaf. This leaf is finely striped in red, yellow and bronze lines. Who needs stained glass? Of course it was only a chance effect, which makes it all the more delightful.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ERhDkBuDvBEnJyYqUfVArc-TmnmbSsvoA_x3mN02d_vSPPo-iSLpCXygLNh7IC3eeKLf6AZAggtLjnqQ3FfkYulcBPmd84sHf2XU5X3WA2clbd6VcXmG2aYJGEeb7Lia8rdvedtUYhAWwC8yKCrn9YoJB-rIxqIYyd2PDQMjkKdmHIj5YZlWiNyr8fM/s1280/IMG_5315.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1037" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ERhDkBuDvBEnJyYqUfVArc-TmnmbSsvoA_x3mN02d_vSPPo-iSLpCXygLNh7IC3eeKLf6AZAggtLjnqQ3FfkYulcBPmd84sHf2XU5X3WA2clbd6VcXmG2aYJGEeb7Lia8rdvedtUYhAWwC8yKCrn9YoJB-rIxqIYyd2PDQMjkKdmHIj5YZlWiNyr8fM/w518-h640/IMG_5315.jpeg" width="518" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Also this week, I was surprised that one of the buds on a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalaenopsis_amabilis"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>Phalaenopsis</i></span></a> orchid opened. I had bought the plant on a whim last year toward the end of its flowering season.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCe3lHIH42005gn4FNDhC0UIQLtTJ1dSYrp8vtecgFtBQmEKc17B6g_QmcmyKSxeQzksqeCqQN3mD_cbsqnNOWtZNn5vk4-Y2DkG05ZIFaS4pjg73nblc9aIQvOk0QEUB57PL_HTiZPvNNxtOMUB88yeXq5H8n0V4DSzQoRHz1ibU5jTKJn7rY5z10iwc/s1280/IMG_5326.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1280" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCe3lHIH42005gn4FNDhC0UIQLtTJ1dSYrp8vtecgFtBQmEKc17B6g_QmcmyKSxeQzksqeCqQN3mD_cbsqnNOWtZNn5vk4-Y2DkG05ZIFaS4pjg73nblc9aIQvOk0QEUB57PL_HTiZPvNNxtOMUB88yeXq5H8n0V4DSzQoRHz1ibU5jTKJn7rY5z10iwc/w640-h572/IMG_5326.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I really don't know much about these rather exotic orchids. However, when the flowers finally died I was fortunate to be advised by a friend that I should not prune off the old flower spike. A new spike branched off the previous one.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUZjPRa1nJL5QHVt-0TYqS0aU0OSIzd4bY9sdObF_nuVzOKmVfSpsHhUanDxxKro2Ur4I7glFWJSByr3i4FYxtpqfBJXlzEb6Mx1LW9afPOG4EvZ-qZiAFCaafyOBRsvE7Bx8RmfHYS3c6Ct_4yx1BwErjHQ96-TlcoChaSr9peRD067_R7YCituYngo/s1280/IMG_4399.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUZjPRa1nJL5QHVt-0TYqS0aU0OSIzd4bY9sdObF_nuVzOKmVfSpsHhUanDxxKro2Ur4I7glFWJSByr3i4FYxtpqfBJXlzEb6Mx1LW9afPOG4EvZ-qZiAFCaafyOBRsvE7Bx8RmfHYS3c6Ct_4yx1BwErjHQ96-TlcoChaSr9peRD067_R7YCituYngo/w640-h480/IMG_4399.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Now there are two open flowers and five more buds on the stem.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A week ago I noticed that the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bursaria_spinosa"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Bursaria spinosa</span></a> </i>in the garden was coming toward the end of its flowering.<br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZY2fRCZDAuNSpZG2iiqmC1M39KHF7CrChZhEqj8EwZjxNzw7cBhNloq6Vl4_3Z2kKT_KSeJovfuhZJAS4om6GtLPFuPCZH8r2IjYOfAq-Epjlsnm9TTYu2QGhf5G1Mf1021ExZEUyQVtqjWxQhEJOcnJb1U-wa6iSsLfalSbvVqLqMXFFHVpj5-zBW_0/s1280/IMG_5312.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="1280" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZY2fRCZDAuNSpZG2iiqmC1M39KHF7CrChZhEqj8EwZjxNzw7cBhNloq6Vl4_3Z2kKT_KSeJovfuhZJAS4om6GtLPFuPCZH8r2IjYOfAq-Epjlsnm9TTYu2QGhf5G1Mf1021ExZEUyQVtqjWxQhEJOcnJb1U-wa6iSsLfalSbvVqLqMXFFHVpj5-zBW_0/w640-h554/IMG_5312.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>I thought the small white flowers would go well in the new vase from the <a href="https://kutanikosen.com/en/process.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Kutani Kosen Kiln</span></a> in Kanazawa. A simple line and mass ikebana.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0wM9nSDrWYga4F0RAN2XzqjkmckIpGinuttix5x7DHqqXkg8b0kP4BEb2zvKH-Aa1ZmCW-D5W6uQP6WyHK_yPwo_wvsvczoUX8OvN9KOei-FprAE7EsL3LqPvslktIfG7D2hor-HzDngRB_gkXYQjA3GRcBjn43GkrFyP3A62kjiJO6DLTdNx1TQkT0/s1280/IMG_5329.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0wM9nSDrWYga4F0RAN2XzqjkmckIpGinuttix5x7DHqqXkg8b0kP4BEb2zvKH-Aa1ZmCW-D5W6uQP6WyHK_yPwo_wvsvczoUX8OvN9KOei-FprAE7EsL3LqPvslktIfG7D2hor-HzDngRB_gkXYQjA3GRcBjn43GkrFyP3A62kjiJO6DLTdNx1TQkT0/w640-h480/IMG_5329.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Earlier in the week while walking along the creek path I came across some <i>Eucalyptus</i> bark. It had evidently come off a smallish branch and retained its cylindrical form. The inside was a warm soft orange colour while the outside was pale grey. The contrast between the inner and outer surfaces looked like an interesting ikebana subject.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PYF8ofYpV-HCHQyqgesa47UzPzPkxK2Y8kOX4ENxZtuqa0STNqN3RF_31U_Pxizi1S9EqTppFv_SQGQ5Lcyka9pkgAdjxFi4IXv1_mt8b2r5zhvnNrgu7D9EmPSJifz4thg4ORvPOScvjRSszN8VgLpj7LtL8I_wqNSqYzs1XT2oaMSo5hgGn25n1pI/s1280/IMG_5309.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1280" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PYF8ofYpV-HCHQyqgesa47UzPzPkxK2Y8kOX4ENxZtuqa0STNqN3RF_31U_Pxizi1S9EqTppFv_SQGQ5Lcyka9pkgAdjxFi4IXv1_mt8b2r5zhvnNrgu7D9EmPSJifz4thg4ORvPOScvjRSszN8VgLpj7LtL8I_wqNSqYzs1XT2oaMSo5hgGn25n1pI/w640-h542/IMG_5309.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>This is the first version I made adding the fresh green of some more <i>Bursaria. </i>The flowers were not as green as in the photo. Unfortunately, I could not correct the colour. The Chun-glazed vase is by the Castlemaine ceramic artist <a href="https://singletonceramics.com/?page_id=2"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Barry Singleton</span></a>. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I was not particularly happy with the ikebana as the interior of the bark did not show well.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcGW995benHigiBjiEDglGFD7tAieySaViiL_lGhYGzAsA9XvA7DW2-mfxFk0K_el9Vyr8ukbBs4vYV3oouDrmHiJg4bYPV2Iujz5CCgr9TJH7JtyNqEIsUPfofKTXxQAv3Fu_WOcxHem5LCt69Ta1QQb5gU_kV-IgDNPUA9H7VgkjfbF9qekw7w_I9E/s1280/IMG_5328%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1150" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcGW995benHigiBjiEDglGFD7tAieySaViiL_lGhYGzAsA9XvA7DW2-mfxFk0K_el9Vyr8ukbBs4vYV3oouDrmHiJg4bYPV2Iujz5CCgr9TJH7JtyNqEIsUPfofKTXxQAv3Fu_WOcxHem5LCt69Ta1QQb5gU_kV-IgDNPUA9H7VgkjfbF9qekw7w_I9E/w576-h640/IMG_5328%20(1).jpeg" width="576" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>This is my re-working of the idea in a vessel by the ceramic artist <a href="https://qdosarts.com/profile/graeme-wilkie-oam/"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Graeme Wilkie</span></a> of Qdos gallery, Lorne. I think it works a little bit better with the harmonising colours of the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crassula_arborescens"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Crasula arborescens</span></a> </i>flowers. I also was able to re-position the bark to show the inside a bit more. I will keep my eyes open for some more bark to show the lovely interior colour. It has such a rich warm colour and soft texture which I find very attractive.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">4th February 2024<br /> </span><p></p></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-65456488888112200302024-01-28T12:13:00.000+11:002024-01-28T12:13:16.765+11:00SUMMER FLOWERS FROM THE GARDEN<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Beside a nearby road, for the second time recently we saw a relative of Spike.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvEvWqD1NsV-VeVpFLhKi5b_G0akQovog25wy5rUtui_nm1QwUHeOnUMxkFvBzIKnPiTRAufQwagPo1nqSBaZstdxz6E9phX2GLREG8VjpUKGyU9ZVNLpLa2we80uDTPOMqSvrfY5KYzKfjnPE0pVHR1UULBNno85a0_vEbizbeehBMFfyLDfiEZuY6o/s1280/IMG_4376.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvEvWqD1NsV-VeVpFLhKi5b_G0akQovog25wy5rUtui_nm1QwUHeOnUMxkFvBzIKnPiTRAufQwagPo1nqSBaZstdxz6E9phX2GLREG8VjpUKGyU9ZVNLpLa2we80uDTPOMqSvrfY5KYzKfjnPE0pVHR1UULBNno85a0_vEbizbeehBMFfyLDfiEZuY6o/w480-h640/IMG_4376.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><br /></div><div>The Echidna was feasting on what must have been an extensive ant nest or other ground living insects. </div></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgbhFGycMq3ImR2IeZO4BTbB1PbGUFan6JCFOPfYQ7hHY7f_i0u_p_JRT3e3pNE8TVGWxq6wlD5fp9_P5xoLE4lwDWj0WIQG7jnJ-tIRgRRrLQ8XLyigwuIuoIkEvVARUqKV6UyfPVuMKH05rKf1LlrhP3bSqe71xD4p3RVD9416fX5-Je_CXxF4L73k/s1280/IMG_4380.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgbhFGycMq3ImR2IeZO4BTbB1PbGUFan6JCFOPfYQ7hHY7f_i0u_p_JRT3e3pNE8TVGWxq6wlD5fp9_P5xoLE4lwDWj0WIQG7jnJ-tIRgRRrLQ8XLyigwuIuoIkEvVARUqKV6UyfPVuMKH05rKf1LlrhP3bSqe71xD4p3RVD9416fX5-Je_CXxF4L73k/w480-h640/IMG_4380.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Of course Laurie and I kept very still and quiet while we watched as it worked its way along the bank by the side of the road. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEgGkhLGRyPeLILRWZ5k-asFqaEPnPnAwv6Hb16ltGzd7ZUbLL3ewE1aS4ZkBVMH7ISOZYtLTZ_RGHFePtbiX69w4i-kDRsnaTDavyG3ymLVYroTEOPgonQJhB8ZuHh08D6oaE8WocAmvZFtxabcqSdghrCRE62X7yU0HwnRANiKDEBC6qS4bCcfa0T4/s1280/IMG_4385.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEgGkhLGRyPeLILRWZ5k-asFqaEPnPnAwv6Hb16ltGzd7ZUbLL3ewE1aS4ZkBVMH7ISOZYtLTZ_RGHFePtbiX69w4i-kDRsnaTDavyG3ymLVYroTEOPgonQJhB8ZuHh08D6oaE8WocAmvZFtxabcqSdghrCRE62X7yU0HwnRANiKDEBC6qS4bCcfa0T4/w480-h640/IMG_4385.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">When it got to my shoes and started inspecting my socks for ants I had to suppress my impulse to laugh. The Echidna soon concluded my socks did not harbour ants and continued its foraging.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">* *</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> *</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> *</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> *</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Meanwhile in the garden...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcJWdacyr6L5Hj5qhACs9_LKx6h63HwChUGkfhK9TPUPPd1w58OlLflJtZCLANNxB3S5pBiluWoul_hKEoecEZZcLjBuSFZuqrT_Uec0z66nzFNwlKzeDAXK8N-RRBPiUo0Y75bZkxhjryCFxLyVxUlMY8moh13NNRc_lxkRxYrLvE-Ts7skpDiuYuF0/s1280/IMG_5320.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="1280" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcJWdacyr6L5Hj5qhACs9_LKx6h63HwChUGkfhK9TPUPPd1w58OlLflJtZCLANNxB3S5pBiluWoul_hKEoecEZZcLjBuSFZuqrT_Uec0z66nzFNwlKzeDAXK8N-RRBPiUo0Y75bZkxhjryCFxLyVxUlMY8moh13NNRc_lxkRxYrLvE-Ts7skpDiuYuF0/w640-h604/IMG_5320.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">...the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spartium"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Spanish Broom</span></a> <i>Spartium junceum, </i>is having a second flowering this season. I assume this is because of the rainy days we had in the last weeks of December.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaxUI3lF8KoxPgHyzUbVmQHhlaXvOWI3_IKW8ACiRvjACigS3mNQGqfsfREX1sQF3r8vPT8wOGpMmPHpWuNhJ4pyOs2Ps6__RaBkkE0nmuABtQoqoI8oPh-Wt9sIjY7c8Q7ZHNJps411ebPVU5vbkiN6_0jgQwdwRhrnB_O4HncbSaYdf_Vnb2k_xEZw/s1280/IMG_5325.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1247" data-original-width="1280" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaxUI3lF8KoxPgHyzUbVmQHhlaXvOWI3_IKW8ACiRvjACigS3mNQGqfsfREX1sQF3r8vPT8wOGpMmPHpWuNhJ4pyOs2Ps6__RaBkkE0nmuABtQoqoI8oPh-Wt9sIjY7c8Q7ZHNJps411ebPVU5vbkiN6_0jgQwdwRhrnB_O4HncbSaYdf_Vnb2k_xEZw/w640-h624/IMG_5325.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centranthus_ruber"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Red Valerian</span></a> (actually pink) <i>Centranthus ruber</i> is flowering in smaller numbers this year, as I pulled out a number of the self-seeded plants. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I used these Summer flowers as the materials for my first ikebana this week.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeNfgqhskq9Rh2eq2d3dc30F_RUhM3mxTe5Cm8vw7G9ZS545qcXoCO9sV6F_ZjI_FE20XdDBhSnz-7CmuQ3kYrQPwFWMwy-ryJ_5xsipy1glsQdFjPZJ139b5C_lxCwnRgUdnK08Mcep42TE9ftVw5fv5a0g_HBrXMzqQX5GDFqK3-L9QTwGuxG89bZY/s1280/IMG_5317.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1155" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeNfgqhskq9Rh2eq2d3dc30F_RUhM3mxTe5Cm8vw7G9ZS545qcXoCO9sV6F_ZjI_FE20XdDBhSnz-7CmuQ3kYrQPwFWMwy-ryJ_5xsipy1glsQdFjPZJ139b5C_lxCwnRgUdnK08Mcep42TE9ftVw5fv5a0g_HBrXMzqQX5GDFqK3-L9QTwGuxG89bZY/w578-h640/IMG_5317.jpeg" width="578" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I arranged three branches of the Broom and added two flower heads of the Valerian in the centre toward the back and partially hidden. This fairly simple ikebana is arranged in a formal-looking style because I have kept all the fine stems in a single line arising from the centre. The vessel is a cup that Laurie bought from the New Zealand ceramicist <a href="http://elenarenker.com/"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Elena Renka</span></a> when we visited in March last year.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sqze9uKB1F1MjrMwaOYU50aOaexkw9CYyJvsf4_RGBYnqDpXcz7S-e6Q82QinY4oKcgrHOv9XD1Ze7CUdLYqYmHkrGuVlgm4K4qGsFNeTEV9CJ_baDKLNW7QTudkJlN0qG-iXjNOvE9BTqbNX9KNhRUHYkO3WB-IzBjd24e7SOgGggtNbI8Guxgn2dk/s1280/IMG_5321.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1011" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sqze9uKB1F1MjrMwaOYU50aOaexkw9CYyJvsf4_RGBYnqDpXcz7S-e6Q82QinY4oKcgrHOv9XD1Ze7CUdLYqYmHkrGuVlgm4K4qGsFNeTEV9CJ_baDKLNW7QTudkJlN0qG-iXjNOvE9BTqbNX9KNhRUHYkO3WB-IzBjd24e7SOgGggtNbI8Guxgn2dk/w506-h640/IMG_5321.jpeg" width="506" /></span></a></div><div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Also to my delight the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aechmea_gamosepala"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Bromeliad <i>Aechmea gamosepala</i></span></a>, has produced three flowers. My internet browsing has taught me that this variety is called "Lucky stripe". This plant was a gift from my sister-in-law Helen, and has only been in our rather dry ground for a couple of years.</span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr_hyATE8DH5akeDh173O7oQzPWLkoZYItVlYalXzY0sTI8cFACDFvrhYXIZlozs2E80cdCSEq6aLQC51EmoZqOExnojBszIFiP-63te7NrpkFBZTB6mR81q7FGI1xSacFByA-msHj8dzmyni5h4LTmOVmvNOsH7ISsq1RWNsXaGkSGv5ZmGYf5ceLew/s1280/IMG_5323.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1280" height="581" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr_hyATE8DH5akeDh173O7oQzPWLkoZYItVlYalXzY0sTI8cFACDFvrhYXIZlozs2E80cdCSEq6aLQC51EmoZqOExnojBszIFiP-63te7NrpkFBZTB6mR81q7FGI1xSacFByA-msHj8dzmyni5h4LTmOVmvNOsH7ISsq1RWNsXaGkSGv5ZmGYf5ceLew/w640-h581/IMG_5323.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>There is also slightly less <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scabiosa_atropurpurea"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Scabiosa atropurp</span></a><span style="color: #2b00fe;">urea </span></i>flowering this year, as I removed quite a lot of it in winter as well. I am hoping that I did not pull out the white ones as they are rare in our garden. I used these two materials in my second ikebana.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeDI6nsBVUeQCtPl9Vc3BzVUGWa32wbs2tdr9Qqijy1YzzIHGZwR_3A1d8iaLJiqmuK1aQTgiShHnZGxbevSMMoKdMli5O-jUAukpTOjqD4zIznfY9lNiFMCeugp4O2pMUi2KtTgcnMRMAoomwNVXq1HUEeLI3xdxsDFKd7KtDly5rHfP_d_58uLtY-w/s1280/IMG_5305.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="899" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeDI6nsBVUeQCtPl9Vc3BzVUGWa32wbs2tdr9Qqijy1YzzIHGZwR_3A1d8iaLJiqmuK1aQTgiShHnZGxbevSMMoKdMli5O-jUAukpTOjqD4zIznfY9lNiFMCeugp4O2pMUi2KtTgcnMRMAoomwNVXq1HUEeLI3xdxsDFKd7KtDly5rHfP_d_58uLtY-w/w450-h640/IMG_5305.jpeg" width="450" /></span></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Because of the blue tips on the Bromeliad flowers and the fineness of the Scabiosa, I decided to use these three glass bottle-shaped vases. The flowers and vases are placed so that their movement is toward the centre. My first teacher Carlynne would have said the materials are talking to each other. I also added a stem of leaves only, from the Red Valerian in the third vase. My aim was to keep the ikebana feeling light and summery with the water in the glass to be an important element.</div><div><br /></div><div>Greetings from Christopher</div><div>28th January 2023</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></span></div></span></div></div></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-14958974838936935282024-01-21T16:17:00.000+11:002024-01-21T16:17:18.441+11:00CORYMBIA FICIFOLIA<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The summer weather on the Surfcoast has continued to be variable, but most of the last week was pleasantly warm and stable.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhy9bpqLC7bd4efq8zM5-HxQ6-i9MrYYxSFC-Ot2_ga1ntOSc1RQBdjo3BBGA3qcC2LxIYyJzoEP1JySZCQH9LoU8JXVnu6quUZlMl_zhxknebgZn57Sa1tu3ECWEt5RRA485ZIdUxqll4ljJ5C6-vJq9w_TaUu4w4WUPSVUTgtiBPq4_n1zYT1c00NY/s1280/IMG_4339.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhy9bpqLC7bd4efq8zM5-HxQ6-i9MrYYxSFC-Ot2_ga1ntOSc1RQBdjo3BBGA3qcC2LxIYyJzoEP1JySZCQH9LoU8JXVnu6quUZlMl_zhxknebgZn57Sa1tu3ECWEt5RRA485ZIdUxqll4ljJ5C6-vJq9w_TaUu4w4WUPSVUTgtiBPq4_n1zYT1c00NY/w640-h480/IMG_4339.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>On Tuesday we had an early walk on the beach. However, the tracks in the sand reveal that quite a few people got there before us. The following day we were in Melbourne for a couple of catch-up events with friends. It also gave us the opportunity to visit the National Gallery of Victoria and see some of the installation work in the <a href="https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/triennial/home/"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Triennial exhibition</span></a>.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM3Sv4Zy0SMLpH7D-EyiOj8jIMU20_8EjrhXx9BvYWHdZpzWJ2gnlD_kRpO_1QCoALFKiNBPj0H69oodMxMIm60nUSRPLfNIbkVR3-jvc9A-Ghc2-WCFc2sYUhqThnoXacuki7b0bZzt74ADhlEPB-nLH_qAaXhhRfGP-_VMw7r3Fw6ipVdvEUqc5-wo/s1280/IMG_4341.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1280" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM3Sv4Zy0SMLpH7D-EyiOj8jIMU20_8EjrhXx9BvYWHdZpzWJ2gnlD_kRpO_1QCoALFKiNBPj0H69oodMxMIm60nUSRPLfNIbkVR3-jvc9A-Ghc2-WCFc2sYUhqThnoXacuki7b0bZzt74ADhlEPB-nLH_qAaXhhRfGP-_VMw7r3Fw6ipVdvEUqc5-wo/w640-h548/IMG_4341.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I was captivated by this wonderful installation: <a href="https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/triennial/artists-designers/mun-dirra-maningrida-fish-fence/"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Mun Dirra (Manigrida Fish Fence)</span></a>, a beautiful work of dyed and hand-woven <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandanus"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Pandanus</span></a></i> fibre. The work is in several suspended panels that form curving screens which invite the viewer to immerse themselves in a richly-textured, warm-coloured space. The sensation of floating in flowing water was quite strong for me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7Ox6T3vBCRVH_drFCx_8Ng3iyi0x1btDThrM5GGqvaoCoZSdu69ssEvo4KO9UTNTkIeT9FFk6hbyH5nDkJdqvQk5tFpwHTsL_pPHUcv37mcPLAvY5bS2t8TD8hi4XosVR2HeDS7hB0ayDokcnQYrYZ5DuV7hyphenhyphenXzDcHgQ0-cHMR7Wx9aJZILUX7CZi90/s1280/IMG_5185.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7Ox6T3vBCRVH_drFCx_8Ng3iyi0x1btDThrM5GGqvaoCoZSdu69ssEvo4KO9UTNTkIeT9FFk6hbyH5nDkJdqvQk5tFpwHTsL_pPHUcv37mcPLAvY5bS2t8TD8hi4XosVR2HeDS7hB0ayDokcnQYrYZ5DuV7hyphenhyphenXzDcHgQ0-cHMR7Wx9aJZILUX7CZi90/w640-h480/IMG_5185.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">For several weeks now I have been enjoying the brilliant colours of some nearby Flowering gums <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corymbia_ficifolia"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Corymbia ficifolia</span></a></i>. This bright red one is in our garden.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOGMU8lE86FLpH0LIQGYRn7RXaNN9s3MVbzCSlUsX7l1WxemRXyJhg5a0GqKZrksjv9r1GoRcOYyHjc_yuESKztvFuetglMTE9UpFfviLo8NwiXPOhqJTcPOsRPBIhjELZKG6jbMHOl0RmlF-iR2jWEq4s3iFmtvizWeDvFHvt42krayzdGYkztEPXkk/s1280/IMG_5299.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOGMU8lE86FLpH0LIQGYRn7RXaNN9s3MVbzCSlUsX7l1WxemRXyJhg5a0GqKZrksjv9r1GoRcOYyHjc_yuESKztvFuetglMTE9UpFfviLo8NwiXPOhqJTcPOsRPBIhjELZKG6jbMHOl0RmlF-iR2jWEq4s3iFmtvizWeDvFHvt42krayzdGYkztEPXkk/w640-h480/IMG_5299.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Not so far away is this vivid orange one that looms over a fence.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkx7n4qXem8FbKvlBso3jj5fgkQjNG6pJ4RVk-_GJHmKGNfZpd87B5TNxdtMABJKMQMzYR1SLo8anb6OH07HHQiZsNdxVkDb00-B_R8KuDq1gRJ_ayUbVzHIasISCKpJrapY8eApDVx6Bev3CtDz3Br0358N_L10JH0Z4jhTg-W86tSTCdGiU15BLrJS0/s1280/IMG_5302.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkx7n4qXem8FbKvlBso3jj5fgkQjNG6pJ4RVk-_GJHmKGNfZpd87B5TNxdtMABJKMQMzYR1SLo8anb6OH07HHQiZsNdxVkDb00-B_R8KuDq1gRJ_ayUbVzHIasISCKpJrapY8eApDVx6Bev3CtDz3Br0358N_L10JH0Z4jhTg-W86tSTCdGiU15BLrJS0/w480-h640/IMG_5302.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Also close by is another orange one that has passed its peak. The recent rain has knocked many of the fine stamens onto the footpath making a very fine, red carpet. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I have been thinking of using these flowers as an ikebana subject for a while.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWwoY-aKX5C0O8srogvPT4-5rYR9FRIu1BoqOKdVoL5pRti8RS4iFRX9JE0qFCt2YACBCcioPG9ibBD-e5uZ9bzOQ-TpToFikbqhHHfFWPMPp6LT3drA36NwLVmTn9w9a525VTiNugDiugGWn1_udhFQyc-U9yLV-U4jDBShBCY3t8TN4M4x9V1Ehn9k/s1280/IMG_5303.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1280" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWwoY-aKX5C0O8srogvPT4-5rYR9FRIu1BoqOKdVoL5pRti8RS4iFRX9JE0qFCt2YACBCcioPG9ibBD-e5uZ9bzOQ-TpToFikbqhHHfFWPMPp6LT3drA36NwLVmTn9w9a525VTiNugDiugGWn1_udhFQyc-U9yLV-U4jDBShBCY3t8TN4M4x9V1Ehn9k/w640-h536/IMG_5303.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>I gathered two clusters of the orange flower as I wanted it to be the principal subject. Then I picked a tight bunch of red flowers from our tree. These were fairly easy to arrange into two masses with the colours separated. I set the orange flowers to the front and left side. The red flowers were set behind and to the right of the orange flowers with a clear space between the two groups. On the window sill in the kitchen I had some <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zealandia_pustulata" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Kangaroo fern</span></a> <i>Zealandia pustulata</i>, that I had pruned from beside the path. It had been threatening to take over the path. The green of the fern made a good strong colour contrast to the red and provided a clear asymmetry to the design.</span><p></p></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The vase is by <a href="https://qdosarts.com/profile/graeme-wilkie-oam/"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Graeme Wilkie</span></a> and has two broad vertical, brush-stroke like lines, that are very close in tone to the orange flowers.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">21st January 2024</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-41444178590519662772024-01-14T16:06:00.001+11:002024-01-14T16:06:24.502+11:00SUMMER COLOUR<div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>The weather on the Surf Coast has been quite fickle; typical of Victoria, is the common view. On Christmas day and the week following, it was cool and wet. However, in the last week it seemed like summer had arrived. A welcome change for the holiday visitors who have come to Torquay to enjoy the beach.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcMfyhqqZuqoVWHNlI7uJJm-6-m9dyAmvOhKhKanZMyGXWWpqzNtr5rQi7eHqT7Ooev32HmKXdJI95eIBp817Xx_PGQA8vc7a0XRTtZZFNdCX7xol-BWnVLrxxvHoaT278-YXHPzVP-zUEdxZAPUhj0xrGX1WF_H8FqtWYL-Pv5wtcj1fQz2L4GJfXjs/s1280/IMG_5268.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1280" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcMfyhqqZuqoVWHNlI7uJJm-6-m9dyAmvOhKhKanZMyGXWWpqzNtr5rQi7eHqT7Ooev32HmKXdJI95eIBp817Xx_PGQA8vc7a0XRTtZZFNdCX7xol-BWnVLrxxvHoaT278-YXHPzVP-zUEdxZAPUhj0xrGX1WF_H8FqtWYL-Pv5wtcj1fQz2L4GJfXjs/w640-h450/IMG_5268.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>The gardener's pleasure is to see the summer flowers. I recently replaced my possum barrier beneath the frame that supports the climbing <a href="https://sarose.org.au/rose-month/lorraine-lee/"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Lorraine Lee</span></a> rose. The new barrier is corrugated colour-bond edging and seems to be working well.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSunnroouknzO-rtXeS77C6eU_uSha3aRtKRPufguOPSBOJmoo-sRlkZyjtXlQs5eIR1UrXSbKxUUvRs4YPriQ2hyphenhyphencTSWjZta26ed4qT6ec0u8_ORHL83thzmZK7EwVCY2HkyEl-0MyVVsvmWYO1lDLfYn0XSa-uAvuTDa8Qixagy3xAAj8obv6Q5ywvM/s640/IMG_5285%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSunnroouknzO-rtXeS77C6eU_uSha3aRtKRPufguOPSBOJmoo-sRlkZyjtXlQs5eIR1UrXSbKxUUvRs4YPriQ2hyphenhyphencTSWjZta26ed4qT6ec0u8_ORHL83thzmZK7EwVCY2HkyEl-0MyVVsvmWYO1lDLfYn0XSa-uAvuTDa8Qixagy3xAAj8obv6Q5ywvM/w480-h640/IMG_5285%20(1).jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is the most prolific flowering of this plant to date. Of course the rain has helped. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The potted </span><i style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrangea"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Hydrangeas</span></a> </i><span style="font-family: arial;">are also doing well.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLIygu69l1sMg5k02xTzZ_iHY5nDrWWeBGpugLt8jDwn4AfcAYPbCEP1b_R_HVqYqhC0SAJA0S40kBpyQf79JhdksXgK_dYCQF8Tnvhcs_plp_olizDZ9Se_bRLPp4kA83EJXtP5yn_F8xuAEgb-9vSpaekGPEktWRXKA0Gtf8Gh5oKsGE2PmfC0mK9Q/s1280/IMG_5281%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1155" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLIygu69l1sMg5k02xTzZ_iHY5nDrWWeBGpugLt8jDwn4AfcAYPbCEP1b_R_HVqYqhC0SAJA0S40kBpyQf79JhdksXgK_dYCQF8Tnvhcs_plp_olizDZ9Se_bRLPp4kA83EJXtP5yn_F8xuAEgb-9vSpaekGPEktWRXKA0Gtf8Gh5oKsGE2PmfC0mK9Q/w578-h640/IMG_5281%20(1).jpeg" width="578" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-align: left;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This vivid pink one has only produced small flowers this year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCUGCtRzBreY5ZuEnIhpHDYqbP28_hBBUdZ-hoQ39iRm612cuuAqUFptLC4sN8dlHMuocLU7baW_CryEMDGo_ngpM0YP7iEPQWldd9qwAfEKWGEVpgecIBMgod9gbvv9yy8Lsl1FILpd_4On37qW2Goaa7mESPC64o99avo0rd8HrGtdDEFoek159Mog/s1280/IMG_5156.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="801" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCUGCtRzBreY5ZuEnIhpHDYqbP28_hBBUdZ-hoQ39iRm612cuuAqUFptLC4sN8dlHMuocLU7baW_CryEMDGo_ngpM0YP7iEPQWldd9qwAfEKWGEVpgecIBMgod9gbvv9yy8Lsl1FILpd_4On37qW2Goaa7mESPC64o99avo0rd8HrGtdDEFoek159Mog/w400-h640/IMG_5156.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Small flower size was not a problem for this particular vase/vessel. Laurie bought it for me when we visited the <a href="https://kutanikosen.com/en/process.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Kutani Kosen Kiln</span></a> in Kanazawa last November. His specific comment was, "...this will be both your Christmas present <b>and</b> your next birthday present...". We both really liked the elegance of the design of this vessel. The kiln is a family-owned business. Interestingly, the current head of the family commented that his </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">father made a number of these vessels about thirty years ago. This being one of the last remaining from that time. He also said that he could not reproduce the exact colour of this glaze as the recipe and details of the firing process were lost.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Vase or sake carafe?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Both!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXyNuVO2wIgY271iDWuNxzsoVNTpx_bZgVyjsnV8vdT5BcJcrGmQ6OqspZBIQCSU2Z6gXVozKdyQLwWUAUYBrIgI1IoYIsOuGzxkQo1GtL2sFDa_ch51pXg841H0rYfcFBDP8uJSdw6gM21hjJM0WJP97K_lZJ2_IxYZZcDcstFbyWojtl3rolVGA_yk/s1280/IMG_5256.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXyNuVO2wIgY271iDWuNxzsoVNTpx_bZgVyjsnV8vdT5BcJcrGmQ6OqspZBIQCSU2Z6gXVozKdyQLwWUAUYBrIgI1IoYIsOuGzxkQo1GtL2sFDa_ch51pXg841H0rYfcFBDP8uJSdw6gM21hjJM0WJP97K_lZJ2_IxYZZcDcstFbyWojtl3rolVGA_yk/w480-h640/IMG_5256.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I was happy with the colour contrast between the glaze and the <i>Hydrangea. </i>The small size of the vessel required a simple arrangement.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQ-gchwbfIZ6J9e-ds0ome1wwx1ubwr1H28dRmEM-AGMTqn34ePA-W24teuGEj74RVHAZ0CTef-c3Kot5oWM9SN0C8D4DTazsS_rNM9I7CgbdYFYlL0anIan4aGO26Lv_CRH6ph-YO2YdSR5nlFKV8TutaC3Jsu238v5ebH0E4YmRtXcvn51ZS8DsiFs/s1280/IMG_5283%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1025" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQ-gchwbfIZ6J9e-ds0ome1wwx1ubwr1H28dRmEM-AGMTqn34ePA-W24teuGEj74RVHAZ0CTef-c3Kot5oWM9SN0C8D4DTazsS_rNM9I7CgbdYFYlL0anIan4aGO26Lv_CRH6ph-YO2YdSR5nlFKV8TutaC3Jsu238v5ebH0E4YmRtXcvn51ZS8DsiFs/w512-h640/IMG_5283%20(1).jpeg" width="512" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Also in the garden a couple of patches of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crassula_arborescens" style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Crassula arborescens</span></a>, ...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3Ff25SnL-F37JVSpWEE3YN2I4hRRB4CBkBW2gfiCEA-JGrg8_vpAr4dxb3r5OvWGe1GgkYxIPBpRSYv7lI8CoPh1qg5xtBzTaxGFxcTlzbG2sVt5TdGIG0F-ShKSFWFMP4p9hbRrL6wj_khQl8F1n2D72yvURf_OD7e-aS1VCRi11cAsyepKlGypo04/s640/IMG_5286%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3Ff25SnL-F37JVSpWEE3YN2I4hRRB4CBkBW2gfiCEA-JGrg8_vpAr4dxb3r5OvWGe1GgkYxIPBpRSYv7lI8CoPh1qg5xtBzTaxGFxcTlzbG2sVt5TdGIG0F-ShKSFWFMP4p9hbRrL6wj_khQl8F1n2D72yvURf_OD7e-aS1VCRi11cAsyepKlGypo04/w640-h480/IMG_5286%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">...are looking their best. This one is partially shaded by the Apricot tree. Consequently, some of the flower stems are growing at a low angle.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqO2bcwXr_9tytH34GZQ9TQV7MPxx0d6mi1CVLvz89EAg31KA-LECexNVJKXaaHDWzQzrYGNQnIT1xoJztoHsNRlbroqc98x9rwPkBXkEjNT9-ZP6GIdfnEFidG5v2Kg_mUDXKUoSudUkN3ek0cjofOuSVUu3YDBwvXRmsFwVCJY4TY-Mkd8O8oAS9lc/s1280/IMG_5155%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="864" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqO2bcwXr_9tytH34GZQ9TQV7MPxx0d6mi1CVLvz89EAg31KA-LECexNVJKXaaHDWzQzrYGNQnIT1xoJztoHsNRlbroqc98x9rwPkBXkEjNT9-ZP6GIdfnEFidG5v2Kg_mUDXKUoSudUkN3ek0cjofOuSVUu3YDBwvXRmsFwVCJY4TY-Mkd8O8oAS9lc/w432-h640/IMG_5155%20(1).jpeg" width="432" /></span></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>When I brought some of the flowers inside I noticed how their orange matched some of the rather orange-ish tones in this Bizen vase. This was the other ceramic purchase by Laurie last November. This time at the Yakimono-World Fair and Exhibition in the grounds of Nagoya castle. It was made at </span><span style="font-family: arial;">the Gorobee Kiln in</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Okayama.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdTY1fy3iGJhVz_i82JLjtCN0tQXg8Is5JVeypWcQ1WNa7wL1P3xg-SRkofnjwTPOrRhJxVzWlxf7nzX6x164Lff869wwolQmrPPdJ-pp2PLjNC7UiBLpYPVL-wYGI8SOMjqZzRB7QAyiTQL0FTBoOzbaULuGbUQKKGEF-Uo-4h7cmejOvQ44eoyUUrg/s1280/IMG_5272.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1231" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdTY1fy3iGJhVz_i82JLjtCN0tQXg8Is5JVeypWcQ1WNa7wL1P3xg-SRkofnjwTPOrRhJxVzWlxf7nzX6x164Lff869wwolQmrPPdJ-pp2PLjNC7UiBLpYPVL-wYGI8SOMjqZzRB7QAyiTQL0FTBoOzbaULuGbUQKKGEF-Uo-4h7cmejOvQ44eoyUUrg/w616-h640/IMG_5272.jpeg" width="616" /></span></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;">This was the start of my arranging the materials in the Bizen vase. The overall darkness of the vase makes it dominant and the flower mass look small.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5ucPlEmKjTlm1eUXzZTyjBRnmW2Bq2nikuPWs9ceY3siz-o2gSSGWSzsTXDYA1hPWsJfnks2BYnZ3lZMZamiGrfn_5QmbKfplCySjxy0Q3-oOYI-AunH918AZCqVkVeDvKVwrMRlEWzv4l_OA4smaNlbxAVb1sptDYVPFDSeko70TSLmYaHN8w22i04/s1280/IMG_5287.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1280" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5ucPlEmKjTlm1eUXzZTyjBRnmW2Bq2nikuPWs9ceY3siz-o2gSSGWSzsTXDYA1hPWsJfnks2BYnZ3lZMZamiGrfn_5QmbKfplCySjxy0Q3-oOYI-AunH918AZCqVkVeDvKVwrMRlEWzv4l_OA4smaNlbxAVb1sptDYVPFDSeko70TSLmYaHN8w22i04/w640-h512/IMG_5287.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>I have made a loose mass with the flowers, trying to maximise the visibility of their orange colour. I then added some lines with the green strap-like leaves of <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lomandra_longifolia"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Lomandra lingifolia</span></a></i>. The leaves gave the ikebana some movement and created spaces which allowed the flowers to "breathe".</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">14th January 2024</span></div><div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></p></div></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-79342870698410316262024-01-07T09:28:00.000+11:002024-01-07T09:28:35.396+11:00A SECOND LOOK<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">By the end of last Spring, the end of November, the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strelitzia_juncea"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Strelitzia juncea</span></a> </i>in the garden had more than 25 flower stems. As I noted back then, it was the best flowering this clump has produced. Now however, the flowers have faded and the petals shrivelled to a dry, dark-brown state. This is the way of things, of course; and one of the joys of the plant world is the seasonal change we observe.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKlr68c1DYmNxT9MQXa84D9R-ZT0qNPLdJ_I6Xapx0wwqcNibTzLLOKsk1K6lSTHVGB-IaZhxnedyatLnT9iUjo2xsjDQZQ404bFDRz0j6bUD-s8wHaias6oy_IAD6JMsPX3Km8yGoHUDYyoowPUaO1r1yk52bq1SMwlRof1aVja4rpxXPP3UPxdTElw/s1280/IMG_4335.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKlr68c1DYmNxT9MQXa84D9R-ZT0qNPLdJ_I6Xapx0wwqcNibTzLLOKsk1K6lSTHVGB-IaZhxnedyatLnT9iUjo2xsjDQZQ404bFDRz0j6bUD-s8wHaias6oy_IAD6JMsPX3Km8yGoHUDYyoowPUaO1r1yk52bq1SMwlRof1aVja4rpxXPP3UPxdTElw/w640-h480/IMG_4335.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I took this photo of one of the last two flower stems, showing the drying petals as well as the final coloured petals for this season. I have previously been struck by the extraordinary colour that remains in the stem and spathe in this phase. I had pruned all of the other finished flower stems last week. After throwing several into the compost I felt I should not waste those that remained. Their colour and shape demanded the attention of my ikebana eye. I felt this material provided a challenge to my ikebana mind. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Once before I had been struck by the colours that remained in the flower stems after flowering. In March 2020 I created the ikebana below.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zymlnBlbXPxpCGtjaE_leBzK65U5ghDyYH54DHyKJRu4hd4BlKRhVHgFDdBe6o-9f9hWcXCLP08dBMQxC7g3zsUqu2Bab3KB4xUElrOZz5C8RRYcwM1cewmOt0NrSweKwh1gePo88bU-pmOODhM6EiyfMXCZ2hhnRznt-r4MGFvyU3Py0pfdifseLqM/s1280/20200308-_95A8597-Edit-2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zymlnBlbXPxpCGtjaE_leBzK65U5ghDyYH54DHyKJRu4hd4BlKRhVHgFDdBe6o-9f9hWcXCLP08dBMQxC7g3zsUqu2Bab3KB4xUElrOZz5C8RRYcwM1cewmOt0NrSweKwh1gePo88bU-pmOODhM6EiyfMXCZ2hhnRznt-r4MGFvyU3Py0pfdifseLqM/w480-h640/20200308-_95A8597-Edit-2.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In this instance the focus is on the pink at the back of the "neck", if the flowers were indeed "birds".</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggc5DygoNI02vh7x0R-hIrLB8y1wklnPf1CG6PDZzbd1TxcZgAGCGUNLB_01C2OgfjptyYFAAUSgFWN29EJB0LoqVxrMNyuzYD6a02lsdH_dL4NjUrGtVAWU0v4Z1bJDeZN8nmc1UEO1doeQ_PjfKwH0zkmSwJWa5qQ4fWd6zNrm69KBNhCUiMwB0WmQ/s1280/IMG_5253.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggc5DygoNI02vh7x0R-hIrLB8y1wklnPf1CG6PDZzbd1TxcZgAGCGUNLB_01C2OgfjptyYFAAUSgFWN29EJB0LoqVxrMNyuzYD6a02lsdH_dL4NjUrGtVAWU0v4Z1bJDeZN8nmc1UEO1doeQ_PjfKwH0zkmSwJWa5qQ4fWd6zNrm69KBNhCUiMwB0WmQ/w640-h480/IMG_5253.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Last week I first focused on the shapes of three double-headed Strelitzia flower stems. For preparation I used olive oil to clean some of the sticky substance exuded from the flower spathe. Then I wiped the oil off with a paper towel, leaving a soft sheen to the surface.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaf1nLu_wKTy7gTRSqO6fE_7sirBwBx4ilLMHpzsPwYVFskUL3ZwVS0DR5_7twrLMrpRj4t7D89_vAGkvf45g_5HFR3MIs0R0aTnd6A8RCOtxa3_VoJuPCiHT0rBjIrgzczEVK1KhJ9Dhd2QF0eCelYjkoirOLCPoUH-6kokv4VXQXX8Hn4gCJV5AcP4/s1280/IMG_5254.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="854" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaf1nLu_wKTy7gTRSqO6fE_7sirBwBx4ilLMHpzsPwYVFskUL3ZwVS0DR5_7twrLMrpRj4t7D89_vAGkvf45g_5HFR3MIs0R0aTnd6A8RCOtxa3_VoJuPCiHT0rBjIrgzczEVK1KhJ9Dhd2QF0eCelYjkoirOLCPoUH-6kokv4VXQXX8Hn4gCJV5AcP4/w428-h640/IMG_5254.jpeg" width="428" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><br /></div>This is the final ikebana. I re-used the fading leaves from a bunch, with flowers included, that were given to us four weeks ago. Unfortunately the flattening effect of the photograph removes the feeling of depth and the way the secondary flowers interact with each other.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The <i>suiban </i>is by the New Zealand ceramic artist <a href="http://elenarenker.com/"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Elena Renka</span></a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Yesterday I decided I had to use the rest of the flowers I had set aside. To start with I used the same cleaning process described above. Then I observed that the spathes of the flower heads presented different angles to the main stem. Many were almost at right angles. But a couple "looked down" and a few more were "looking up".</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWF7E5XvZNOhdUHfUToMPuL4f0i3YShnS-aIxIKFbQCH-HhhqjIOErZM5fCm3ljmDKaQqeFc_NC4FrEtvGsSs3P_Kd0w4yutiYLJNpgJ-q5AYRxdh1uiNGP8p9VyoZE4lK9-llw_gv13Tlpd4dmW3G__hM_FvPhExjEdeswbBp-IO3cUbJB-lyGShw6Bc/s1280/IMG_5265.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="926" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWF7E5XvZNOhdUHfUToMPuL4f0i3YShnS-aIxIKFbQCH-HhhqjIOErZM5fCm3ljmDKaQqeFc_NC4FrEtvGsSs3P_Kd0w4yutiYLJNpgJ-q5AYRxdh1uiNGP8p9VyoZE4lK9-llw_gv13Tlpd4dmW3G__hM_FvPhExjEdeswbBp-IO3cUbJB-lyGShw6Bc/w464-h640/IMG_5265.jpeg" width="464" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>I have used the spent flowers to make an ikebana in which the lines are closely placed to create a very structured arrangement of lines and angles. None of the flower heads actually touch each other and all of them face inwards toward the midline. The one downward facing flower I used is at the back. The right angle flowers were placed next then the upward looking flowers were placed highest. This placement gave a certain logic to the ikebana and an over-all coherence of design.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The following three quarter and side views shows the depth of the arrangement.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIixmK37T2MkId8MzXNUbouWaQ0VNY-jU3g_yfZhxFpQW7LYOPkppzFHZfF8LcmX0THUj02TdwAj68TyKG-oCjQzzTeYF7vhzWXiKpR26Z46ij-V24jy8EV_f4UkuHiv5fF9z03QYiU4ahqgj7bKrwoPxOkSvSkey6Pn6QNA165Tva1fd4ALpKRSHP3fA/s1280/IMG_5267.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="918" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIixmK37T2MkId8MzXNUbouWaQ0VNY-jU3g_yfZhxFpQW7LYOPkppzFHZfF8LcmX0THUj02TdwAj68TyKG-oCjQzzTeYF7vhzWXiKpR26Z46ij-V24jy8EV_f4UkuHiv5fF9z03QYiU4ahqgj7bKrwoPxOkSvSkey6Pn6QNA165Tva1fd4ALpKRSHP3fA/w460-h640/IMG_5267.jpeg" width="460" /></span></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67EKdyGo9BZeFUrhk2wBb__8VHzJE5P3xAjo0UamHA3irA9Y6-_VT8ULKuoUifvdz0zXwVXSVdU1iexqqpK-zSg-bcGdSmWPfSswSFuTl2ryrTcoHha50r0kVhJG3vSz9lEoW0vw8S79YQnUPOIsj0__-CEcXIaHqWAyQ4if3MhuM66GMnoQAc50fQRs/s1280/IMG_5266.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="889" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67EKdyGo9BZeFUrhk2wBb__8VHzJE5P3xAjo0UamHA3irA9Y6-_VT8ULKuoUifvdz0zXwVXSVdU1iexqqpK-zSg-bcGdSmWPfSswSFuTl2ryrTcoHha50r0kVhJG3vSz9lEoW0vw8S79YQnUPOIsj0__-CEcXIaHqWAyQ4if3MhuM66GMnoQAc50fQRs/w444-h640/IMG_5266.jpeg" width="444" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The vessel is by the Victorian ceramic artist Isabella Wang.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span><p></p></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">7th January 2024</span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-67025162218492192852023-12-31T10:15:00.000+11:002023-12-31T10:15:22.721+11:00TREE PHILODENDRON<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In the week before Christmas I had a brief walk along the Barwon River at Newtown as I was early for an appointment. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH55DPKGgpn_RnqyjAGLwYsXjf1alx-CW_tjc05UIJ5Ep4T_6ba4N1vQ6_D7hEj5rkVEKHiTv41EuDtY3doDt2vMRSoDKf9N6vkPhexsLHAcpWmJHFS7FKwbOavmrN0HD8JLtF2z7FAc515hNrMuC30ulIWmz0PZbZEyqA0iMb1E78Im8hzHPNnli9h4A/s1280/IMG_4302.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH55DPKGgpn_RnqyjAGLwYsXjf1alx-CW_tjc05UIJ5Ep4T_6ba4N1vQ6_D7hEj5rkVEKHiTv41EuDtY3doDt2vMRSoDKf9N6vkPhexsLHAcpWmJHFS7FKwbOavmrN0HD8JLtF2z7FAc515hNrMuC30ulIWmz0PZbZEyqA0iMb1E78Im8hzHPNnli9h4A/w640-h480/IMG_4302.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">There was a light drizzling rain when I came across this patch of waterlilies, that I thought looked quite beautiful. A calming moment before seeing the dentist.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Last weekend we went to Melbourne for Christmas and had the luxury of a slow walk around the Royal Botanic Gardens.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-9e9ia-euNWf5XC5SJynAysm32Vi7QUye69w3s8mbK3iFMc8CK5rpTbhMR4g35y6h49gfF0rfm9Wi3l_cMA-UnNcKdg-Bz9YZ9FeoTMDCMoNveePnR1TrTGlB0FkvGmClMeLwTItFJHYbOxBldxc-eO16fg-UqOh42aE5Zqn24TQv8VTG1J4Uf37_dU/s1280/IMG_5213.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-9e9ia-euNWf5XC5SJynAysm32Vi7QUye69w3s8mbK3iFMc8CK5rpTbhMR4g35y6h49gfF0rfm9Wi3l_cMA-UnNcKdg-Bz9YZ9FeoTMDCMoNveePnR1TrTGlB0FkvGmClMeLwTItFJHYbOxBldxc-eO16fg-UqOh42aE5Zqn24TQv8VTG1J4Uf37_dU/w640-h480/IMG_5213.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">There I saw more water lilies. Almost the whole surface of one of the upper lakes was covered in pink waterlilies.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHybKDdXSgjJTR3t8Lr5gR_XEtadQbvg9x6MZ1s8rsQQY8pmlFImiM495VrFfH3FJtgF3Qtrc_JfD1BoxDWTt8bCVe_mWm3miGnBh0kZayXAcY4wBru1IGQDjex0Tuzf1LXKDwrz68-SwBtIoMNKUveAjEEHshUUp4RMEfZA19U-coCFODO18PqJXp_zc/s1280/IMG_5212.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHybKDdXSgjJTR3t8Lr5gR_XEtadQbvg9x6MZ1s8rsQQY8pmlFImiM495VrFfH3FJtgF3Qtrc_JfD1BoxDWTt8bCVe_mWm3miGnBh0kZayXAcY4wBru1IGQDjex0Tuzf1LXKDwrz68-SwBtIoMNKUveAjEEHshUUp4RMEfZA19U-coCFODO18PqJXp_zc/w640-h480/IMG_5212.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;">This individual flower near the water's edge looked particularly beautiful.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ33pq3Tg-2WCmYnykIRpXLyXpd6mUn7_UmZgCYEnt5zc8SlV5mbpiL5djmJ1eullnW1DdQOJ46-HRKKuoiGCbkqWye6erHR0kK4NDMDeYKq6OKqIBmMQqlH5mLr6opozGxxmE76Bo_LQVSVNvGkrZyy0Zb_Q9rRqs9DfhEWWU6gOgs78_-1t6UsAyaRg/s1280/IMG_5214.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ33pq3Tg-2WCmYnykIRpXLyXpd6mUn7_UmZgCYEnt5zc8SlV5mbpiL5djmJ1eullnW1DdQOJ46-HRKKuoiGCbkqWye6erHR0kK4NDMDeYKq6OKqIBmMQqlH5mLr6opozGxxmE76Bo_LQVSVNvGkrZyy0Zb_Q9rRqs9DfhEWWU6gOgs78_-1t6UsAyaRg/w640-h480/IMG_5214.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>As did this mass of pink, mauve and purple <i>Hydrangeas.</i></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIH7hT7Hggj2W98zb3Z6pqOFV4al8hASNOkOWoSbRj13Y2r9OMOaGkS_75_D5FG8V9Gm1lVWjF8zkI7NJ0SrQpxdtq1x31qM8FNr-57HmBLD5t6qLgu2m0wujCLd-LwN3V_rDO_DG6u-JkZJxpuTEczAS9j4ndRdhTReRcRYhdS_H2g6Q_O93F-Jgcj_c/s1280/IMG_5215.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="961" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIH7hT7Hggj2W98zb3Z6pqOFV4al8hASNOkOWoSbRj13Y2r9OMOaGkS_75_D5FG8V9Gm1lVWjF8zkI7NJ0SrQpxdtq1x31qM8FNr-57HmBLD5t6qLgu2m0wujCLd-LwN3V_rDO_DG6u-JkZJxpuTEczAS9j4ndRdhTReRcRYhdS_H2g6Q_O93F-Jgcj_c/w480-h640/IMG_5215.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">There was a whole bed of this dark blue <i>Agapanthus. </i>One of the cultivars that has appeared in recent years.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jWOguBVyD0Ciuv9a3XZ40BEoAEq2Ddp6jgxslAAarfR06A9vXfsZzf3HfpwSV-Mh97nimYy3zklIdzORF7m1IZeJfm1UehRnRw0ZwHMAIX6JrX7l9POeaoQ2EPCeXAR_vFOLEnkkJfF-to3RPqg_vwhcn6hBg2MJgLXE7RZ4C-3-p0YZcBdnRUyjqkI/s1280/IMG_5232%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="961" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jWOguBVyD0Ciuv9a3XZ40BEoAEq2Ddp6jgxslAAarfR06A9vXfsZzf3HfpwSV-Mh97nimYy3zklIdzORF7m1IZeJfm1UehRnRw0ZwHMAIX6JrX7l9POeaoQ2EPCeXAR_vFOLEnkkJfF-to3RPqg_vwhcn6hBg2MJgLXE7RZ4C-3-p0YZcBdnRUyjqkI/w480-h640/IMG_5232%20(1).jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Summer is the flowering time for one of my favourite native trees, the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachychiton_acerifolius " style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Illawara Flame Tree</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Brachychiton acerifolius. </i><span style="font-family: arial;">In Victoria, if the conditions are right, it will loose all of its leaves before the spectacular flowering.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XGDq2x1Mn3fprVpg0lykXDxmwTEPL4_LTnUp_lycl18MQav_iPSrVw4J4AeB6xhq2uKXXIi-6ZaEm2q_cL9U-_cA3jH7biupke3sWLysDh-gWSotoj4mc2bDVX46M5gFIEkt_Zq8aYLVnXsHp8xMdZrj6ECMPlIUfgThSzV8F9mSspv-exauyD4D400/s1280/IMG_5225.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XGDq2x1Mn3fprVpg0lykXDxmwTEPL4_LTnUp_lycl18MQav_iPSrVw4J4AeB6xhq2uKXXIi-6ZaEm2q_cL9U-_cA3jH7biupke3sWLysDh-gWSotoj4mc2bDVX46M5gFIEkt_Zq8aYLVnXsHp8xMdZrj6ECMPlIUfgThSzV8F9mSspv-exauyD4D400/w480-h640/IMG_5225.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>This close up of a panicle reveals part of the reason the flowering is so dramatic. The stems of the flowers are also the same intensely bright red. This panicle was on a tree in the <a href="https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne-gardens/discover-melbourne-gardens/melbourne-gardens-living-collections/the-ian-potter-foundation-children-s-garden/"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden</span></a> at the Botanical Garden.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCh6UmFTF5sGrQgS6GMG7PHHQi_shu2Q5UmHvZBopRWC7nV6KhNSobOm_csR67LSDPxFhp6BcTq4KOaZtKCNy3-7fqKXWL_SRBG0uI_3NNrMM81m6lxHNz3gSLc_xhTJ84f1ZWRqWl6Bz3K5cctApdEro-1Bd29YnSzMGevJHAfnhxKvxympVU9DvPW8/s1280/IMG_5228.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCh6UmFTF5sGrQgS6GMG7PHHQi_shu2Q5UmHvZBopRWC7nV6KhNSobOm_csR67LSDPxFhp6BcTq4KOaZtKCNy3-7fqKXWL_SRBG0uI_3NNrMM81m6lxHNz3gSLc_xhTJ84f1ZWRqWl6Bz3K5cctApdEro-1Bd29YnSzMGevJHAfnhxKvxympVU9DvPW8/w480-h640/IMG_5228.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Which is where we also came across this tree where something small may live.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Over the past couple of months in the Botanic gardens I have noticed an unusual event. In a number of places around the garden some clumps of bamboo have started flowering. Bamboos flower infrequently, usually after 40 - 80 years. However, some species only flower after very long intervals, as much as 120 -130 years. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7oPleIHtRli-JT91vsJwtW5ECT2UGvJ35pTjqWyeP1DEVKOwq2jOfr8a3RMEsITVIkqMYaSeIcyePlWjzt8_tEV_EHOQihtEmry2s0h5pL0WDr1VwxNnCV729hv6Pd_1dQW4Id1sPjAq_k7YmQ-ZmbU-ZCVDYHlhmcm5JNvpwx1LXX6CoMMfq89ozVM/s1280/IMG_5220.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="1280" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7oPleIHtRli-JT91vsJwtW5ECT2UGvJ35pTjqWyeP1DEVKOwq2jOfr8a3RMEsITVIkqMYaSeIcyePlWjzt8_tEV_EHOQihtEmry2s0h5pL0WDr1VwxNnCV729hv6Pd_1dQW4Id1sPjAq_k7YmQ-ZmbU-ZCVDYHlhmcm5JNvpwx1LXX6CoMMfq89ozVM/w640-h586/IMG_5220.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">In this photo it is easy to see that the flowers look like those of other grasses. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAr9t0Ck5rYiKsoh9U09ULQysAtxDdQnZu6aPFwrXkuzGmaw6i30NaV7LNnm4lcGU0FjX-EsmT7UOKb1_BLC5U3sP0rR3dDPL-lhd2o1AKZDjUKm4jV5IZRkHhDSYyTzVF2DNp7JvUxx_YvCiU_y9EotDoVotW81bCfTdTODrl8TdGSl4gXj8JDKZ4JI/s1280/IMG_5219.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAr9t0Ck5rYiKsoh9U09ULQysAtxDdQnZu6aPFwrXkuzGmaw6i30NaV7LNnm4lcGU0FjX-EsmT7UOKb1_BLC5U3sP0rR3dDPL-lhd2o1AKZDjUKm4jV5IZRkHhDSYyTzVF2DNp7JvUxx_YvCiU_y9EotDoVotW81bCfTdTODrl8TdGSl4gXj8JDKZ4JI/w480-h640/IMG_5219.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">In this photo most of the bamboo has already turned brown and is dying. It is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_blossom"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">mass flowering event</span></a> in which all the plants in the cohort will flower and then decline and die. Seeds that fall from these plants will start the regrowth of the patch.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">* *</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> *</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> *</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> *</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Recently I re-introduced our <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaumatophyllum_bipinnatifidum"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Tree Philodendron </span></a><i>Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum</i> to the conservatory. The unfortunate, but very resilient, plant had spent the better part of two years out in the garden suffering considerable neglect. Finally, three or four months ago, I re-potted the plant and started to treat it more respectfully in the conservatory. It has responded well to the warmth, watering and feeding, by producing some larger leaves and two smaller shoots at the bottom. </span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEEPlE_fCsMxa_jrVOd1zwssQaiTEFbm_xbnidF7Pze3ds7_sNwAK28dyef1zlHh3hG2mDmNK5b843sPnS1NmOXCMyHWwvvL_quonMUBzNu9z3Y1Z6Fol2g4c4FRjfWseUx_sI6BYITKQlxmm18n7csEuFhC2opTJWpfikDqwU83ctQJ2lqMNNhJCNUI/s1280/IMG_4330.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEEPlE_fCsMxa_jrVOd1zwssQaiTEFbm_xbnidF7Pze3ds7_sNwAK28dyef1zlHh3hG2mDmNK5b843sPnS1NmOXCMyHWwvvL_quonMUBzNu9z3Y1Z6Fol2g4c4FRjfWseUx_sI6BYITKQlxmm18n7csEuFhC2opTJWpfikDqwU83ctQJ2lqMNNhJCNUI/w480-h640/IMG_4330.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the leaves recently yellowed and began to die (of old age) first turning a beautiful bright yellow. This made it an interesting, somewhat largish, ikebana subject.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRYTi55XV7kCrWn8Is27Hz2sWaAeDyhPuqWaHkFOAbAtcgnwUDjsvYRm_n1b7O4xnF5qyk-CF7L_M_yqoym0Vdbq5Urxr7_nZF_iqMvFqM1Jjg5rJ1IyRCcwgOtWesZMWTIZTRZQREUj321fNNpPc1xv7KDbKU6Sd2naKBRjYXNHap3lBwO2Gd9l1dAs/s1280/Yellow.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="1280" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRYTi55XV7kCrWn8Is27Hz2sWaAeDyhPuqWaHkFOAbAtcgnwUDjsvYRm_n1b7O4xnF5qyk-CF7L_M_yqoym0Vdbq5Urxr7_nZF_iqMvFqM1Jjg5rJ1IyRCcwgOtWesZMWTIZTRZQREUj321fNNpPc1xv7KDbKU6Sd2naKBRjYXNHap3lBwO2Gd9l1dAs/w640-h568/Yellow.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Because of a noticeable curve in its stem I decided to use this large curving vessel by <a href="https://qdosarts.com/profile/graeme-wilkie-oam/"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Graeme Wilkie</span></a>. The yellow leaf is the main subject but needed a foil. Green seemed best to highlight the yellow. I chose a fading leaf from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strelitzia_nicolai"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Strelitzia nicolai</span></i></a> that had </span><span style="font-family: arial;">some autumnal tonings and</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> a similar curve. With such strong materials, nothing else was needed.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I would like to wish you all a healthy and Happy New Year.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Greetings from Christopher<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">31st December 2023</span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /> </span></span></p></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-26313425861505574512023-12-24T15:33:00.000+11:002023-12-24T15:33:26.042+11:00SEASON'S GREETINGS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Last week I showed a close-up of a flower cluster on the Red Flowering Gum <i>Corymbia ficifolia </i>in the garden. The still smallish tree was a wedding present from a neighbour.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVf6ASmmHqAyUAg9mGYcN12quS_YP8E7mYlXxYeCNLYpfPQw9iZ5VRVYlgcc_mxeztEqPdyEqfVbLg1wVeNIqkd4TLxUU6pJSAkMCa2QAynqCi5ffT_1JjttZUO9fDcYoj3T0u8MWvqPmlnf3FeEG65hAXh29Xyz9xLJAtfexICdmpH3zPIfP9R02C6A/s1280/IMG_4314.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="1280" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVf6ASmmHqAyUAg9mGYcN12quS_YP8E7mYlXxYeCNLYpfPQw9iZ5VRVYlgcc_mxeztEqPdyEqfVbLg1wVeNIqkd4TLxUU6pJSAkMCa2QAynqCi5ffT_1JjttZUO9fDcYoj3T0u8MWvqPmlnf3FeEG65hAXh29Xyz9xLJAtfexICdmpH3zPIfP9R02C6A/w640-h552/IMG_4314.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This photo shows the whole tree from an elevated position, so it just looks like a large shrub. Many more flowers have opened in the last few days and there are even more flowers that have not yet opened. I wanted </span><span style="font-family: arial;">to bring this intense colour indoors, so I </span><span style="font-family: arial;">picked a single inflorescence which had over forty individual flowers .</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzrEXpfIz1tTddH5cXh15AxV1N-l9WbCCOh6DY8C7F9fsZl6iVojmcnK8ULHtz0iMX4_6f2LhYgl9sfGlU93zVFBlSHJkG4mRKrmKG08aMjCzjD0y1YcOxFv3ZmuXCuIRQtv-AzRDOM4p2ryxg-4cciijIXNWHExWN3WrHcpcbthwMUh66NS9CIJZSnw/s1280/IMG_5194%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzrEXpfIz1tTddH5cXh15AxV1N-l9WbCCOh6DY8C7F9fsZl6iVojmcnK8ULHtz0iMX4_6f2LhYgl9sfGlU93zVFBlSHJkG4mRKrmKG08aMjCzjD0y1YcOxFv3ZmuXCuIRQtv-AzRDOM4p2ryxg-4cciijIXNWHExWN3WrHcpcbthwMUh66NS9CIJZSnw/w640-h480/IMG_5194%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I set the flowers and a single branchlet in an irregularly shaped, mostly black, vase which has a closely matching red glaze across the mouth. It was made by the Adelaide ceramicist Rebecca Dawson.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The leaves of the beautiful <i>Strelitzias, </i>that we were given two weeks ago, were still going strong earlier this week. One of the leaves was particularly long with a curve such that the upper surface of the leaf could be seen from the front view, if it was placed extending to the left.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKuP44Ms0Po5scVoTTRCv7qEp_JjCOiEMTHrYPt5N6VPJt91oqc_kSZE3ghsm8BtsE1iAwuTHQHPW0c-4Xa4Mv6GdcFyPa4y8glThgneCv67nQJCVj9yl52QfgWsYNjX6ZPNZR9OF6qNyENZ_LC4hx3lC_VUoJSv1UjyuTltW6ar-rF0ofiqnxfe_UNo/s1280/IMG_5152.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1280" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKuP44Ms0Po5scVoTTRCv7qEp_JjCOiEMTHrYPt5N6VPJt91oqc_kSZE3ghsm8BtsE1iAwuTHQHPW0c-4Xa4Mv6GdcFyPa4y8glThgneCv67nQJCVj9yl52QfgWsYNjX6ZPNZR9OF6qNyENZ_LC4hx3lC_VUoJSv1UjyuTltW6ar-rF0ofiqnxfe_UNo/w640-h394/IMG_5152.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Coincidentally one of the flowers from our <i>S. juncea </i>clump had fallen to a near-horizontal position and its flower head turned in the right direction to suit the leaf so that they both faced forward. I worked on the curve of the flower stem to make it match that of the leaf and then set them both in this large <i>tsubo </i>vessel.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGv3N58NZBTkIQOBe1UyFwrH-rUjlUcdF33AAGhpsSKmvw1xgh3BL9mamsxM5PZyIUUX-7fu9K0fPvT_cqJynIi4dTBd-loE0o-h3k5rlitkYOKDbKLSYzog7nIbBElzNZQSvrt4u99i7lTUq7BlSOSWlM7Tc5BJCcpEPzh-53k84WtxrJu_uZyChUNk/s1280/IMG_5195%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1280" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGv3N58NZBTkIQOBe1UyFwrH-rUjlUcdF33AAGhpsSKmvw1xgh3BL9mamsxM5PZyIUUX-7fu9K0fPvT_cqJynIi4dTBd-loE0o-h3k5rlitkYOKDbKLSYzog7nIbBElzNZQSvrt4u99i7lTUq7BlSOSWlM7Tc5BJCcpEPzh-53k84WtxrJu_uZyChUNk/w640-h508/IMG_5195%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>This photo shows the fixing technique that I used to hold the stems off the rim of the vessel. I used a very flexible forked branch from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurus_nobilis"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Bay Tree</span></a> <i>Lauris nobilis, </i>and bent the ends down to follow the curve of the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">vessel's </span><span style="font-family: arial;">shoulders. Rather like a natural cross-bar. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This elevation of the stems off the rim creates a space underneath and gives a feeling of lightness to the line. However, a stem that extends like this but which rests on the rim of the vessel will look heavy.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNesJQO8WhtNF09yOmNPDszErnAZh9n4ZXktF8m8heYXkxH4I5fowJdKM4fL30Zq0XKKdowTdkZzTIbZfXDM4-O4Hr1g6cqNYE62TbiCwi8OhmxXbELGEG3u6AztabNXprpQXqvHC6_YTjPPKLhLKmbxtHmu7sj5vMNrXnvZN6iFhBFCDAljRB7b0cfz0/s1280/IMG_5189%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNesJQO8WhtNF09yOmNPDszErnAZh9n4ZXktF8m8heYXkxH4I5fowJdKM4fL30Zq0XKKdowTdkZzTIbZfXDM4-O4Hr1g6cqNYE62TbiCwi8OhmxXbELGEG3u6AztabNXprpQXqvHC6_YTjPPKLhLKmbxtHmu7sj5vMNrXnvZN6iFhBFCDAljRB7b0cfz0/w640-h480/IMG_5189%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>The final photo shows the ikebana on the sideboard at night. Hence the photo is a little dark. The shino-glazed woodfired vessel is by the artist <a href="https://www.flickr.com/groups/austpots/discuss/72157640374913473/"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Sergio Sill</span></a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">As it is Christmas Eve I would like to wish you a peaceful Christmas and good health in the New Year.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Christopher</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">24th December 2023<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /> </span><p></p></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-29471257292576637592023-12-17T21:41:00.000+11:002023-12-17T21:41:39.891+11:00STRELITZIAS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Summer is definitely in the garden. Such a change from a week ago.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mq8eSM3wV18BNussjyRVOY3vdRf63McR_DKb9plfb3bpP0mcZeXH2nMPb79ogzqdgAngYtw68sABCqqkzoC0fLGjAKy-OXt3Q5dvebPEq5Hh3pU1Nl5C8sRe-I6KGbczHr15rOzPNingdAg4kfZTGGPxyAwl4UmIdwler6JVp7CJ2dsiCBn582sFqGw/w640-h480/IMG_5185.jpeg" style="color: #0000ee;" width="640" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corymbia_ficifolia"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Red Flowering Gum</span></a> <i>Corymbia ficifolia, </i>that we planted five years ago is now about two and a half metres tall. I noticed the buds forming some weeks ago, which now have begun to open. It looks splendid on a sunny day and is obviously very attractive to the bees.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AkZEhhgVfiiJdLO-wVaTifoGgLFWP2Iw3BLSYYwrxQEixAMxhsw_h3IbqkH3K6LOz1vGdZfjooilVe0OEha7NBt15AVutP4yFdU1z8Hnyaj9tmzSfkqJYFZaDZ_N9bzvTNdEI7V1GNTF_Q6ksIr18CkNhyHglZSYQjkmJhGGqaASR6WuNqbgn5JPf4s/s1280/IMG_4269%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AkZEhhgVfiiJdLO-wVaTifoGgLFWP2Iw3BLSYYwrxQEixAMxhsw_h3IbqkH3K6LOz1vGdZfjooilVe0OEha7NBt15AVutP4yFdU1z8Hnyaj9tmzSfkqJYFZaDZ_N9bzvTNdEI7V1GNTF_Q6ksIr18CkNhyHglZSYQjkmJhGGqaASR6WuNqbgn5JPf4s/w640-h480/IMG_4269%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>I took this photo of the largest clump of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietes_grandiflora"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">African Iris</span></a> <i>Dietes Grandiflora, </i>in the garden a couple of weeks ago. On the previous evening I had noticed that the clump was covered in unopened buds. The next day was predicted to be warm, after a cool spell. True to form, all the flowers opened at once making a very conspicuous splash of bright white in the garden. It ocurred to me later that the simultaneous flowering may well be a strategy to provide a highly visible target to attract pollinating insects.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Also the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strelitzia_juncea"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Strelitzia juncea</span></a></i> is flowering well, as I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. In spite of that, I was delighted when we were visited by friends who brought a gift of some <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strelitzia_reginae"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Strelitzia reginae</span></a> </i>including several large leaves with very long stems.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6P7SfG6MnRQv-suNVoUrs8GVAmIsvKdwQ1vQQexpbwz5MkojkPpwTmEfstQksh2Jc_tvoNfg7o6LhRzRXf12rZukeo1m7GGSlHRuIXyFFusVn1dxqR57zBg2vDI75VX0F2qlq8Ief1sFdaLLEGbRHLs58VkSsD2Kfop7icy2UWB-2Z5pAgSqwu5M-XI0/s1280/IMG_5148.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1280" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6P7SfG6MnRQv-suNVoUrs8GVAmIsvKdwQ1vQQexpbwz5MkojkPpwTmEfstQksh2Jc_tvoNfg7o6LhRzRXf12rZukeo1m7GGSlHRuIXyFFusVn1dxqR57zBg2vDI75VX0F2qlq8Ief1sFdaLLEGbRHLs58VkSsD2Kfop7icy2UWB-2Z5pAgSqwu5M-XI0/w640-h570/IMG_5148.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>This gift was presented to Laurie but provided an enjoyable challenge for me. I took advantage of the long stems to create this ikebana in a large <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigaraki_ware"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Shigaraki</span></a></i> storage vessel. I massed five leaves in a line to the left. Four flower heads form a mass in the centre and a fifth flower provides a counter movement to the right. A</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> sixth leaf is placed forward to neaten the mouth of the vessel, by concealing the stems of the massed flowers.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY411wK85hUZvkP6G_E3AXvASYXBY2WxfnA-W3JnD0Cp8zOb_0QGKR7YvtkFBiaDapGAAXP05bxBIIReJTr_cViTHJNCgXFt4DPC2WPyyVRIk6L3oJwy7QtmwAwiVoVNsH-PXOdclNWV61AjkRD3YmutCg8W0fw58sdFfV9iGFvZx6LB2of3BpxgJjZXo/s1280/IMG_5151.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY411wK85hUZvkP6G_E3AXvASYXBY2WxfnA-W3JnD0Cp8zOb_0QGKR7YvtkFBiaDapGAAXP05bxBIIReJTr_cViTHJNCgXFt4DPC2WPyyVRIk6L3oJwy7QtmwAwiVoVNsH-PXOdclNWV61AjkRD3YmutCg8W0fw58sdFfV9iGFvZx6LB2of3BpxgJjZXo/w480-h640/IMG_5151.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Later I re-used two of the leaves and three flowers in a <i>suiban</i>. I particularly like the form of Strelitzia leaves and find them very elegant. The tallest leaf is mostly seen from the back. However, at the top the leaf twists a little showing more of the upper surface. A shorter flower at the back gives depth to the ikebana while the flower on the right creates an interesting space. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The suiban has an ovoid shape formed by a sinuous line. It was made by <a href="https://qdosarts.com/profile/graeme-wilkie-oam/"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Graeme Wilkie</span></a> at his studio, Qdos, in Lorne.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">17th December 2023<br /> </span><p></p></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-29432377971250603232023-12-10T16:01:00.000+11:002023-12-10T16:01:35.862+11:00IKEBANA AT HOME<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I was very surprised to see a large number of under-7 and under-8 year old school children on the beach this morning. The cool wind from the south was moderate and it had made the surf quite choppy. I had just put on a rain-proof jacket as light rain had started.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AwQMMKJRzSqAUcgBTy4lXxgpQachIGSjvHPAL2O6B7iuwQzi412tZEQwYhG1L2dtdlkKta3Ya9cHwb9GBPSvTc1_xE08srlsg38nyEfj3QGuB_lr37MKcJXHL_M1ypGJrcHRgtlBdfWFEJSNvFHGm50pECHKf_JOZAxoOVr1UOvmX1MpS8E4RUMcmbs/s1280/IMG_5143.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AwQMMKJRzSqAUcgBTy4lXxgpQachIGSjvHPAL2O6B7iuwQzi412tZEQwYhG1L2dtdlkKta3Ya9cHwb9GBPSvTc1_xE08srlsg38nyEfj3QGuB_lr37MKcJXHL_M1ypGJrcHRgtlBdfWFEJSNvFHGm50pECHKf_JOZAxoOVr1UOvmX1MpS8E4RUMcmbs/w640-h480/IMG_5143.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The children were attending a </span><span style="font-family: arial;">summer</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">program that teaches water safety, and was being run by the Surf Life Saving Club. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DpaJnSx0J-ZfR2-eVxp_POFOXrYH6grV_bgxqsbuIKq4x0iYQyn71fjluoWOAclDLpNkcLepQ1crgT5IYkMNcgwgiHx1D9OmFSnUlyU5NSHn7ekDvJ8-A1a-um7Jc94_iMG3x-kML6YKFvGQ9wGnV8Gv5I64Q17561Kzyh8RlKVHHZEJou8IqHKGDJg/s1280/IMG_5145.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DpaJnSx0J-ZfR2-eVxp_POFOXrYH6grV_bgxqsbuIKq4x0iYQyn71fjluoWOAclDLpNkcLepQ1crgT5IYkMNcgwgiHx1D9OmFSnUlyU5NSHn7ekDvJ8-A1a-um7Jc94_iMG3x-kML6YKFvGQ9wGnV8Gv5I64Q17561Kzyh8RlKVHHZEJou8IqHKGDJg/w640-h480/IMG_5145.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It was reassuring to see that the children were being closely supervised by a proportionately large number of fully qualified surf rescue teachers as well as parents. I noticed that the program had obviously been modified for the day's poor weather conditions.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Now to the world of Ikebana. This week my Geelong students held an end-of-year social gathering, which at the last minute I found I was able to attend. The gathering was held for the first time at Jo's house and the students brought along food to share. Some of the students brought materials to set up "Ikebana at home". It is always a pleasant challenge to make ikebana in an unfamiliar environment. On this occasion I took the photographs against a plain wall so that the ikebana was easier to see.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEpgqrNczlNaH4hhQGLEC6YrCXvgTRsNAVks1nYiXIPawfCHb3Z_yD3z2Ma8tMY5O92LZcYg7dgrSKB2fDm9RrPdwK5Lpm_lcLHPdkFkTo3GrEVmbn6rtyaW1XCct01_12VeY7BWL35BLvC9oRxINq3qPEwDctEFMwja35a7RVa09tJIHBBbPNgvPz9c/s1280/IMG_4281%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEpgqrNczlNaH4hhQGLEC6YrCXvgTRsNAVks1nYiXIPawfCHb3Z_yD3z2Ma8tMY5O92LZcYg7dgrSKB2fDm9RrPdwK5Lpm_lcLHPdkFkTo3GrEVmbn6rtyaW1XCct01_12VeY7BWL35BLvC9oRxINq3qPEwDctEFMwja35a7RVa09tJIHBBbPNgvPz9c/w640-h640/IMG_4281%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Christine set a single <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strelitzia_nicolai"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Strelitzia Nicolai</span></a> inflorescence in a cast iron, boat-shaped bowl. The bowl showed off the Strelitzia's subtle colours as well as its dramatic form.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXfRozeS40_g6qMKLG-NCoNnjBVYcHtuhHfzzsiFMiK_BgvjyyniI-K0Olihvu7zL6UmG9BB8U9BjI5Gicz9cZXojIDqRqHWl9Wrp0eQV2uZ-rSdxV7Vv2lFeC8_p2hMyHoU_obnnDQgwqkJNc1PmNCMCJNyoDuVAN2anNCOeGkW31AFswqDZFmQvbWc/s1280/IMG_4285%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="1280" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXfRozeS40_g6qMKLG-NCoNnjBVYcHtuhHfzzsiFMiK_BgvjyyniI-K0Olihvu7zL6UmG9BB8U9BjI5Gicz9cZXojIDqRqHWl9Wrp0eQV2uZ-rSdxV7Vv2lFeC8_p2hMyHoU_obnnDQgwqkJNc1PmNCMCJNyoDuVAN2anNCOeGkW31AFswqDZFmQvbWc/w640-h508/IMG_4285%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Jo arranged two red-painted bare branches to which she added ropes of red beads for a "Christmas touch". The focal point included a branch of pine, a single <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zantedeschia_aethiopica"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">arum lily</span></a> <i>Zantedeschia aethiopica </i> and a white <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agapanthus"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Agapanthus</span></a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBGH3FzV3RDgzpROnHOJfwTzsGdRn1Vl98y8oVteBc4rihhqCWju8hGvuTtidk3KHcLCFtcPyC0RAzMEB4KQCO5taMZS2fc4YXRwWNBruPmmDQy7vEf1Q-imUZ3s-vT55ABc5ldiP1ERhTTwWjdFUOZRX7XL4kBrBzFdSZboKAALbRnsv51MYGJqqoZM/s1280/IMG_4287%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="935" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBGH3FzV3RDgzpROnHOJfwTzsGdRn1Vl98y8oVteBc4rihhqCWju8hGvuTtidk3KHcLCFtcPyC0RAzMEB4KQCO5taMZS2fc4YXRwWNBruPmmDQy7vEf1Q-imUZ3s-vT55ABc5ldiP1ERhTTwWjdFUOZRX7XL4kBrBzFdSZboKAALbRnsv51MYGJqqoZM/w468-h640/IMG_4287%20(1).jpeg" width="468" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Maree set a branch of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupressus_sempervirens"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Mediterranean Cypress</span></a> <i>Cupressus sempervirens </i>vertically in a <i>suiban </i>and added three white painted dried Lotus pods and a stem of red Asiatic lily.<i> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7HNFM1UOknW4yRrbzs3gDxO6dC7PpGD3GqHtC1jV4TIcoNaUQc4c3cp-hwPLMVzOHBdHSLk_shg8cm_-slI4VSxhYtMbYiItkJR8ifvE28o7-8fCtr_f9N_ZycM8w8tdfSNLqbzq5BFnXPmLNz8f2HRaCxao8eeQpU1Csq7og6srTJBMokz3dOBK8nI/s1280/IMG_4290%20(1).jpeg" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7HNFM1UOknW4yRrbzs3gDxO6dC7PpGD3GqHtC1jV4TIcoNaUQc4c3cp-hwPLMVzOHBdHSLk_shg8cm_-slI4VSxhYtMbYiItkJR8ifvE28o7-8fCtr_f9N_ZycM8w8tdfSNLqbzq5BFnXPmLNz8f2HRaCxao8eeQpU1Csq7og6srTJBMokz3dOBK8nI/w640-h640/IMG_4290%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></span></a> </div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Ellie used a clear glass cube into which she arranged an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspidistra"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Aspidistra</span></i></a> leaf below the water and a single white Chrysanthemum flower floating on the surface. A deep red glass bauble was attached to the <i>Aspidistra</i> stem.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEDaAlFwrTpP4O0KrArj5c7sfnNs7yY7JFBeD7VhhW_N1d6Lpqtz1vHWgVr40hlvCXljcKc8R4jQyYhgJ7XZda0qIZ9XBOaC4il4rIKtWwqbCxOLclB1d7WvGEFFmKXc7VFBXp1cPA9d4PSudQy3XHMBIboqW6eszY-TiLvoehMxbbA44Ii5UqRvUeYw/s1280/IMG_5137%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1061" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEDaAlFwrTpP4O0KrArj5c7sfnNs7yY7JFBeD7VhhW_N1d6Lpqtz1vHWgVr40hlvCXljcKc8R4jQyYhgJ7XZda0qIZ9XBOaC4il4rIKtWwqbCxOLclB1d7WvGEFFmKXc7VFBXp1cPA9d4PSudQy3XHMBIboqW6eszY-TiLvoehMxbbA44Ii5UqRvUeYw/w530-h640/IMG_5137%20(1).jpeg" width="530" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>I participated in the exercise also. However, I have re-set and photographed my Ikebana at home. Because of the relative abundance of <i>Strelitzia</i> flowers in the garden this year I was interested in the idea of making a mass with flower heads only. Using five flowers each pointing in a different direction, I set the flowers on the left side of the vessel's opening. In recognition of the end-of-year celebration and approaching holiday season, I added a sheet of gold-coloured foil. I liked the colour harmony of the foil. However, I lost the rather attractive space on that side.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The vessel was made by a friend and Ikebana colleague from Sydney, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=margaret+hall+ikebana+and+cermics&sca_esv=589491028&source=hp&ei=rjB1ZeSJJLmG4-EPmJ6Z8AM&iflsig=AO6bgOgAAAAAZXU-vl5WE2M5VwB61XfBgUACRsxuxQCl&ved=0ahUKEwjkmNDw9oODAxU5wzgGHRhPBj4Q4dUDCAw&uact=5&oq=margaret+hall+ikebana+and+cermics&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IiFtYXJnYXJldCBoYWxsIGlrZWJhbmEgYW5kIGNlcm1pY3MyBxAhGKABGAoyBxAhGKABGAoyBxAhGKABGApIhpoBUABY15EBcAB4AJABAJgB6QGgAborqgEGMC4yOC4zuAEDyAEA-AEBwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBixA8ICERAuGIAEGLEDGIMBGMcBGNEDwgILEC4YgwEYsQMYgATCAgUQLhiABMICBRAAGIAEwgIUEC4YgAQYigUYsQMYgwEYxwEY0QPCAggQLhiABBixA8ICCxAuGIAEGMcBGK8BwgILEC4YgAQYsQMYgwHCAg4QABiABBixAxiDARjJA8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJIDwgIOEC4YgAQYsQMYxwEYrwHCAg4QLhiABBiKBRixAxiDAcICDhAuGIMBGLEDGIAEGIoFwgILEAAYgAQYigUYsQPCAg4QLhiABBixAxiDARjUAsICFBAuGIAEGIoFGLEDGIMBGMcBGK8BwgIOEC4YgwEY1AIYsQMYgATCAgYQABgWGB7CAggQABgWGB4YCsICBRAhGKABwgIEECEYFQ&sclient=gws-wiz"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Margaret Hall</span></a> who, as you can see, is also a talented ceramicist.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">10th December 2023</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span><p></p></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-28107649510957212882023-12-03T17:10:00.000+11:002023-12-03T17:10:14.710+11:00HOME AGAIN and STRELITZIA JUNCEA<p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">On Friday 24th November I was able to visit the Head Quarters of the Sogetsu School in Akasaka, Tokyo, the day that we left Japan.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamuxrYQQOyPj1_03aBeBAjmO-oCrxxNxNQjmRYD8GheHvYzd6435TbilzZCy8UkG-86PvORf-wG3uTTGu7RFb32irhX3IAyF2CFFTdKb-YD0q4XgKwT1xRK7x5_O2MY3wy3WwdDvyfYc7Z1TFIoSxdjlwX2n5JlOrWR5kyoIdrJ6oFLZD7C4Bz20Cb2k/s1280/IMG_5132%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamuxrYQQOyPj1_03aBeBAjmO-oCrxxNxNQjmRYD8GheHvYzd6435TbilzZCy8UkG-86PvORf-wG3uTTGu7RFb32irhX3IAyF2CFFTdKb-YD0q4XgKwT1xRK7x5_O2MY3wy3WwdDvyfYc7Z1TFIoSxdjlwX2n5JlOrWR5kyoIdrJ6oFLZD7C4Bz20Cb2k/w480-h640/IMG_5132%20(1).jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From the fourth floor lobby I was surprised to see the towers of Shinjuku rising above the trees in the grounds of the former </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Akasaka Palace, now the State Guest House in Tokyo. A rather rare view in Tokyo.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52e0CsJeOuDM1s24Qu81VZA6yr33Zo3XFYo5qx-HeGKpotYFsh7hrJ9YWsjfsvQoeq8Mfn9Q7Toohuy8_8bkeCvfdXl3bJbC4EDPnN2qiav2c4Yh63agovDt82yFoKismNz0lCTp1SZvPhKEYRwOPvzTRSgCXu1gfPuYhi4EsIvpTM3mQZEVxt-X-52k/s1280/IMG_5131%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52e0CsJeOuDM1s24Qu81VZA6yr33Zo3XFYo5qx-HeGKpotYFsh7hrJ9YWsjfsvQoeq8Mfn9Q7Toohuy8_8bkeCvfdXl3bJbC4EDPnN2qiav2c4Yh63agovDt82yFoKismNz0lCTp1SZvPhKEYRwOPvzTRSgCXu1gfPuYhi4EsIvpTM3mQZEVxt-X-52k/w480-h640/IMG_5131%20(1).jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">On the fifth floor I was delighted to see this large ceramic sculpture "Do-VIII", by Hiroshi Teshigahara, the third Iemoto. I had not expected to see the warm colours of the clay body showing through on the lower part of the sculpture. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaze28AeC-2ibxKSm5itWwW1geRK1P8C7yD9qsgJ_SQ7fbBbY1u618_XeWw0rzoZJwfQWC_XJhPX8BGyahV007t10ufl-PGHvzlyp1z-pjzNE_L75-7LBbUxeiWFnyVFNNcAMuV7aQfCvh4AIV8Yk00YnBrkOsi0Du77vSu057XPUK4pjyCks0kXtk9hA/s1280/IMG_5130%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaze28AeC-2ibxKSm5itWwW1geRK1P8C7yD9qsgJ_SQ7fbBbY1u618_XeWw0rzoZJwfQWC_XJhPX8BGyahV007t10ufl-PGHvzlyp1z-pjzNE_L75-7LBbUxeiWFnyVFNNcAMuV7aQfCvh4AIV8Yk00YnBrkOsi0Du77vSu057XPUK4pjyCks0kXtk9hA/w640-h480/IMG_5130%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The sculpture was set to the left of this large ikebana arrangement by Master Instructor Suikei Sakaguchi. The materials are: driftwood frame, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomphocarpus_physocarpus"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Balloonplant</span></a> <i>Gomphocarpus physocarpus </i>and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilex_verticillata"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Winterberry</span></a> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Ilex verticillata </i></span><span style="font-family: arial;">(a deciduous form of Holly).</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Laurie and I were able to have a "farewell" lunch in the mezzanine cafe with seats overlooking the park at the side of the building. Then we caught a train to Narita airport for our return home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaMbKghM90dMknlcRnRC2O5nN8xvVz-8Rq7w5zUVIm4RfgzvAChauoMcBJePVCnXQN_bJLdSJZq95tMDEYNLDwnKdsk3gWlFb8qzrfzNA3UAPg-WwvgHVJZzrPASbuHJ4P2ZGKv-PCqrnBNQnHDNLX0xFMqJ-MZP_fcYETmgepJfBaH1Z5YJSZZMLYGQ/s1280/IMG_4263.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaMbKghM90dMknlcRnRC2O5nN8xvVz-8Rq7w5zUVIm4RfgzvAChauoMcBJePVCnXQN_bJLdSJZq95tMDEYNLDwnKdsk3gWlFb8qzrfzNA3UAPg-WwvgHVJZzrPASbuHJ4P2ZGKv-PCqrnBNQnHDNLX0xFMqJ-MZP_fcYETmgepJfBaH1Z5YJSZZMLYGQ/w640-h480/IMG_4263.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Most of the days have looked like this for the past week. The photo was taken on Jan Juc beach looking west at 8.30 pm last Monday evening. It has been very strange to arrive home to the bright evenings of daylight saving. Not to mention the week of unseasonal rain. For which the garden is very grateful.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXUko27QEOrvYIRsd0TRN4FvHkkHtuDJFJKyoqaI18fE6ys5jY0QcjL7U3bjvde6YljW-gFaiAF4L5SAjxJpG1eUiClr_exW-Ld30Xk1O3okUwRQgKvgeyB9IufqGDKAaEffoPdg_YrYvpfawW9QjXuZY4v3UjC8V3SGUJ8-_RaLfrlXwxX2qVT10T20/s1280/IMG_4268.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="961" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXUko27QEOrvYIRsd0TRN4FvHkkHtuDJFJKyoqaI18fE6ys5jY0QcjL7U3bjvde6YljW-gFaiAF4L5SAjxJpG1eUiClr_exW-Ld30Xk1O3okUwRQgKvgeyB9IufqGDKAaEffoPdg_YrYvpfawW9QjXuZY4v3UjC8V3SGUJ8-_RaLfrlXwxX2qVT10T20/w480-h640/IMG_4268.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">So much so that the potted <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_ensata"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Iris ensata</span></i></a> opened late this afternoon.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOVhQlAw433g11kf-dVlTnH_b-8Z9gfmMan6M7pbDJJvTRzCfO3kpirWd-w6obZNvfRV_c-mFdTrY3Zd-lNduxkwGzej4o5DRl1UVgW-xhWoDcaOfeuXBJOsd51qHNdih7x4-S7cFCJnLnHqgjJIXodrf-eqKbJYDU3Dfxr28e5yqDCb6RLypV9GINFI/s1280/IMG_4267.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOVhQlAw433g11kf-dVlTnH_b-8Z9gfmMan6M7pbDJJvTRzCfO3kpirWd-w6obZNvfRV_c-mFdTrY3Zd-lNduxkwGzej4o5DRl1UVgW-xhWoDcaOfeuXBJOsd51qHNdih7x4-S7cFCJnLnHqgjJIXodrf-eqKbJYDU3Dfxr28e5yqDCb6RLypV9GINFI/w480-h640/IMG_4267.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0EWJr33Oc5KAFVRq6fDvQ2SYs5mkxflZjOuKsUw9QMFMafAmMXjMSTILoFtPL-B9AR8IjALfEwZ1sr9EfnGraPDgBtQSDFIOUKQxaI7rEoXaTP_frWXWwhSO_N1A7wKG5Vf1DtABbGjmU-PLH8RTT84XkeZ9FyOEMUtjBIL1vubbY0qEkB2iGvqd0qo/s1280/IMG_5136.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0EWJr33Oc5KAFVRq6fDvQ2SYs5mkxflZjOuKsUw9QMFMafAmMXjMSTILoFtPL-B9AR8IjALfEwZ1sr9EfnGraPDgBtQSDFIOUKQxaI7rEoXaTP_frWXWwhSO_N1A7wKG5Vf1DtABbGjmU-PLH8RTT84XkeZ9FyOEMUtjBIL1vubbY0qEkB2iGvqd0qo/w640-h480/IMG_5136.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>...the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strelitzia_juncea"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>Strelitzia juncea</i></span></a> is having its best flowering yet.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMd0ih_hYebCYLVSP2adVfyZvY-hKupJmNgzrG66RYkZv-XaFdr_HXEMBK4C-YmSkd_uC8MzqPmVmmdEjcQYgCpmFa9FZHljdtoejEc4gA0r8CuXxwTGgPohdKjn7VenBUB-TDTF8A08AGYgFuW27d9emN5luuKks0G3JUt8GHARV0E9jzxLMWx-OvA6E/s1280/IMG_5134.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMd0ih_hYebCYLVSP2adVfyZvY-hKupJmNgzrG66RYkZv-XaFdr_HXEMBK4C-YmSkd_uC8MzqPmVmmdEjcQYgCpmFa9FZHljdtoejEc4gA0r8CuXxwTGgPohdKjn7VenBUB-TDTF8A08AGYgFuW27d9emN5luuKks0G3JUt8GHARV0E9jzxLMWx-OvA6E/w480-h640/IMG_5134.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>I decided to arrange two <i>Strelitzia</i> flowers in a shallow ceramic 1930's bowl by the Tasmanian ceramicist John Campbell. As there are no leaves to speak of on <i>S. juncea, </i>I added a leaf of New Zealand Flax that had started to go yellow. The leaf had a remaining stripe of green in the yellow part and its width gave a bit more substance to the otherwise bare flower stems. I bent the top of the leaf down to strengthen the mass at the top of the arrangement.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">3rd December 2023<br /> </span><p></p></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-32687884777509492572023-11-25T06:50:00.000+11:002023-11-25T06:50:11.344+11:00NAGOYA, and a class in TOKYO<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Last weekend we returned to Nagoya for a few days, to catch-up with our friends there.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> On Tuesday one of them took us to the <a href="https://www.kakukyu.jp/global/english.asp"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Hatcho Miso</span></a> factory in Okazaki. I was really amazed when I learnt that the soy beans were fermented in wooden vats for two years.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3sMuoB0YBarr-JMK7DuD9Wqxos6TFzwxnyjR3qxhlal_afWJdkK9j8yAcUhZOB1QpOS1NBybobAj0GtgZY48oXHs8-y3nctbRHkjg-arG5FPtYBDgeKbtcV6ubVdHIMz6HDAyxLtosrPcjygun31wInEapt-UUNTsXbcxsynW4w0XlwiOkBqrqsnCUI/s1280/IMG_4237.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3sMuoB0YBarr-JMK7DuD9Wqxos6TFzwxnyjR3qxhlal_afWJdkK9j8yAcUhZOB1QpOS1NBybobAj0GtgZY48oXHs8-y3nctbRHkjg-arG5FPtYBDgeKbtcV6ubVdHIMz6HDAyxLtosrPcjygun31wInEapt-UUNTsXbcxsynW4w0XlwiOkBqrqsnCUI/w640-h480/IMG_4237.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>This photo is of a fixed display, with models, showing the traditional preparation of the product. The large vat on the right contains six tons of fermenting <i>miso </i>with three tons of stones </span><span style="font-family: arial;">pressing down </span><span style="font-family: arial;">on the lid. The factory has been producing <i>miso</i> in this manner since 1645. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_crpz-4oX7Z8u8IRSy1e6rUKIfbyxDiAF2_Z8UwFxWLiKwFyVtUfnaB-ODeQe97GdVoRaGe9yiv8mrjrEIgTIKKHqWCq5uYHbOHXAa8pd3tVgSMWZCOR__KotN2U9rCTGw5gz25vHvPNr8DULrifhUPJTJpqgUxvSvYsRWrT20r3dvD8jKtq1yDrYLjg/s1280/IMG_4246.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_crpz-4oX7Z8u8IRSy1e6rUKIfbyxDiAF2_Z8UwFxWLiKwFyVtUfnaB-ODeQe97GdVoRaGe9yiv8mrjrEIgTIKKHqWCq5uYHbOHXAa8pd3tVgSMWZCOR__KotN2U9rCTGw5gz25vHvPNr8DULrifhUPJTJpqgUxvSvYsRWrT20r3dvD8jKtq1yDrYLjg/w640-h480/IMG_4246.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We then walked to the nearby, reconstructed, Okazaki Castle, the birthplace of the first Tokugawa Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5Nh9DaxG_Lr0LlrT64wT4l0OlrjKIe_hiCFjcsqhnqcK0BqZ704a5LnYbJEUpc7lMPeojngzc2x_pdSxRV_1SZiHkDCP6fJ4Xi49yCWMFKKfN6FZh18wZVn8PKfS5jp4ELe5Tni76-ni_SUz2MVY0qt_qxNXbEWNNt5bgdztL3OTtZDWeKU24I5Oe_w/s1280/IMG_4253.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5Nh9DaxG_Lr0LlrT64wT4l0OlrjKIe_hiCFjcsqhnqcK0BqZ704a5LnYbJEUpc7lMPeojngzc2x_pdSxRV_1SZiHkDCP6fJ4Xi49yCWMFKKfN6FZh18wZVn8PKfS5jp4ELe5Tni76-ni_SUz2MVY0qt_qxNXbEWNNt5bgdztL3OTtZDWeKU24I5Oe_w/w640-h480/IMG_4253.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">We were surprised to come across an open air Noh theatre...</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcqkqjy0j0uPHDqNScW3eK0_Ex8HhgyCyYACOuF3EcRL7Y0482xOOXmpT4UedmoV0VOFtUZDd3wL1enmQvsohZW9qjkvZgJedUeISIWu7IRPM_336JisAoqNAMoEz8fGauCgU_OgHr8XTA4tIfBpIbPTFae6SA9W5QODNpCEqp2dzBeodXYEYIekN8Ew/s1280/IMG_4250.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcqkqjy0j0uPHDqNScW3eK0_Ex8HhgyCyYACOuF3EcRL7Y0482xOOXmpT4UedmoV0VOFtUZDd3wL1enmQvsohZW9qjkvZgJedUeISIWu7IRPM_336JisAoqNAMoEz8fGauCgU_OgHr8XTA4tIfBpIbPTFae6SA9W5QODNpCEqp2dzBeodXYEYIekN8Ew/w640-h480/IMG_4250.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">...in front of which was this bamboo structure that provides eye-catching illumination at night.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OSiWMGfw4yldJvIECBn2Ek6HSzkhlRmfX84cl9kG9ykgmZKxA9taFPwMfJD_u1zgPi2-vLhP1ZhRDhjv0Ljd5VAx3oXWqPe_K3ElI51aQrO4FTJSOTS38UeUxOkRSLALwlQcYIlvfMdDvsy_iN4O61ymILnlGp3TabeOkZInHEZ0Mpn6jMRaqMRSLxs/s1280/IMG_4251.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OSiWMGfw4yldJvIECBn2Ek6HSzkhlRmfX84cl9kG9ykgmZKxA9taFPwMfJD_u1zgPi2-vLhP1ZhRDhjv0Ljd5VAx3oXWqPe_K3ElI51aQrO4FTJSOTS38UeUxOkRSLALwlQcYIlvfMdDvsy_iN4O61ymILnlGp3TabeOkZInHEZ0Mpn6jMRaqMRSLxs/w480-h640/IMG_4251.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>On closer inspection I thought it would provide inspiration for some very patient ikebana practitioners.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpmG08p5PpVyE5FK4eU_TGHbugR-8Ndd5EVLn6_xtaHAsXQMCVxB4jzeaZByDKScwvTWmznDVEthQpKdSDSxokkWc0GmO0-FxOJGJ2W4XJE_uKXvGMm1TPnMffQSQPjeCYZ3pukisyS00HtRTt5wY4sBIssZAlOMimqIJrRijQII_2qoInDtMCY6-uKQ/s1280/IMG_5127.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpmG08p5PpVyE5FK4eU_TGHbugR-8Ndd5EVLn6_xtaHAsXQMCVxB4jzeaZByDKScwvTWmznDVEthQpKdSDSxokkWc0GmO0-FxOJGJ2W4XJE_uKXvGMm1TPnMffQSQPjeCYZ3pukisyS00HtRTt5wY4sBIssZAlOMimqIJrRijQII_2qoInDtMCY6-uKQ/w480-h640/IMG_5127.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We also caught up with June, who was a fellow class-mate in my Ikebana classes back in 1992. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Here we are standing by one of the outer walls of Nagoya castle. June and her husband, Takashi, took us to a sports centre within the old grounds of the castle where there was a ceramics exhibition.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlII0Fcu_wfRCstaSuTs0AiqLzf5uWhxmUPEsuLBcI4RtW0PEO7AyOmDQhl2rawCe1CZ_FE_bpVBQqCLd7RgfkQkPIIbMUrPrdqt2Pmf6bNdAcvE8t42neui705PsZRfAJcQpjn-XBhvG6Q6dmi20gayAH27VRSRakMVXs4glGrvG5W92t79VINCupicg/s1280/IMG_5125.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlII0Fcu_wfRCstaSuTs0AiqLzf5uWhxmUPEsuLBcI4RtW0PEO7AyOmDQhl2rawCe1CZ_FE_bpVBQqCLd7RgfkQkPIIbMUrPrdqt2Pmf6bNdAcvE8t42neui705PsZRfAJcQpjn-XBhvG6Q6dmi20gayAH27VRSRakMVXs4glGrvG5W92t79VINCupicg/w640-h480/IMG_5125.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It was being held on the floor of a Sumo wrestling stadium. As these photos show, it was a huge exhibition and market. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7FVn3Al7-Qi8sYLCJvLJNUgnCZSaOIbiRberZmotqAlwKDq1vXkW8lAV7p8R5DPg652_-tlHwq_3am6NHgYWRokytw7AnBbg-oVwu7DsAecw5tqS_Zlfcp0p9jBo6VLRGqjwsZP7AxVdJHsXtgzO-Tm2ttWfVQ1TAq4MWVnfYDMlWc1l_h3MrXRdFlM/s1280/IMG_5126.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7FVn3Al7-Qi8sYLCJvLJNUgnCZSaOIbiRberZmotqAlwKDq1vXkW8lAV7p8R5DPg652_-tlHwq_3am6NHgYWRokytw7AnBbg-oVwu7DsAecw5tqS_Zlfcp0p9jBo6VLRGqjwsZP7AxVdJHsXtgzO-Tm2ttWfVQ1TAq4MWVnfYDMlWc1l_h3MrXRdFlM/w640-h480/IMG_5126.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Potters came from all around Japan to participate. The temptation to buy was very considerable. However, the weight and bulk of the ceramics constrained our impulses and we only bought two items.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">On Saturday last week I attended a class with Master Instructor, Kosa Nishiyama at her studio. In the flower shop nearby I brought two stems of red Siberian Dogwood and a single branch of Eucalyptus. The latter had a pink flush on the stem. Instead of buying flowers I decided to use vegetables and fruit. I had earlier noticed some Dragon Fruit in a supermarket and was drawn to its vibrant pink and contrasting green leaves. Some Broccoli was also added to my shopping list. These choices meant that the colour pallet of the materials was limited to red and green.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsrHRowfFh2R1QcK3tMSwXYCOfiQiS2baBsQj80nP09pEKA3pRWr4FRGh_c80NJWtw0DcB60O2_zjGeBvE3dsfjqLIeykEfclldxzyluFKLLbcLLQDR6Qmg6gkZN3l9Lz8N2pcuo9kTIuJGg3fzs7UgPh7quAxlpuCVMqUvBRFOnuTkMmNDTvXkyyr74/s1280/IMG_5115.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="948" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsrHRowfFh2R1QcK3tMSwXYCOfiQiS2baBsQj80nP09pEKA3pRWr4FRGh_c80NJWtw0DcB60O2_zjGeBvE3dsfjqLIeykEfclldxzyluFKLLbcLLQDR6Qmg6gkZN3l9Lz8N2pcuo9kTIuJGg3fzs7UgPh7quAxlpuCVMqUvBRFOnuTkMmNDTvXkyyr74/w474-h640/IMG_5115.jpeg" width="474" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is a photo of my second self-selected exercise before correction. I had chosen a black metal vessel that was made with two tubes bent into a "V" shape, which were fixed </span><span style="font-family: arial;">parallel to each other</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> off-centre and about 8cm apart. I placed the two Dogwood stems on the left side and the Eucalyptus on the right. To balance the arrangement I placed the Broccoli on the left leaning forward so that it presented its dome-shaped green surface to the front. I was not satisfied about the large space between the two parts. </span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In her critique, Nishiyama sensei suggested that I bring the tip of the Eucalyptus curving down to connect with the Broccoli. As she held it in that position the ikebana i</span><span style="font-family: arial;">mmediately </span><span style="font-family: arial;">came together as a unified arrangement. Unfortunately I did not have time to photograph the corrected work as I had to rush off to another appointment.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaALAGqjZWGTGFr8cFF0LRkjhxKitaRF34vUNcH2rQPKMedugFNQvukzMw4M1rf_Vn8HhH1o2-rJckJ9NDZDapCOaaBKqTuP8YtIElszbG55idxxTU798oWhUtd8wf0UFqeAyV4vsqNFBr7Jk97ilQHHI4yXm9ZiPD3NuOydecI9sUj7piWDErj1Vtxj8/s1280/IMG_5114.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="866" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaALAGqjZWGTGFr8cFF0LRkjhxKitaRF34vUNcH2rQPKMedugFNQvukzMw4M1rf_Vn8HhH1o2-rJckJ9NDZDapCOaaBKqTuP8YtIElszbG55idxxTU798oWhUtd8wf0UFqeAyV4vsqNFBr7Jk97ilQHHI4yXm9ZiPD3NuOydecI9sUj7piWDErj1Vtxj8/w434-h640/IMG_5114.jpeg" width="434" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is the first ikebana I created with the the Dogwood and the Dragon fruit. I had placed the vessel upside down. Because of the extreme flexibility of the Dogwood I was able to secure it between the bars that joined the two "V" shaped tubes. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I had impaled the fruit on a short stem of the Dogwood which lined up with the main stem. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Sensei's correction was to create some space between the vessel and the Dragon Fruit by lifting it a little above the vessel. The photo shows the corrected version.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Greetings from Christopher<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">25th November 2023</span></span></div><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-88356115378612086022023-11-19T19:17:00.000+11:002023-11-19T19:17:30.659+11:00ON THE ROAD WEEK THREE<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Sunday of last week we travelled to Mt Shosha near Himeji to visit Engyo-ji Temple, founded in 966 by Shoku Shonin. This temple complex is at the top of of a densely forested mountain. A really serene setting where the modern world seems to fade away.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtYG4_YvPpu0JU6bfmYyk7ENBXkK4W7n2kj-f-iU9A6TSjGFQTj_vpjckA98S4X7J0R293sEvnOySbBkChKy4ybiYm9Y_P8fhXbzzn3lxM3v3zRTCJDMqgtV27SRn81Smo32rhcckCFPD2nCoglEJgWBPzv04AV4QuWU4Mmcioae5BlWeKpYpq-w127w/s1280/IMG_5031.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtYG4_YvPpu0JU6bfmYyk7ENBXkK4W7n2kj-f-iU9A6TSjGFQTj_vpjckA98S4X7J0R293sEvnOySbBkChKy4ybiYm9Y_P8fhXbzzn3lxM3v3zRTCJDMqgtV27SRn81Smo32rhcckCFPD2nCoglEJgWBPzv04AV4QuWU4Mmcioae5BlWeKpYpq-w127w/w480-h640/IMG_5031.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>At the top of these stairs is the temple hall, which appears to almost hang on the edge of the hill.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDlotAv9_4H32MxxcCE3y1Z6hGIU_wEilkNp4uwGtbFTL10BqcFEZyiGj_475lc_CmjtwtPCGDKaLvsVcl8exWh8wspILaDVk-rdTwB7vu5PmTO3ZHZNVcw2bPIqc1DXuz_cKIC4FvoUbP6gFvv9F8favSx6A2HYx9IyD136YWdlBBH7gKO6ob6kJv-U/s1280/IMG_5034.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDlotAv9_4H32MxxcCE3y1Z6hGIU_wEilkNp4uwGtbFTL10BqcFEZyiGj_475lc_CmjtwtPCGDKaLvsVcl8exWh8wspILaDVk-rdTwB7vu5PmTO3ZHZNVcw2bPIqc1DXuz_cKIC4FvoUbP6gFvv9F8favSx6A2HYx9IyD136YWdlBBH7gKO6ob6kJv-U/w640-h480/IMG_5034.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Beyond is a group of three buildings formed around a large square, open on one side. These large buildings were re-built in the Muromachi period (1336 - 1573) and, though grand in scale, are not intimidating structures. Because of their remote location these buildings have been used in many period Japanese films. As well, they have been used by Hollywood in such films as 'The Last Samurai'.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0R9vC72khqcTedIBEcWExT_EY0n1mIfj1VGYMD7YSf1ob12B6ZTym2e_yXfwwL-q5XAWQ_OTXdGMzZfoWjxnyB2NAaupaOuxlgty7h84Hgi1aaDn-u61iCrKEJ7RJY-T_W7EjSUGo8JNT5DnmCb10kTWrYPzwewnT8wAnhUn5H74bmv2o0C219CI-P2I/s1280/IMG_5039.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0R9vC72khqcTedIBEcWExT_EY0n1mIfj1VGYMD7YSf1ob12B6ZTym2e_yXfwwL-q5XAWQ_OTXdGMzZfoWjxnyB2NAaupaOuxlgty7h84Hgi1aaDn-u61iCrKEJ7RJY-T_W7EjSUGo8JNT5DnmCb10kTWrYPzwewnT8wAnhUn5H74bmv2o0C219CI-P2I/w640-h480/IMG_5039.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Beside the path I was really pleased to see a couple of Camellia bushes with early buds and one opened flower.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">On Monday and Tuesday we visited two of the famous Art Islands in the Inland sea, Teshima and Naoshima.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbL-s5u3f3jDNsJ_2JXxHmSrPghqAfoIgcrn-rRYlIQ5Z3vdZ82keXLKjpp0uwN7PU_ai1FOMoDhZcZM6obUFQW76y7VvuXwSIDwAurlpzF_g93-or1Fr2rMz5-8971iqJSYMGTsElQb_B3hFV9F4LfAgNrzWSwzsxQ2CeG7aaglM2tq-W17QCnlFGUQ/s1280/IMG_5062.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbL-s5u3f3jDNsJ_2JXxHmSrPghqAfoIgcrn-rRYlIQ5Z3vdZ82keXLKjpp0uwN7PU_ai1FOMoDhZcZM6obUFQW76y7VvuXwSIDwAurlpzF_g93-or1Fr2rMz5-8971iqJSYMGTsElQb_B3hFV9F4LfAgNrzWSwzsxQ2CeG7aaglM2tq-W17QCnlFGUQ/w640-h480/IMG_5062.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We took a ferry each day from Uno Port enjoying the scene of the many small rocky-shored islands with rather dense tree cover.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5I-FccLrNIIZIgJ2oMgXi9CnOKVlaUAASDrpQo4-rZ3LHk43xhSNZx0ukoetY2yUF_G2sIQDFhm6OotrlGqZXToOpXe5rJM3dGSw3k_J1c7fXPqN6wAV4WST4Fozfp-y0qVfCIzodMD2fxc8fddlYAAukVE3Uvf3M2-T4BdkUQMo-KQxRtyO9-sE4ruw/w640-h480/IMG_5072%20(1).jpeg" style="color: #0000ee; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;" width="640" /></div><div><br /></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">On Naoshima the galleries are starkly modern. The approach into them is carefully controlled, so that a sense of anticipation is created in the visitor. This resulted in a sense of shock and surprise when the exhibition spaces were reached.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDX7eD-ANzgprkbkqadtMaxZ8nc2GVifXIkLHgY2_0So2_lrD2YAa9AezuA6l8Me5Dwz7drx31brxIpW8mk5D5KysGDc_U_kYHjF4h_qnNUDVe4_3jn5JXfXE0Fv0G623cMKI24iJWC5O3W6X9vJoFDCllGKHL6MNocIAQ1Db4tpT_aSuhmyVfwm2Xhkg/s1280/IMG_5082.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDX7eD-ANzgprkbkqadtMaxZ8nc2GVifXIkLHgY2_0So2_lrD2YAa9AezuA6l8Me5Dwz7drx31brxIpW8mk5D5KysGDc_U_kYHjF4h_qnNUDVe4_3jn5JXfXE0Fv0G623cMKI24iJWC5O3W6X9vJoFDCllGKHL6MNocIAQ1Db4tpT_aSuhmyVfwm2Xhkg/w480-h640/IMG_5082.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>This is a very famous image: the Yellow Pumpkin installation by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yayoi_Kusama"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Yayoi Kusama</span></a> at the end of a stone jetty.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObxKwYmPFo3mLf6BVftMrV2cBxAKo8J8zql18PkkjX9r62gkwugwy0_Jm0lvlNjQ5M2bgNYb9pQ77UGZFN6ApgchXKmcUa7HZeZYnRxz_4_cU5dyFP_KgNj1s9YstHC5xaTDh83iMetwZkMOY8a-rr0I23Q58OX_JrIPjycytmnJbwX3AhUlBhfvXoAc/s1280/IMG_5087.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObxKwYmPFo3mLf6BVftMrV2cBxAKo8J8zql18PkkjX9r62gkwugwy0_Jm0lvlNjQ5M2bgNYb9pQ77UGZFN6ApgchXKmcUa7HZeZYnRxz_4_cU5dyFP_KgNj1s9YstHC5xaTDh83iMetwZkMOY8a-rr0I23Q58OX_JrIPjycytmnJbwX3AhUlBhfvXoAc/w640-h480/IMG_5087.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Laurie and me enjoying the moment...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-1jHWzmwXiyh7YocjWM6EgsVYUZIImvw71hEULL66wBRqJEGLd7BH66Gsl7Tbfucil5zDHAZFGYgeX7PqiLVE22ZbJqwsiNOn98-UJehTSG7AhLNq-0TBOuR-YPktUzDEFGNqGph__fzVXmj7PfkITgt8UsppqCxX8nmTQwjUutXiiOe-CLcZOHq7x8/s1280/IMG_5089.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-1jHWzmwXiyh7YocjWM6EgsVYUZIImvw71hEULL66wBRqJEGLd7BH66Gsl7Tbfucil5zDHAZFGYgeX7PqiLVE22ZbJqwsiNOn98-UJehTSG7AhLNq-0TBOuR-YPktUzDEFGNqGph__fzVXmj7PfkITgt8UsppqCxX8nmTQwjUutXiiOe-CLcZOHq7x8/w640-h480/IMG_5089.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>...and finding another at Uno Port.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When we got back to Tokyo we visited the daughter of one of Laurie's friends from the English conversation class he gave in Nagoya in 1978. She lives south of Tokyo in Chigasaki, where we went for a stroll to the (grey-sanded) beach. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">On the way we had to cross a highway on a pedestrian bridge.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipP9byLoCcLwcRaejE3pL5g6DMO1nCcDABB8YdPJAx-CMhGILPy-NPQTVsFutxlfrYtcCZonoB_o8NRPHiGM4tGG4uVZmITIPLiJKlImgKSMMZ4mBliZW6vtVtbl5IA3SuxyE-YpDMaGoJElM1Ecy7A6mX69raaOQhQral2SWH_vPCvITDYmCJfyIaXtI/s1280/IMG_5104%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipP9byLoCcLwcRaejE3pL5g6DMO1nCcDABB8YdPJAx-CMhGILPy-NPQTVsFutxlfrYtcCZonoB_o8NRPHiGM4tGG4uVZmITIPLiJKlImgKSMMZ4mBliZW6vtVtbl5IA3SuxyE-YpDMaGoJElM1Ecy7A6mX69raaOQhQral2SWH_vPCvITDYmCJfyIaXtI/w640-h480/IMG_5104%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The view was unexpected.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">19th November 2023</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /> </span><p></p></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-86150131215791330062023-11-12T22:47:00.003+11:002023-11-12T22:47:46.185+11:00NARA to INUYAMA<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Last Sunday we visited Joruri-ji, a small and very old temple east of Nara. It was built in 1107, during the Heian period (794 - 1189) and moved to its present location in 1157. It is the only surviving example of a Buddha Hall from this time and contains nine statues of the Amida Buddha.</span></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKRB15kWWfdPG7VZjFycAK9BKFD6mIxdeDbClWssVVUgN6ANXrKXsx7vQ63DPtPBYOuGM0ggpkAVTvqbvWyVlzhyphenhyphenfsi9TNGwlE4wYSHzW0x1fbVFO498I39iwK-c8U3tZmic2f1h6thkgk2bt-18Z8hV5uyDq0M3rGCFgFEgByb_gqobm7vzWpKunFc0/s1280/IMG_4775.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKRB15kWWfdPG7VZjFycAK9BKFD6mIxdeDbClWssVVUgN6ANXrKXsx7vQ63DPtPBYOuGM0ggpkAVTvqbvWyVlzhyphenhyphenfsi9TNGwlE4wYSHzW0x1fbVFO498I39iwK-c8U3tZmic2f1h6thkgk2bt-18Z8hV5uyDq0M3rGCFgFEgByb_gqobm7vzWpKunFc0/w640-h480/IMG_4775.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The temple itself is set on the west side of a small artificial lake with a three-storied pagoda on the opposite side and an island in the middle. The whole setting is serene, being in a sheltered valley with tall trees all around.</span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We then went to the dramatically situated Miho museum, which is also in set in a densely forested valley. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe46DaUCiJAVvmV7QvxxW_1NQSyXYdovQq9a82XV29Bq-S4gtjSlysCFWBN66u-W4HVfcJOPgqqqUh3JdXRtNzHl-kGIKGCzhf7Pp7rpkrJEM0qTXWSLLGL0ifFg6eI27c3GaVewbd0vKZMzYzSya7N2XDnQhcWDau1rkbcL2o1gI1hzBn8-fl8jzFo4M/s1280/IMG_4776.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe46DaUCiJAVvmV7QvxxW_1NQSyXYdovQq9a82XV29Bq-S4gtjSlysCFWBN66u-W4HVfcJOPgqqqUh3JdXRtNzHl-kGIKGCzhf7Pp7rpkrJEM0qTXWSLLGL0ifFg6eI27c3GaVewbd0vKZMzYzSya7N2XDnQhcWDau1rkbcL2o1gI1hzBn8-fl8jzFo4M/w640-h480/IMG_4776.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The approach to the museum is via a long curving tunnel through a hill.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkA89MN8TYYutOUmH11CsM00QHxZCLP1vEXV1kj2sVdb-C9a9iU6J_2FWfeNRWYL4iTBGRtxdocvM0mqhWLgeRHU2KrQEAQ9d26MS6x7sQ_F3FCnmunQ06YRMpVEf44RYySWPzsJbO752P_pmEC9MQCn571E6dKn6HDVlxTKaX3vU1ftr3MmUo7IJYt-M/s1280/IMG_4780.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkA89MN8TYYutOUmH11CsM00QHxZCLP1vEXV1kj2sVdb-C9a9iU6J_2FWfeNRWYL4iTBGRtxdocvM0mqhWLgeRHU2KrQEAQ9d26MS6x7sQ_F3FCnmunQ06YRMpVEf44RYySWPzsJbO752P_pmEC9MQCn571E6dKn6HDVlxTKaX3vU1ftr3MmUo7IJYt-M/w640-h480/IMG_4780.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This photo shows the entrance building that references Shinto architecture. And you will notice a blaze of autumn red at last.</span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>In Kyoto we visited Nishi Hongwan-ji temple... </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwsL5L9ex2AX4xY7NH8GoD850GIZL1YGxgoGtTiMjSHUIQ4TaEnJi4vlN5W-AqZg5MC_pqB_LqmQD1DRMkQAt-QrpB49ghSJHJknw_24NM4NP3_qaX5MVJlOTsSKxFUC6nVllUpCXPOpijbfjxb43HQZh7ZS_nMYx1DdTUgSsI9tGggCLYNPWhVx3Evo/s1280/IMG_4845.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwsL5L9ex2AX4xY7NH8GoD850GIZL1YGxgoGtTiMjSHUIQ4TaEnJi4vlN5W-AqZg5MC_pqB_LqmQD1DRMkQAt-QrpB49ghSJHJknw_24NM4NP3_qaX5MVJlOTsSKxFUC6nVllUpCXPOpijbfjxb43HQZh7ZS_nMYx1DdTUgSsI9tGggCLYNPWhVx3Evo/w640-h480/IMG_4845.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">...which has a very large main hall because teaching practitioners is a major focus of Pure Land, one of many sects of Japanese Buddhism.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In the grounds there were a large number of Chrysanthemums on display, including these very beautiful ‘in-curve’ Chrysanthemums. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoH_-r6fHOtdPdrHRDfVMZD7x9RN8_BpbFi1yRDah7hG4P0ea3tEH1h__u6MFNRIprspFqH-ccuahAj0vTS-wqdeN9U4UTqDZr96L6xUW5VJ1ACFtYksbY-0zVZ4uQMm3ehW3XTSRqFGOkfeDvDqALpLcB19OtJaD0KXDJ7jWyFHZkUjESV0nWRNHZxB4/s1280/IMG_4842.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoH_-r6fHOtdPdrHRDfVMZD7x9RN8_BpbFi1yRDah7hG4P0ea3tEH1h__u6MFNRIprspFqH-ccuahAj0vTS-wqdeN9U4UTqDZr96L6xUW5VJ1ACFtYksbY-0zVZ4uQMm3ehW3XTSRqFGOkfeDvDqALpLcB19OtJaD0KXDJ7jWyFHZkUjESV0nWRNHZxB4/w640-h480/IMG_4842.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>I was particularly attracted to this one with petals that were pink on their upper surface and on the outer (under-side) surface a warm beige.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGE1vDPoRWVbG1cO1bePOwLJn57Hcu57YoJP9VsbaIN-FcRI7RSFMzhw-y4bD-lPLw-TJIOSY0qc44qHEoDXmy55Ejdel9e4r3u_o1xqw2BS4jCEIcBftLL7Gn4p2aiRUoQWJIL_nL2lzwRlhAq1A8ztcJWnDZOxz6VePzB2HQGhPA-ekmJ34QytO8ACM/s1280/IMG_4843.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGE1vDPoRWVbG1cO1bePOwLJn57Hcu57YoJP9VsbaIN-FcRI7RSFMzhw-y4bD-lPLw-TJIOSY0qc44qHEoDXmy55Ejdel9e4r3u_o1xqw2BS4jCEIcBftLL7Gn4p2aiRUoQWJIL_nL2lzwRlhAq1A8ztcJWnDZOxz6VePzB2HQGhPA-ekmJ34QytO8ACM/w480-h640/IMG_4843.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This spidery variety had the longest petals I have ever seen. Who needs <i>mizuhiki </i>(paper strings) if you have this flower?</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Below are two photos I have seen of ikebana in public places.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOeWjuBEBEvD2Oskw45xLlj4YiJoMCiQqh5We_L1ZCvOQCpHzP0YYu3nugxcALO7-vJ2RNg1ZCXZ1rj_f66LJOXdMCGDq9RYxKogmfpkemDuCST3Lm7H-o_4q8CdGxOOsJi4p7OuATY2C2Iq5bxk0NlUIrTlEwqieg1XLyuLxIocoggCWuEEa30edHIg/s1280/IMG_4790.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1280" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOeWjuBEBEvD2Oskw45xLlj4YiJoMCiQqh5We_L1ZCvOQCpHzP0YYu3nugxcALO7-vJ2RNg1ZCXZ1rj_f66LJOXdMCGDq9RYxKogmfpkemDuCST3Lm7H-o_4q8CdGxOOsJi4p7OuATY2C2Iq5bxk0NlUIrTlEwqieg1XLyuLxIocoggCWuEEa30edHIg/w640-h498/IMG_4790.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><br /></div><div>This in a railway station...</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwuvMc9A6BpPGS5ZcQGLmQLPvabLSXzlKPzBdx8fqP0OXDjGE4clq4OEuqVlRzqLgBFN_GqjZT8juqvUB5pvZqSk5sv7LI-07C2q3bMS2skyYGOzIEsPhqhP1A20ZSBLSC7KcspEamHT1I79eLWBJye-zava-k33SgNj09bwNfrCRBf0bC7XfCxdnpjI/s1280/IMG_4750.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwuvMc9A6BpPGS5ZcQGLmQLPvabLSXzlKPzBdx8fqP0OXDjGE4clq4OEuqVlRzqLgBFN_GqjZT8juqvUB5pvZqSk5sv7LI-07C2q3bMS2skyYGOzIEsPhqhP1A20ZSBLSC7KcspEamHT1I79eLWBJye-zava-k33SgNj09bwNfrCRBf0bC7XfCxdnpjI/w480-h640/IMG_4750.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>...and this in a museum entrance.</div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsQgsXeIvZPnyvaTMPd9p7N1arY764LKoosKa-Za8bQEpOHttUTKSU5VRaELbNqGpk5WFsukJJw9dD5DdTtPJSKdUpB4OP0K15qacUwOVFrm88GaWaCt0JfPxpmB9ofH988OGKwhi4TeFR2RrlNz2oEuMr6VxPqzSzWJARrrjnxDNEVrdWdhOq_BxkI8/s1280/IMG_4915.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsQgsXeIvZPnyvaTMPd9p7N1arY764LKoosKa-Za8bQEpOHttUTKSU5VRaELbNqGpk5WFsukJJw9dD5DdTtPJSKdUpB4OP0K15qacUwOVFrm88GaWaCt0JfPxpmB9ofH988OGKwhi4TeFR2RrlNz2oEuMr6VxPqzSzWJARrrjnxDNEVrdWdhOq_BxkI8/w640-h480/IMG_4915.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>On Thursday we travelled to Inuyama to see the smallest of the five surviving castles of the Tokugawa shogunate period that remain intact in their original form. I really like this castle because its scale is almost domestic. However, I should point out that this really was built as a military installation and not as a residence.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFugbbBER3r81ZRomkFtXy_WEpcB8QvVOrt8oUPBXAL8rmJbPj0xBc_kd0cfCuOENgl6mI0gAVCVWmQTtTc3S8jNSGrw9sLO7SfbUesi1ZpyJwumbt3GBcXdAdLH7R2D7XrcWk9eU6rHDYKicSIwc5u-3-goEf0Nr66PmG2Kze6RI6BrEDLCxrrTtfNcg/s1280/IMG_4951.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1243" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFugbbBER3r81ZRomkFtXy_WEpcB8QvVOrt8oUPBXAL8rmJbPj0xBc_kd0cfCuOENgl6mI0gAVCVWmQTtTc3S8jNSGrw9sLO7SfbUesi1ZpyJwumbt3GBcXdAdLH7R2D7XrcWk9eU6rHDYKicSIwc5u-3-goEf0Nr66PmG2Kze6RI6BrEDLCxrrTtfNcg/w622-h640/IMG_4951.jpeg" width="622" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><br /></div>We were somewhat amazed to discover our overnight accommodation was in a new hotel, adjacent to the castle with this view from its central lobby.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">12th November 2023<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /> </span><p></p></div></div></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-38263068246957725692023-11-05T23:02:00.002+11:002023-11-05T23:02:56.594+11:00TOKYO - KANAZAWA - NARA<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">On the first day of our tour we visited a Japan National Trust Property in Tokyo. It was </span><span style="font-family: arial;">built in 1919 for its first owner Yoshisaburo Fujita, but after a few years was sold to </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Zenshiro Yasuda whose house had been destroyed in the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923. The house is one of the few remaining large houses built in the traditional style, using traditional techniques. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdFKbjKOEMJ_Cx1PEl_w2Kl22fsztv1pVUIm8a7PZRV0kd0E55KYyoysmTfrmeCkx_RkF7dtTHP8qWMAkFQ48p3LlUzVtE7cSMiCISDzGkclEJbxVxhv_hXu0jw8bPf1BHKKMlCYdpA74D2ubMpI1NxJ3FiIYuKd-BEwP2JIODWV6vE3e4735NjvufgY/s1280/IMG_4627.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdFKbjKOEMJ_Cx1PEl_w2Kl22fsztv1pVUIm8a7PZRV0kd0E55KYyoysmTfrmeCkx_RkF7dtTHP8qWMAkFQ48p3LlUzVtE7cSMiCISDzGkclEJbxVxhv_hXu0jw8bPf1BHKKMlCYdpA74D2ubMpI1NxJ3FiIYuKd-BEwP2JIODWV6vE3e4735NjvufgY/w480-h640/IMG_4627.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>The building zigzags down the long narrow block with a dry landscape garden that widens progressively. It is designed so that the garden's character is different when seen from each room.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGltCWDSz_81-XzA3Xx__RMMjOuzJMKrGx11KOt5qAX08M4QmjGzccmTc4j5sg1blD5c7u1yUfv3YIutjdaGQ5tB_XuJS4MaDXsU3TMGAst-i22jJ53X-BtCP4YBnde2AsrVFzpSC_lFvgS3WwxDzM5yT9ZFpELvQOV38PxWcPSr37zRETYWaJFiap7a4/s1280/IMG_4628.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGltCWDSz_81-XzA3Xx__RMMjOuzJMKrGx11KOt5qAX08M4QmjGzccmTc4j5sg1blD5c7u1yUfv3YIutjdaGQ5tB_XuJS4MaDXsU3TMGAst-i22jJ53X-BtCP4YBnde2AsrVFzpSC_lFvgS3WwxDzM5yT9ZFpELvQOV38PxWcPSr37zRETYWaJFiap7a4/w480-h640/IMG_4628.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>The </span><span style="font-family: arial;">formal Japanese room on the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">ground floor has a large square tokonoma in which this ikebana was displayed.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IKF_pDNbnMaGyi3fLArM3Ema3gCMaClV10id_6QpvBUQ9Rfy9vAcbqjjcPvrGVmwq7Hlxy6cbeZ0S1WTa3E_l_KELTJ6LCchhAZALPvNXLiT5XJ35RVBSapnIbl_m1nh0Nptt8cxugipmxgMe66ZJA6PhqlwX-G2bfnplPE9zQ8waMEVEuhK6tkkI24/s1280/IMG_4638.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IKF_pDNbnMaGyi3fLArM3Ema3gCMaClV10id_6QpvBUQ9Rfy9vAcbqjjcPvrGVmwq7Hlxy6cbeZ0S1WTa3E_l_KELTJ6LCchhAZALPvNXLiT5XJ35RVBSapnIbl_m1nh0Nptt8cxugipmxgMe66ZJA6PhqlwX-G2bfnplPE9zQ8waMEVEuhK6tkkI24/w640-h480/IMG_4638.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><br /></div>I was particularly fascinated by the very distinct changes in the light levels of the rooms as well as the shadows that were cast on the shoji screens. These shifts in light level gave various parts, even of a single room, different characteristics. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The next day we took a shinkansen to Kanazawa...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJm1JULcD8tv8G3pbopwAhvTkvEyKKOqEXtkj2wyg6iazhzNqs630BT124RDdjLn0hyphenhyphenRRHNSsNb4s6TG4LxYumN6a3wRcHltKEpYY-vVpXml-NgeKVhgYBvOYcQqQcfLkF-EDwnK7lL7tKOsMPPk8rMXi5ESW1GL04IMVRt0njczcjZZ3oop3MILPYA_s/s1280/IMG_4645.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJm1JULcD8tv8G3pbopwAhvTkvEyKKOqEXtkj2wyg6iazhzNqs630BT124RDdjLn0hyphenhyphenRRHNSsNb4s6TG4LxYumN6a3wRcHltKEpYY-vVpXml-NgeKVhgYBvOYcQqQcfLkF-EDwnK7lL7tKOsMPPk8rMXi5ESW1GL04IMVRt0njczcjZZ3oop3MILPYA_s/w640-h480/IMG_4645.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>...where we caught our first glimpse of snow capped mountains.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8cM4aIeUi38NICKe2b8Sfafj3FmSA6COoXuqh_bL3Xo2Cj7hL_4CeZXPsMa3AbKa4PRTkHc-Vjki82YjPQ7IBs1pH-9Ib4YozHGMUQUoKF7m8BLacK81DgvDF33lSrSm6ZaJoZduTFrP2bIRTVInwL3YY2IR47rqun1cQfUZxWwk8OhbEOxSPP3AJrM/s1280/IMG_4667.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="973" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8cM4aIeUi38NICKe2b8Sfafj3FmSA6COoXuqh_bL3Xo2Cj7hL_4CeZXPsMa3AbKa4PRTkHc-Vjki82YjPQ7IBs1pH-9Ib4YozHGMUQUoKF7m8BLacK81DgvDF33lSrSm6ZaJoZduTFrP2bIRTVInwL3YY2IR47rqun1cQfUZxWwk8OhbEOxSPP3AJrM/w486-h640/IMG_4667.jpeg" width="486" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Our first outing in Kanazawa was to the famous garden of Kenroku-en. Because of the unseasonally warm weather there was not a lot of autumn colour. However, we had the good fortune to be present of the day when the long horizontal branches of some of the pines are secured to prevent their breaking under the weight of the winter snow to come. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuUvx8Jt7_oxVJdpG4TlfAgrqgNXs3P4X7c-cWvUCogg4y1l0fMb6j9Wm8_TtSbxtHKlfllnYPfcddeZFCFJaslXMQ-34xvs6592yAiyEztrrLN4B-8jSWaXAJR9oCYOa5YdKzENtrUzXKgzH-t7ydQjXEPeUYZ-3WWacR52Q6nkfUYz6o7cOALHhQLA/s1280/IMG_4676.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuUvx8Jt7_oxVJdpG4TlfAgrqgNXs3P4X7c-cWvUCogg4y1l0fMb6j9Wm8_TtSbxtHKlfllnYPfcddeZFCFJaslXMQ-34xvs6592yAiyEztrrLN4B-8jSWaXAJR9oCYOa5YdKzENtrUzXKgzH-t7ydQjXEPeUYZ-3WWacR52Q6nkfUYz6o7cOALHhQLA/w640-h480/IMG_4676.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>We saw large group of skilled arborists carefully tying ropes around the branches from the top of a tall pole. All done with great precision and care.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkb061le8IfE7Z_Q1CL_hbOCabXrJ9p8pNr91LqFOLPRQBsv3I2gSkhyphenhyphena-fc0tu3mAbYgHT77SeHbbkjxY0VPlkT3sJd-qYTWAAcXq6D2Vsd0E9dH6n4JXg77Kh_G41JCQecdntMxIe5C6b9yivZtiJ5HHErt09RDEADLlHuYlKDOBRDAUNt7EPOaS3c/s1280/IMG_4677.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkb061le8IfE7Z_Q1CL_hbOCabXrJ9p8pNr91LqFOLPRQBsv3I2gSkhyphenhyphena-fc0tu3mAbYgHT77SeHbbkjxY0VPlkT3sJd-qYTWAAcXq6D2Vsd0E9dH6n4JXg77Kh_G41JCQecdntMxIe5C6b9yivZtiJ5HHErt09RDEADLlHuYlKDOBRDAUNt7EPOaS3c/w640-h480/IMG_4677.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>The finished job looked quite beautiful. It also became apparent how necessary this task is when you realise that the large branch extending out over the water comes from the trunk of one of the two tall trees on the right.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieys_M0MfsHGVI_XKw-9lZiwVIsvzd-F7ytfpe2XOwX7owVjr08Kpi78sBqyLW-pI3mHZVxVSCEbAAmA3NjUV1ikCQsynoUgmVULG9E_ODhfDw3yaqyZLMz6G7HtJlQdGZ8Z7waLuRW84bbdVe6KcBdDAK_YKuUjMAYy22jorU7_QJy3D1vfmJnbyPDtY/s1280/IMG_4682.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieys_M0MfsHGVI_XKw-9lZiwVIsvzd-F7ytfpe2XOwX7owVjr08Kpi78sBqyLW-pI3mHZVxVSCEbAAmA3NjUV1ikCQsynoUgmVULG9E_ODhfDw3yaqyZLMz6G7HtJlQdGZ8Z7waLuRW84bbdVe6KcBdDAK_YKuUjMAYy22jorU7_QJy3D1vfmJnbyPDtY/w640-h480/IMG_4682.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>A little further on in the garden I did come across some scattered patches of red Japanese maple leaves among the lovely soft green ones.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5j_NaUMOvxcOM_CzhfQ6x0zNUHqlBkgZ7wQLtZgOdtdoKAjqhvjWB1wf7GHABuvylAMiJXbDQ89DNlv-KIAUxnSdp7tuzBWDuDZQWNw2kwXgwCuuC5e9SsEZvek9jVhUzOB1BYVYeJSpuBXsopPrV0jsB_u-STF6dxniVWMYOhtB2ZFE6hEdyKKmtOSU/s1280/IMG_4686.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="961" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5j_NaUMOvxcOM_CzhfQ6x0zNUHqlBkgZ7wQLtZgOdtdoKAjqhvjWB1wf7GHABuvylAMiJXbDQ89DNlv-KIAUxnSdp7tuzBWDuDZQWNw2kwXgwCuuC5e9SsEZvek9jVhUzOB1BYVYeJSpuBXsopPrV0jsB_u-STF6dxniVWMYOhtB2ZFE6hEdyKKmtOSU/w480-h640/IMG_4686.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>The end of this branch looked especially lovely with the sun coming through the leaves.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In our further travels as we headed toward Kyoto I was surprised to see a lot of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidago"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Golden rod</span></a> <i>Solidago, </i>which is native to North America and Mexico. Apparently it has become quite invasive in Japan.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeU_ul_i5OJShPrIzBT1nQlJV1rGAEDLEpHAAjJe68cxgVEkH25QGhtoXjDJpgGU5J_Nkt49jW2BMaeXweaUmyT8mjYON-y1ggxoOqbtoziiSNC3UsWY9HeuIAFMVf27uMudie4SK5kiKqmY4ZKMoustdAws_X_yZAUa673H6qOsNWkDgVqnczjcVFn54/s1280/IMG_4691.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeU_ul_i5OJShPrIzBT1nQlJV1rGAEDLEpHAAjJe68cxgVEkH25QGhtoXjDJpgGU5J_Nkt49jW2BMaeXweaUmyT8mjYON-y1ggxoOqbtoziiSNC3UsWY9HeuIAFMVf27uMudie4SK5kiKqmY4ZKMoustdAws_X_yZAUa673H6qOsNWkDgVqnczjcVFn54/w640-h480/IMG_4691.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>I was surprised by my success of actually catching the moment when this butterfly landed on a flower head.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiap_uNBhU3hwJUYVAAXybsUq1LRaHCKMhbBv4cKtZJig2EPaPdFA6i6uUwXen2tdNaDUBeM7_4KXQ5WC1IjIIYYnoKftcBI9TMIyb1oH4o_oFlaOO40Hu3RXU9OCVl29FNayT6jo8eW2YAA0n_7P9Xh4VsyhQxfK5lLbcOvBh8-FH2gQyYvRJAAgab5k/s1280/IMG_4717.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiap_uNBhU3hwJUYVAAXybsUq1LRaHCKMhbBv4cKtZJig2EPaPdFA6i6uUwXen2tdNaDUBeM7_4KXQ5WC1IjIIYYnoKftcBI9TMIyb1oH4o_oFlaOO40Hu3RXU9OCVl29FNayT6jo8eW2YAA0n_7P9Xh4VsyhQxfK5lLbcOvBh8-FH2gQyYvRJAAgab5k/w640-h480/IMG_4717.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>The next two nights we spent in the ancient capital of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nara_(city)"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Nara</span></a>. This was the view from our hotel room on the mountainside near the great temple of <a href="http://Todai-ji."><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Todai-ji.</span></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">5th November 2023<br /> </span><p></p></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-83539639364792403902023-10-30T23:46:00.002+11:002023-10-30T23:46:20.232+11:00OUT AND ABOUT IKEBANA<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Sorry this posting is a little late and will be brief. The last month and a half have been very busy with the annual exhibitions of I.I. Melbourne and the Sogetsu Branch two weeks apart. On the weekend in between I presented an introductory workshop and last week I gave a demonstration for the members of an enthusiastic Gardening group.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9L72ueJHlmq0AS0MwD3AVkiYZSJdwVV-aDY_367cp4xbQEwstmzFaOmvYoAzrW1J4l13wPfxvwCborQAur_H43pLiQJbjh0Pq-5WjkHXmSW1a987ID7bDjL6KcjNSurXxCuTQfaiQeVveaCo5U5MqwY1kIOswDB6nnpLuiLD-Iff0R3d0PsyOdnB-8KU/s1280/IMG_4595.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="949" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9L72ueJHlmq0AS0MwD3AVkiYZSJdwVV-aDY_367cp4xbQEwstmzFaOmvYoAzrW1J4l13wPfxvwCborQAur_H43pLiQJbjh0Pq-5WjkHXmSW1a987ID7bDjL6KcjNSurXxCuTQfaiQeVveaCo5U5MqwY1kIOswDB6nnpLuiLD-Iff0R3d0PsyOdnB-8KU/w474-h640/IMG_4595.jpeg" width="474" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p>This photo is the only one from that demonstration which is clear enough to show my intention at the time. Some of the materials I used came from my hosts vegetable garden. This is a single leaf of Kale and a stem of Borage placed under water in a glass cylinder. I wanted to show the silvery effect of the leaf's water repellant surface. The Borage flower arranged itself perfectly.</p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNuOiOfcN_l6MGXq-5g3hbmbEVnkIuQ5PcUVK9Dp9gsD5Etua2SxbHo6N95EqmJ7C4B0LCzJJ6Trv_L8VnRqBX0Nj8hkHpStSgte5pDl8Z8lmZCoVFwMbahzUgGVJivwXhu8JfkKQW92dxqPgjSZOI7VatYPbHfBwVTO1G9Htd_ya4m3J73Dw_fg4iw8/s1280/IMG_4597.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNuOiOfcN_l6MGXq-5g3hbmbEVnkIuQ5PcUVK9Dp9gsD5Etua2SxbHo6N95EqmJ7C4B0LCzJJ6Trv_L8VnRqBX0Nj8hkHpStSgte5pDl8Z8lmZCoVFwMbahzUgGVJivwXhu8JfkKQW92dxqPgjSZOI7VatYPbHfBwVTO1G9Htd_ya4m3J73Dw_fg4iw8/w640-h480/IMG_4597.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Another task was to set some ikebana for an open day for the U3A in Torquay. Also a situation where the busy background made photography unsatisfactory. So I re-set the the ikebana when I got home. I used a very interesting piece of driftwood with some Banksia in a suiban made by the New Zealand ceramic artist Elena Renka. This is how I configured it in the living room niche.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdv1G0FNX-0Ho7GbcJrnH7QFvxhLg5DohGu1HCRTUKD7Pcfs2BOq8V2YJDiBiG86RtDQQzjCCQXqtELLTQG-0_gpQER5E5KYvVLxiQKjQjpTU7X04Y4WxOqtGSwqaM5MnGbzOJztVSZ4oJrZFfmzvwxTXIvU1ZPdjH1fG-6oSX5rh0ZVdJpyhqFr3O4v0/s1280/IMG_4599.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1280" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdv1G0FNX-0Ho7GbcJrnH7QFvxhLg5DohGu1HCRTUKD7Pcfs2BOq8V2YJDiBiG86RtDQQzjCCQXqtELLTQG-0_gpQER5E5KYvVLxiQKjQjpTU7X04Y4WxOqtGSwqaM5MnGbzOJztVSZ4oJrZFfmzvwxTXIvU1ZPdjH1fG-6oSX5rh0ZVdJpyhqFr3O4v0/w640-h490/IMG_4599.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>This is how it was set on a table in the middle of a room for the open day. An example of extending the ikebana into the space that surrounds the vessel.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWRSqd7PiGyaMb2munUayITD55-yTUZJiUIYELgyIl4C0Fbwf-mt9I0UBgFqLP7H2tNv65b00nLLcjUmUXWnuy5v98JudmdC8BP7YCMvtT_P9n95HS8Jy7bbpU__l8x_RXjLK0icBRWOc3_QxUCuvzTauoMQOX3O42BnlUIfhdMmZvn8icFAk0kPcO2w/s1280/IMG_4604.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1280" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWRSqd7PiGyaMb2munUayITD55-yTUZJiUIYELgyIl4C0Fbwf-mt9I0UBgFqLP7H2tNv65b00nLLcjUmUXWnuy5v98JudmdC8BP7YCMvtT_P9n95HS8Jy7bbpU__l8x_RXjLK0icBRWOc3_QxUCuvzTauoMQOX3O42BnlUIfhdMmZvn8icFAk0kPcO2w/w640-h444/IMG_4604.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Today (tonight actually) I am writing this in a hotel room in Tokyo where I noticed to my delight a waning, but full-looking moon. It was at full two days ago. Laurie and I are beginning an "Art, Architecture and History Tour' in Honshu tomorrow. I hope I will have some interesting photos to share with you over the next few weeks.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> 9.45 pm, Tuesday 30th October</span><p></p></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-52085458167781836932023-10-22T21:01:00.000+11:002023-10-22T21:01:39.878+11:00INCORPORATING THE AREA AROUND THE VESSEL<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Last week my Melbourne students' class exercise was an ikebana of "Spring flowers in a suiban". Coincidently, Eugenia and Jacqueline both brought pink <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">tulips</span></a>, of two different kinds.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfD8W544NAsGinTWXAyc7rW09mBhm68Zvl18uHVZudtGOesKBPTSw2E9IpiU7ukY1ZvT5TRzaFOlBdqFdnVtdCeeIVQ68HepnF6Hkctw9sNlNZppFbW3jd2-v_HMBNJjuj16fJeTCmNNc5skhndb1EtDEvtKhcAxlDRFoHQBRUJMic3ILMkqBKxXBGks/s1280/IMG_4577.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="1280" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfD8W544NAsGinTWXAyc7rW09mBhm68Zvl18uHVZudtGOesKBPTSw2E9IpiU7ukY1ZvT5TRzaFOlBdqFdnVtdCeeIVQ68HepnF6Hkctw9sNlNZppFbW3jd2-v_HMBNJjuj16fJeTCmNNc5skhndb1EtDEvtKhcAxlDRFoHQBRUJMic3ILMkqBKxXBGks/w640-h612/IMG_4577.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Eugenia's tulips appear to be one of the Parrot tulip cultivars. She arranged them naturalistically along with leaves of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorophytum_comosum"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Spider plant </span></a><i>Chlorophytum comosum, </i>using two kenzans.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtrI-PbuWC3SrI8rkzpGlWX74Xbqg3ziwNE0ubp-UliHC_wpgV1nRVq3Bj6zlVddrK3g49ci2pPRW_IM2eGYtrIOnKCBplh4tbBJM8UEXGSQBLnntlRiDQpfgyr5fdphyphenhyphen32gpyb7AlQ4afsKVKWuUJkuUsWMDNBXSbEgnjRNC0pipD80PrTBDA4JV7ec/s1280/IMG_4578.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="1280" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtrI-PbuWC3SrI8rkzpGlWX74Xbqg3ziwNE0ubp-UliHC_wpgV1nRVq3Bj6zlVddrK3g49ci2pPRW_IM2eGYtrIOnKCBplh4tbBJM8UEXGSQBLnntlRiDQpfgyr5fdphyphenhyphen32gpyb7AlQ4afsKVKWuUJkuUsWMDNBXSbEgnjRNC0pipD80PrTBDA4JV7ec/w640-h494/IMG_4578.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Jacqueline had planned to arrange her flowers under the curve of some fine stems of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betula_pendula"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Silver Birch</span></a> <i>Betula pendula. </i>However, this could not be achieved without cutting the tulips quite short. Plan B turned out to be an arrangement with two contrasting curving lines which preserved the beauty of both materials. Quietly we wondered which way the tulips would be facing the following day.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The exercise for my senior students in Geelong was to make an ikebana incorporating the area around the vessel. This is a good exercise in drawing the students attention to the space that surrounds their work which plays a vital role in the way the ikebana is seen. The completed ikebana is defined as being the plant materials, the vessel <b>and</b> the area in which it is situated.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5r-rnxuYrYQQa140CzHse0BXwlUPrv_0A7A-_QJVPuL4UgnQMeEe4yFPUW2aTuQT39tnnk63c5USnVyjKx4Hf7PdrgVoAocQGoZT8Phwuq8ubjGPV5OOCiriVNQYIOa34yI2JpM3ml2fgQYYCWrKvjqUrrfTWby0eWJkAVbK-BfcdStai7kCnePgld8/s1280/IMG_4581.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1247" data-original-width="1280" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5r-rnxuYrYQQa140CzHse0BXwlUPrv_0A7A-_QJVPuL4UgnQMeEe4yFPUW2aTuQT39tnnk63c5USnVyjKx4Hf7PdrgVoAocQGoZT8Phwuq8ubjGPV5OOCiriVNQYIOa34yI2JpM3ml2fgQYYCWrKvjqUrrfTWby0eWJkAVbK-BfcdStai7kCnePgld8/w640-h624/IMG_4581.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Ellie arranged some red flowering <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callistemon"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Calistemon</span></a> </i>and used a green painted structure of </span><span style="font-family: arial;">disposable</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Chopsticks ('<i>h</i></span><i style="font-family: arial;">ashi' </i><span style="font-family: arial;">in</span><i style="font-family: arial;"> </i><span style="font-family: arial;">Japanese) to extend the ikebana forward and to the right front.</span><i style="font-family: arial;"> </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i> </i><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuo79DKcnHHiHAZP_i2zYDhyphenhyphentBDJh_TgJeLvgaENFzG8TdNHlHNAKAwuP925wVybi5drjW3EbDIWHfRVuRauJGZHpqnsose5Khpc8e9ka49jzVt2q47QAi8-uyr-Py8e5zqkLUr2OYg_6TkUrMgm64etu_WjbjFLQLiFDo4po0KHbjhYNZhw65uAcGNRk/s1280/IMG_4582.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="873" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuo79DKcnHHiHAZP_i2zYDhyphenhyphentBDJh_TgJeLvgaENFzG8TdNHlHNAKAwuP925wVybi5drjW3EbDIWHfRVuRauJGZHpqnsose5Khpc8e9ka49jzVt2q47QAi8-uyr-Py8e5zqkLUr2OYg_6TkUrMgm64etu_WjbjFLQLiFDo4po0KHbjhYNZhw65uAcGNRk/w436-h640/IMG_4582.jpg" width="436" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>To extend her ikebana, Maureen has used a single, unusually-shaped piece of dried wood which has several almost right-angle turns. She has also used a complementary square-shaped vessel. The other material is a dried stem of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumex"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Dock</span></a> <i>Rumex </i>and a small mass of orange flowers.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSV1MzQZi-zvO2MFDiBcsucBTS13bFg4lvymH3LeqVbHzHi3fwtnSi3k0VQDyoSPWgVfQdVxNUnMfwBEzIynfkBKo4uR7cz_4wydYwNgNVo0R0TOTtlMGKlGOEAwKrtZCVI5cFhICcz2g4m0VwBmPcIg0zJSCz4uVxrcU5uoTGufILB9TFJZAQD9qeDpA/s1280/IMG_4580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1280" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSV1MzQZi-zvO2MFDiBcsucBTS13bFg4lvymH3LeqVbHzHi3fwtnSi3k0VQDyoSPWgVfQdVxNUnMfwBEzIynfkBKo4uR7cz_4wydYwNgNVo0R0TOTtlMGKlGOEAwKrtZCVI5cFhICcz2g4m0VwBmPcIg0zJSCz4uVxrcU5uoTGufILB9TFJZAQD9qeDpA/w640-h478/IMG_4580.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Tess has used a lichen encrusted branch of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycium"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Box Thorn</span></a> <i>Lycium </i>and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helichrysum_petiolare"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Licorice plant</span></a><i> Helichrysum petiolare. </i>Her materials extended both forward and to the back in this ikebana</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAidCz7JmQAP-Ji168dOFg8Xn5UTOxDwr4slD5pQEHeNFWZsK2Mp0v-1uMcEt8z8GG20ChQXTSET_r5TVPvRPMawETJRxrKuG21iju-Bend_0hpUW5c1VfaNKi81wQvj3g-kK_QGLsivQBCfa_XiYX7_FBfYaspw03bvMOdPg4EiR7xfxvkgjBy6JC9Ek/s1280/IMG_4584.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="853" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAidCz7JmQAP-Ji168dOFg8Xn5UTOxDwr4slD5pQEHeNFWZsK2Mp0v-1uMcEt8z8GG20ChQXTSET_r5TVPvRPMawETJRxrKuG21iju-Bend_0hpUW5c1VfaNKi81wQvj3g-kK_QGLsivQBCfa_XiYX7_FBfYaspw03bvMOdPg4EiR7xfxvkgjBy6JC9Ek/w426-h640/IMG_4584.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Christine arranged two stems of dried palm inflorescence on one side of a tall black vessel to which she added three flowering stems of <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strelitzia"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Strelitzia</span></a>.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9jSlI7ojpFfeOQdSD3CDCCBZ5okoujiDyhWZ-nM2RQLFKemQzLL9JGW7o9eL721mWiwmrc0uDwnVGgJ0piSCTqclgB49WyNYAqz34tZHqNbDDgd88CCTOaL1ppWPPah_mVpFLdOSM6N0fIGg1OfjmsQ845CllZ5Ut9pYilzuUJV3FhfnwpVTkD1T9EM/s1280/IMG_4586.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1236" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9jSlI7ojpFfeOQdSD3CDCCBZ5okoujiDyhWZ-nM2RQLFKemQzLL9JGW7o9eL721mWiwmrc0uDwnVGgJ0piSCTqclgB49WyNYAqz34tZHqNbDDgd88CCTOaL1ppWPPah_mVpFLdOSM6N0fIGg1OfjmsQ845CllZ5Ut9pYilzuUJV3FhfnwpVTkD1T9EM/w618-h640/IMG_4586.jpg" width="618" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Ellie arranged some <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropaeolum"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Nasturtium</span></a> <i>Tropaeolum </i>flowers and leaves in a tall glass vase. She then set the vase within the curve of a large black-painted </span><span style="font-family: arial;">dried </span><span style="font-family: arial;">branch; which showed well against the table top but not the portable room-divider.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMyM27UnfXStR_x9n8WxKMupJSKNcBdlVPccSQM_YQtPagf0A6fP3pHgjjkIwKvmFv3BEaTtZVvQ9znXJQFTOb9A5YfmTDtMhm4BebdaOB8r99VJu50qjEUy3oi-PiWOMG31vYztOEb2z5erORZEYmlwgBiz1x0O2GG7X0T_q-6HADZsyHAOBX5WIYl0/s1280/IMG_4589.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1034" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMyM27UnfXStR_x9n8WxKMupJSKNcBdlVPccSQM_YQtPagf0A6fP3pHgjjkIwKvmFv3BEaTtZVvQ9znXJQFTOb9A5YfmTDtMhm4BebdaOB8r99VJu50qjEUy3oi-PiWOMG31vYztOEb2z5erORZEYmlwgBiz1x0O2GG7X0T_q-6HADZsyHAOBX5WIYl0/w518-h640/IMG_4589.jpg" width="518" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Jo's exercise was an ikebana using irises, which apparently are flourishing in her garden. She added <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapeseed"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Rapeseed</span></a> <i>Brassica napus </i>for its textural and colour contrast, as well as a stem of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_palmatum"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Japanese maple</span></a> <i>acer palmatum.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My own ikebana this week are two arrangements that I made for the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Sogetsu School of Ikebana,</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> <a href="https://sogetsuikebanavic.weebly.com/annual-exhibitions.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Victorian Branch, Annual Exhibition</span></a>.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYo_aOBDO6RIXynrA-7Co5rn_sOGTdsP8sL2EE213dnhaOBBbTqawPSMEyma0iIMX83aqUExoM6VcH58sB_UxsIQ9vQn3HekCUHA1l2WSto0VQJwU1Olk7Aw7VCmjpu6s5OMcjYVbfkoB763uwQBPWf1FXxiULmTktUad32vXJTo-sqHDrEbqG02rBLrM/s1280/IMG_4473.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="1280" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYo_aOBDO6RIXynrA-7Co5rn_sOGTdsP8sL2EE213dnhaOBBbTqawPSMEyma0iIMX83aqUExoM6VcH58sB_UxsIQ9vQn3HekCUHA1l2WSto0VQJwU1Olk7Aw7VCmjpu6s5OMcjYVbfkoB763uwQBPWf1FXxiULmTktUad32vXJTo-sqHDrEbqG02rBLrM/w640-h510/IMG_4473.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This first ikebana uses one material only, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus_lehmannii"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Bushy Yate</span></a> <i>Eucalptus lehmannii. </i>I have stripped most of the leaves from the branches and left the fascinating buds, flowers and seed pods that all occur on the tree at this time of year. I bought the interesting mid-century Japanese ikebana vase from the late Cherie Glaser a few years ago. A number of her vases and vessels were gifted to the Victorian Branch, some of which were used in the exhibition to honour her gift.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfa2pK29RtoXz9NmOo5Ls7qJS7-M9oeG1ARX72eLPU6yFP4vTMLCRqoGxS-XJY81JH8PoPk4iguWPcE2jhf7Rcbe3McgQo1z00KYLTqcssEfUf8x8LY5Xz7rfxGCXuCSMmcmy7l4rb0whDtQHZyJfl9NsEPL11FkxtnNkqY_7dexZf6DJ10tMz3LSReQ/s1280/Christopher%20James.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1280" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfa2pK29RtoXz9NmOo5Ls7qJS7-M9oeG1ARX72eLPU6yFP4vTMLCRqoGxS-XJY81JH8PoPk4iguWPcE2jhf7Rcbe3McgQo1z00KYLTqcssEfUf8x8LY5Xz7rfxGCXuCSMmcmy7l4rb0whDtQHZyJfl9NsEPL11FkxtnNkqY_7dexZf6DJ10tMz3LSReQ/w640-h420/Christopher%20James.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>In this second arrangement I have used bare <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Magnolia</span></a> branches contrasted with fresh growth on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Oak</span></a> branches. A small number of pale pink Helichrysum flowers provide a colour focus. The large pale blue vessel has a subtle crystal glaze. It is also from Cherie Glaser's estate.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">22nd October 2023</span></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-4797466231849217642023-10-15T19:10:00.000+11:002023-10-15T19:10:08.320+11:00VARIATION No. THREE<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Two weeks ago I set my Melbourne class the exercise of making an ikebana "expressing a movement". Understandably, this led to the students focusing on the line in their ikebana. Line is an element of ikebana that the founder of the Sogetsu School, Sofu Teshigahara, spoke about in his "Kadensho". Among his observations, he spoke about the importance of the "...enhancement of line's beauty...". Ikebanists need to find the line in their materials and reveal it to the observer. Line is usually the clearest way of expressing movement.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOAyQTHbLp3FhM2yjbUEiuoWDAQ0Mskd6aIzk0b921OyHouiwjD-6dhnBWZTEaDdWL8hyphenhypheneqwjcmXSDMUObLxQCSxspj_5kh-nAfhnWa_Zu-irWcQOxX-vgWuOPo1jfrfa3vi737JL727IKb6aA_ejvZfISh-8JanoQRp8KixPgk6gsG_Fw7GTJkUfl8oA/s1280/IMG_4480.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOAyQTHbLp3FhM2yjbUEiuoWDAQ0Mskd6aIzk0b921OyHouiwjD-6dhnBWZTEaDdWL8hyphenhypheneqwjcmXSDMUObLxQCSxspj_5kh-nAfhnWa_Zu-irWcQOxX-vgWuOPo1jfrfa3vi737JL727IKb6aA_ejvZfISh-8JanoQRp8KixPgk6gsG_Fw7GTJkUfl8oA/w480-h640/IMG_4480.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p>Marisha chose to create a cascading line with this Devils Ivy <u><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epipremnum_aureum"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Epipremnum aureum</span></a></i></u>, from Mo'orea in the Society Islands. She added a line of flowering <i>Wisteria </i>and a similarly blue-coloured unnamed vine. Because of the length of the principal line, her basket is sitting on an inverted straight-sided ceramic vase.</p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSweBWtea1z8jxuHI9rCkUjdzeEKti_VkQwnUB6YvshIOUv2fUNd2CxeRQ631j6ec8IWXR_G3AkIpK1D_lROpaKMXO_7jp_OawiLjkvGWgew_i4VPPGaxjzZGpwkAFFhuoCYj7DWZLQyndbC-RqbVjWmdJU8cDoSUh2iL7zG3YPUw4BmZistxAIgqqlT0/s1280/IMG_4479.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1250" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSweBWtea1z8jxuHI9rCkUjdzeEKti_VkQwnUB6YvshIOUv2fUNd2CxeRQ631j6ec8IWXR_G3AkIpK1D_lROpaKMXO_7jp_OawiLjkvGWgew_i4VPPGaxjzZGpwkAFFhuoCYj7DWZLQyndbC-RqbVjWmdJU8cDoSUh2iL7zG3YPUw4BmZistxAIgqqlT0/w626-h640/IMG_4479.jpg" width="626" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p>Jacqueline chose the wandering movement of a tortuous willow which she emphasised with a purple ribbon. Two red carnations provided a small focal point in the space above the opening of the vessel.</p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUp9ybJeSPPRTwYaBEZftiMXUsjqcmu-AnJW-VDI2M_Jst-OoP5clTkr3GWdIy0ZBWUheSnPfIZQz5nmjn8IQ73ixBdBv3B-rrCHaL646RfewgAzumaZVw_Zre9qcsdCNZSgZ0p2L-1OZZdjU8e130IFk-zSHDKlrw0MaDEWlafvMgzaO5JQMg-s20e2Y/s1280/IMG_4478.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1062" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUp9ybJeSPPRTwYaBEZftiMXUsjqcmu-AnJW-VDI2M_Jst-OoP5clTkr3GWdIy0ZBWUheSnPfIZQz5nmjn8IQ73ixBdBv3B-rrCHaL646RfewgAzumaZVw_Zre9qcsdCNZSgZ0p2L-1OZZdjU8e130IFk-zSHDKlrw0MaDEWlafvMgzaO5JQMg-s20e2Y/w532-h640/IMG_4478.jpg" width="532" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p>Marcia created a swirling line below the water in a glass vase. Only two <i>Dietes</i> leaves were used so as not to clutter the vase. The single <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ranunculus</span></a></i> flower provides the focal point to the ikebana. </p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EEF-AlsQhLWbs9iP-xL34HNNGHqViezKVWHDhInPyjE5xyboTS2VWE-jrEP9zntP7jAXvtBrsTqGyqxQJeGS3HcuTaDZOZMzYvd44oScMgM_XeIZdaUdiM8IE88Kru7W1bJxj5RjDLY45aSQPWDvgToaLoW3_qJ5L3CT0_M7QlesOfWbw8EIyyD6Z2I/s1280/IMG_4475.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EEF-AlsQhLWbs9iP-xL34HNNGHqViezKVWHDhInPyjE5xyboTS2VWE-jrEP9zntP7jAXvtBrsTqGyqxQJeGS3HcuTaDZOZMzYvd44oScMgM_XeIZdaUdiM8IE88Kru7W1bJxj5RjDLY45aSQPWDvgToaLoW3_qJ5L3CT0_M7QlesOfWbw8EIyyD6Z2I/w512-h640/IMG_4475.jpg" width="512" /></span></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Eugenia's ikebana made a swooping line that </span><span style="font-family: arial;">also was emphasised by its visibality below the water in her glass vase. The focal point in this case being three small dark-red <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthurium"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Anthuriums</span></a></i>.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">In my Torquay class, the students' exercise was to express an "emotion" through their ikebana.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvE24JeZiF8kj1GzgILPTNoFHituUTe0G8Gg8Nf2D88A9RS3w8xVeeMIocKkOJjwMRWFrwd-783rU30ULfdcoHm4xTSOkGhOMFburmjCdVhxmzisyimIedmHGpqfbRTanDK2pZQ6lIn8Gk-k3N_sfXs8vgtj-jtFpPM55QoS-fbPsb8FHMsShteIM5i8/s1280/IMG_4504.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1280" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvE24JeZiF8kj1GzgILPTNoFHituUTe0G8Gg8Nf2D88A9RS3w8xVeeMIocKkOJjwMRWFrwd-783rU30ULfdcoHm4xTSOkGhOMFburmjCdVhxmzisyimIedmHGpqfbRTanDK2pZQ6lIn8Gk-k3N_sfXs8vgtj-jtFpPM55QoS-fbPsb8FHMsShteIM5i8/w640-h478/IMG_4504.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Marta's ikebana shows a single strong idea flowing upward that has arisen from a cloud of confusion, represented by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotinus"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Smoke Bush</span></a> at the mouth of the vase.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdr0cq0RI9xFHMGSyfmsbpyzNZf4Grn8qhQ53Omfh-02tkxjPrt0f8kYyrwxD88mGvnGrW2NlT2gBTfgToTXnCbkj-SrsJDVbNKk0dCOGBuxVgPu0nPmjLlneNWXa840zo1szg420FfB0wUsHfK7IQTNkhvOwKv3T1FczIYeCjQEMHglOvT8uFyjdoB8U/s1280/IMG_4505.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1007" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdr0cq0RI9xFHMGSyfmsbpyzNZf4Grn8qhQ53Omfh-02tkxjPrt0f8kYyrwxD88mGvnGrW2NlT2gBTfgToTXnCbkj-SrsJDVbNKk0dCOGBuxVgPu0nPmjLlneNWXa840zo1szg420FfB0wUsHfK7IQTNkhvOwKv3T1FczIYeCjQEMHglOvT8uFyjdoB8U/w504-h640/IMG_4505.jpg" width="504" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Judy said she expressed "loss" in her ikebana. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The materials are hanging their heads and tears fall. "</span><span style="font-family: arial;">It is very clear" I said, and felt "sorrow" as soon as I saw this arrangement. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYaeSzg_ZgCS-ZrBw-wLXgXn70YvD199B_v-a5_OztsppdlAnbaW7UkkigkAJDo2jkz2ONZow0aSs_WZnfumszboL3z3g9m5rSO8C0w9dTA-20zqDPT5u-BNQC8FwmZ_q67KF80FJO95pIYMV1t0T6pxweG1lozEeXIYrq0ucuxBVtp1mlRCX0NSM25w/s1280/IMG_4506.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1280" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYaeSzg_ZgCS-ZrBw-wLXgXn70YvD199B_v-a5_OztsppdlAnbaW7UkkigkAJDo2jkz2ONZow0aSs_WZnfumszboL3z3g9m5rSO8C0w9dTA-20zqDPT5u-BNQC8FwmZ_q67KF80FJO95pIYMV1t0T6pxweG1lozEeXIYrq0ucuxBVtp1mlRCX0NSM25w/w640-h504/IMG_4506.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Annie, who has returned to the class after a long break, created a cascade of "Joy" with </span><span style="font-family: arial;">a stem of "Dancing Lady" orchid and </span><span style="font-family: arial;">some green leaves.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1jLiVSnEQjfrDp-sZ6p3TGxpwaURcfwR9H8EJn4ax3CIbm624HyVJwYobY6iJk2qGUEumkmODDEG8HQOq63UMwVcoMxZkQxyOKrKQXtJjUuLs9R8PoGOxu3_ah0BgvVhzGlQcq5eJ0P-kPpEG3MWbq2XI6AodmQgDzau_BLupGRRMiwoGijPFpEWyHs/s1280/IMG_4508.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1224" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1jLiVSnEQjfrDp-sZ6p3TGxpwaURcfwR9H8EJn4ax3CIbm624HyVJwYobY6iJk2qGUEumkmODDEG8HQOq63UMwVcoMxZkQxyOKrKQXtJjUuLs9R8PoGOxu3_ah0BgvVhzGlQcq5eJ0P-kPpEG3MWbq2XI6AodmQgDzau_BLupGRRMiwoGijPFpEWyHs/w612-h640/IMG_4508.jpg" width="612" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Julie expressed an explosion of "joy' in her white and green ikebana. Her exercise became one of reducing the colour palate and the variety of materials for the successful purpose of achieving clarity.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNRzwetN-iZqnM5ZP7P64qwCGCBnwh9JDF1Die8p8_81EPzD6QKEBcl8zyx4-LF8gFiA2gq_emVx5n4p50QKrzjam60pimWNPkPPxJCcRGkxnJhGm-77N2ykgQuopRfj9R78U7gw03fEDO480qMJQc3QulnsZsh3WwqmS9oQmIlDyJk6E7dRqDE7SDys/s1280/IMG_4509.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="854" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNRzwetN-iZqnM5ZP7P64qwCGCBnwh9JDF1Die8p8_81EPzD6QKEBcl8zyx4-LF8gFiA2gq_emVx5n4p50QKrzjam60pimWNPkPPxJCcRGkxnJhGm-77N2ykgQuopRfj9R78U7gw03fEDO480qMJQc3QulnsZsh3WwqmS9oQmIlDyJk6E7dRqDE7SDys/w428-h640/IMG_4509.jpg" width="428" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><br /></div>Pamela </span><span style="font-family: arial;">represented "love" in her ikebana. She spoke about the variety of manifestations of love, including being swept up as well as enwrapped.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43RLW01v6A4mgSMr2kXifw-ysiujNEdbvNHGYo9U3o67X_VkIuf3rkeKI2UE6jbxdLthFPmN1SPJacy8dgE81HPjkvCvO7OIUsdpTUEK9qDDHqX-8PUJDsyN0RU4vcgydIRoQjVB_yswxIL1loJ-PsIqEmqKHYhY3FvsZ28b_cCeGLnY2V5zs_NXuNc0/s1280/IMG_4507.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1280" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43RLW01v6A4mgSMr2kXifw-ysiujNEdbvNHGYo9U3o67X_VkIuf3rkeKI2UE6jbxdLthFPmN1SPJacy8dgE81HPjkvCvO7OIUsdpTUEK9qDDHqX-8PUJDsyN0RU4vcgydIRoQjVB_yswxIL1loJ-PsIqEmqKHYhY3FvsZ28b_cCeGLnY2V5zs_NXuNc0/w640-h378/IMG_4507.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Róża used a dried palm inflorescence and line of tortuous willow in her ikebana. These materials were contrasted with a small green sprig of <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucadendron"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Leucadendron</span></a></i> representing "hope".</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG69xaSpahpJxuN0_eLO4yIa3uNkxPyCCvCuy8p3HmUJiVX37JBfk4UniFGq5mHyTVLblLQxiz4hmeXIyQgNv4yvONkFA4OJIPSTBMnv0ZB6bW_O5r1F0K9p-LW1vmAN81nQRhGlDU5g-2WeIxxIgSMwNwll3WYDIQYgnpjOYCkcExWB9GycTA4YD39bo/s1280/IMG_4503.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1052" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG69xaSpahpJxuN0_eLO4yIa3uNkxPyCCvCuy8p3HmUJiVX37JBfk4UniFGq5mHyTVLblLQxiz4hmeXIyQgNv4yvONkFA4OJIPSTBMnv0ZB6bW_O5r1F0K9p-LW1vmAN81nQRhGlDU5g-2WeIxxIgSMwNwll3WYDIQYgnpjOYCkcExWB9GycTA4YD39bo/w526-h640/IMG_4503.jpeg" width="526" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div>My ikebana this week is a demonstration of the third variation of a Basic Upright ikebana as taught in the Sogetsu curriculum, which I had prepared for a class. I have used Coastal Tea Tree <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptospermum_laevigatum"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Leptospermum laevigatum</span></a> </i>and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centranthus_ruber"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Red Valerian</span></a> <i>Centranthus ruber</i> from the garden. My first Sogetsu teacher used to describe this variation as the one nearest to traditional western floral style because of its placement of the flowers at the centre of the arrangement and being flanked by the branch stems. However, it maintains </span><span style="font-family: arial;">asymmetry of design and is characterised by the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">elements of line, mass and space.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">15th October 2023</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><br /></p></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-79781061030036116332023-10-08T22:59:00.000+11:002023-10-08T22:59:15.453+11:00BASIC UPRIGHT IKEBANA for BEGINNERS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This week I was delighted when the first bud </span><span style="font-family: arial;">in a couple of years opened </span><span style="font-family: arial;">on the Kamo Hon'ami camellia. Unfortunately the plant, which is in a terracotta pot, suffered some serious neglect from me last summer. I have been mending my ways and the little bush is looking healthier than it has since it came into our garden a few years ago. </span></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3KPFqoZc8TZQg36o2pA9IY8fx8v8t74dDUsQWRFBXFrq7kcvtkmcDQ6EwLwHp9eWOvW64gWi53sZgqZVEOihHqCmLidxFONMyJdkt9STMcP0k5rXqfpN1JRLozAr2daj0Q4741JiLWFr6u475cmfXqLpg-wDxjQpbfXtkUJe8YB42iMI7Kqef94-pdg/s1280/IMG_4492.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1155" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3KPFqoZc8TZQg36o2pA9IY8fx8v8t74dDUsQWRFBXFrq7kcvtkmcDQ6EwLwHp9eWOvW64gWi53sZgqZVEOihHqCmLidxFONMyJdkt9STMcP0k5rXqfpN1JRLozAr2daj0Q4741JiLWFr6u475cmfXqLpg-wDxjQpbfXtkUJe8YB42iMI7Kqef94-pdg/w578-h640/IMG_4492.jpg" width="578" /></span></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Last week my senior Geelong students' exercise was to make an ikebana composition "...of Mass and Line". In this exercise, either the mass or the line element should be emphasised. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSSX2SDMR-6giusrQT96giyuT-l67hpEZs0MaFyEigfr49rc-QaPsv3U8OusGPm8d6LF90PNYhSni1Nrlf4pHutxChFaj9dIOUSfAzI5xu9kAAg8TfXN4p05yi50Mu4Pk7MTynATKlwYLGniNypHZENx22fQ67z40PmqkBmnsP8Ch2h_SREdkMBe9N7Y/s1280/IMG_4481.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="858" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSSX2SDMR-6giusrQT96giyuT-l67hpEZs0MaFyEigfr49rc-QaPsv3U8OusGPm8d6LF90PNYhSni1Nrlf4pHutxChFaj9dIOUSfAzI5xu9kAAg8TfXN4p05yi50Mu4Pk7MTynATKlwYLGniNypHZENx22fQ67z40PmqkBmnsP8Ch2h_SREdkMBe9N7Y/w430-h640/IMG_4481.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Tess made this ikebana with a strong line. She then created a small mass of pink Ivy <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geranium"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Geranium</span></a> </i>(which might actually be a<i> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelargonium_peltatum"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Pelargonium</span></a>) </i>that sat beneath the unusual curve of the line element. The mass was carefully constructed so that it extended beyond the opening of the vessel and had an "undulating" surface.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYNZfO9AaiHIAlmnTlRQCYw-Dp22GQNJ2IbYMkJfHhPKUgL5UlCnZyoyJpCw4Oov_3ApQKi47mOFoLUPE4VpLbPkg50TjlLj9Sz0VlCz7wKWOvz22nk5TwU6O3ECwIYJTT2s8XGW8q6SLYSiwqg8RpBPWfDFCOx3ycXFBVSNQwJ9TE08cVvMJc3fOfDo/s1280/IMG_4484.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1280" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYNZfO9AaiHIAlmnTlRQCYw-Dp22GQNJ2IbYMkJfHhPKUgL5UlCnZyoyJpCw4Oov_3ApQKi47mOFoLUPE4VpLbPkg50TjlLj9Sz0VlCz7wKWOvz22nk5TwU6O3ECwIYJTT2s8XGW8q6SLYSiwqg8RpBPWfDFCOx3ycXFBVSNQwJ9TE08cVvMJc3fOfDo/w640-h398/IMG_4484.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p>Tess also made this second rather bold, small ikebana in a box-shaped vessel with a corner opening. The botanical materials are a Yucca leaf, some small succulent rosettes and two dark green ivy leaves.</p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvOuhhgZ3sZ68WlB3jah10U2RM9Tza1Mem0wzBqbuDcOzShrIOiCyzqqwcwDhx0y9yvylsXiIqN2kjbJk3ebBdh_dYXcgy5C40evbsB-db3UfllMtptNVQgdq5VwpaZN5SNXt3v-Cx0Y7ywWJ0h471nf4PZfNv4z_j0pIpLycOiwEe3OJVIWGTV35yJ0/s1280/IMG_4487.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="813" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvOuhhgZ3sZ68WlB3jah10U2RM9Tza1Mem0wzBqbuDcOzShrIOiCyzqqwcwDhx0y9yvylsXiIqN2kjbJk3ebBdh_dYXcgy5C40evbsB-db3UfllMtptNVQgdq5VwpaZN5SNXt3v-Cx0Y7ywWJ0h471nf4PZfNv4z_j0pIpLycOiwEe3OJVIWGTV35yJ0/w406-h640/IMG_4487.jpg" width="406" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p>Ellie made an upright ikebana with two closely-spaced leaves and a mass made with two different kinds of small pink flowers.</p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAiGJ-Vkf0gonmhgT61YSWb2r6QG9qgmAmPRAkBPptDaGGZ_lU1CXjjV1Xk9H67WW0QLW9uvmfPEOy6sePKdsaONJo0OwvqiIutCvvSevV0SJ1I8mp5M0mAy7K3gll5QUdX10B7-PfZE3-E-bbKpOdLC7yzr9ojcOvaX9qY0T6k51pSnL0tl2SLFwY_nA/s1280/IMG_4488.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="1280" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAiGJ-Vkf0gonmhgT61YSWb2r6QG9qgmAmPRAkBPptDaGGZ_lU1CXjjV1Xk9H67WW0QLW9uvmfPEOy6sePKdsaONJo0OwvqiIutCvvSevV0SJ1I8mp5M0mAy7K3gll5QUdX10B7-PfZE3-E-bbKpOdLC7yzr9ojcOvaX9qY0T6k51pSnL0tl2SLFwY_nA/w640-h552/IMG_4488.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p>Her second ikebana also featured pink flowers in an annulus-shaped vessel. A single line connected the two flower masses.</p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQs3jGl39G4e4ANzF9WpiCBosR2zwQjhnRHPkqqL71WqsZwOwLnzDggy8YfLlLAmYv5fGFxVjUOf4cUhPhPtRHPtmM3mudyrJmkJ47LkxmEozJiq77AYkKzvOOe3LwMP5IvPxuYjhSZQTYDJAhHmXKAFLdUHzsIGQKq_mDt1bVN0_bupGf57w8jyLzVc/s1280/IMG_4489.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1218" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQs3jGl39G4e4ANzF9WpiCBosR2zwQjhnRHPkqqL71WqsZwOwLnzDggy8YfLlLAmYv5fGFxVjUOf4cUhPhPtRHPtmM3mudyrJmkJ47LkxmEozJiq77AYkKzvOOe3LwMP5IvPxuYjhSZQTYDJAhHmXKAFLdUHzsIGQKq_mDt1bVN0_bupGf57w8jyLzVc/w610-h640/IMG_4489.jpg" width="610" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p>Her third work was dominated by a strong oblique line that came to a sharp bend and reflected back through a hole in the side of the triangular cross-sectioned vessel. The botanical materials are Bamboo and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phlomis_fruticosa"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Jerusalem Sage</span></a> <i>Phlomis fruticosa</i>.</p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oWLQPtRWu5CvjZFQBmhyphenhyphenCkAfvxXUgHhU-k5Ce1kT236_cqjtDiQRHhc1nBZkncaR6wJHWZoFSbzI3yc7I1kiIzCfrGLfTvwiofHufoHHSQEBNErIhFaPZZi41NxAs5pnpItTyX8x9OXn3DIeU4k9Tftgt3UPkRKf1XYpHUKY9RNth0IugJ-EZZgAnKo/s1280/IMG_4491.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1280" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oWLQPtRWu5CvjZFQBmhyphenhyphenCkAfvxXUgHhU-k5Ce1kT236_cqjtDiQRHhc1nBZkncaR6wJHWZoFSbzI3yc7I1kiIzCfrGLfTvwiofHufoHHSQEBNErIhFaPZZi41NxAs5pnpItTyX8x9OXn3DIeU4k9Tftgt3UPkRKf1XYpHUKY9RNth0IugJ-EZZgAnKo/w640-h540/IMG_4491.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p>Helen's exercise was to make a freestyle work. Her material was the unusual <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_africana-lutea"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Salvia africana-lutea</span></a> </i>which has rust brown flowers. The irregular vessel by Graeme Wilkie proved challenging to achieve this strong horizontal design. The small bright yellow flower is Jerusalem Sage<i>.</i></p></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiRyO7qtopnuuIDdvbcxjYn_nLCc7wqRswhvJKegSC53L7sPhExOeI3PajE6Nlbg1wn-IIm0Q9ISxgxRQC1fJDMmdtktNDADnYAQs-l4Ivclq170H8GagsTLbCWLKzuvkvZkNAbkU2ngCtusjo7BobCSGn7v6_RSAuNiWMS5fuEDR7LVnh08ttPwiv5U/s1280/IMG_4485.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1280" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiRyO7qtopnuuIDdvbcxjYn_nLCc7wqRswhvJKegSC53L7sPhExOeI3PajE6Nlbg1wn-IIm0Q9ISxgxRQC1fJDMmdtktNDADnYAQs-l4Ivclq170H8GagsTLbCWLKzuvkvZkNAbkU2ngCtusjo7BobCSGn7v6_RSAuNiWMS5fuEDR7LVnh08ttPwiv5U/w640-h496/IMG_4485.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Maree's exercise was to make a "seasonal ikebana". She has used Japanese Maple for her branch material. The flowers are yellow <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ranunculus</span></a> and orange <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clivia"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Clivia</span></a>.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">For my own ikebana this week I have created an ikebana arrangement from the basic curriculum. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPfxEKgyqSPc89EDXwikM_Ksk1ajShC2KUbL1DV0z5mEtWZZRkIMaJdjY75YZFaEq0WIYvycptpWLdhKOsmBnC_2zwCW2kYhIuxuG0q_qcG7Mu82BZJWyjsLtb6euTTWN9fv2JcLKW9AVKxaxV7TXc82uCSNUtdnugo_7zYZjVy8lwOpottBTDDIm0JE/s1280/IMG_4500.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="999" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPfxEKgyqSPc89EDXwikM_Ksk1ajShC2KUbL1DV0z5mEtWZZRkIMaJdjY75YZFaEq0WIYvycptpWLdhKOsmBnC_2zwCW2kYhIuxuG0q_qcG7Mu82BZJWyjsLtb6euTTWN9fv2JcLKW9AVKxaxV7TXc82uCSNUtdnugo_7zYZjVy8lwOpottBTDDIm0JE/w500-h640/IMG_4500.jpeg" width="500" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>This ikebana is the first exercise in the Sogetsu curriculum. A "Basic Upright Ikebana". I made this ikebana as a demonstration for members of the Anglesea Art House where I presented a beginners' workshop yesterday. Despite its simplicity of design it is quite elegant. It enables the teacher to show basic techniques and design ideas; and to talk about the history and philosophy of Ikebana and the Sogetsu School in particular.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The branch material I have used is the indigenous <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myoporum_insulare"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Boobialla</span></a> <i>Myoporum insulare, </i>which is common in coastal areas of southern Australia. The flowers are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centranthus_ruber"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Red Valerian</span></a> <i>Centranthus ruber, </i>which I started growing in recent years because it flowers generously and has straight stems that are so desirable for ikebana teaching purposes.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings from Christopher</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">8th October 2023<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><br /></p></div></div>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358231178626926536.post-5878905315878527342023-10-02T18:22:00.000+11:002023-10-02T18:22:29.278+11:00VICTORIAN BRANCH ANNUAL EXHIBITON<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This weekend the Victorian Branch of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana held its annual exhibition in the Linen Room of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbotsford_Convent"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Abbotsford C</span></a></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbotsford_Convent"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">onvent</span></a>. The former convent was sold in 1975 and after a period as a campus of La Trobe University is now a community cultural and arts centre.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The exhibition featured 45 ikebana works by Branch member teachers and some of their students, as well as non-teaching members of the Branch. It was a big undertaking and the resulting exhibition was very pleasing. The layout of the exhibition grouped student work together with the intention of showing a clockwise progression around the space leading to more advanced ikebana by senior members.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22U1JA12NpBIcdW79Ep8h-UL74hIVKv2LPcFjvPa7Ilcxv__t4DYNXirCnKuw3U-VrODzK-xH9B-x_TK252e1Y5XNel6E7OaRieYpBbAC21GTBxgEUDTaW_z8yG-LTnQiHgAtXXkfA7Ic205NTNJCMxB1pqT5kMfEwFEtQbxB9P9kS936pbiIxQq_4SQ/s1280/IMG_4461.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="1280" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22U1JA12NpBIcdW79Ep8h-UL74hIVKv2LPcFjvPa7Ilcxv__t4DYNXirCnKuw3U-VrODzK-xH9B-x_TK252e1Y5XNel6E7OaRieYpBbAC21GTBxgEUDTaW_z8yG-LTnQiHgAtXXkfA7Ic205NTNJCMxB1pqT5kMfEwFEtQbxB9P9kS936pbiIxQq_4SQ/w640-h476/IMG_4461.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><p>An additional feature of the exhibition was the honouring of the bequest of ikebana vessels to the Victorian Branch from the estate of the late teacher, and former Director, Cherie Glaser. Practising teachers were invited to chose one of the vessels in which to set an ikebana arrangement. These ikebana works were grouped together in the centre of the room against Shoji screens as shown in the photo above.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhlfpMKG6YwgR3DWxtAKfVM_h8zt2MjiR_wIUqziKUBPjkhO2gR9BPo6JM1IhYF4WhizQtD0oywzdUyVaeNOPf87of7tUFr1GOCSNRa6xkYyEsvyqAcB1DTOEBhxTlGn1xRotQYM0P8VFPQQTAdu19bwr5i3hUppJZMCRdqIziddXEPhSFOL5vFYPvVM/s1280/IMG_4469.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1038" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhlfpMKG6YwgR3DWxtAKfVM_h8zt2MjiR_wIUqziKUBPjkhO2gR9BPo6JM1IhYF4WhizQtD0oywzdUyVaeNOPf87of7tUFr1GOCSNRa6xkYyEsvyqAcB1DTOEBhxTlGn1xRotQYM0P8VFPQQTAdu19bwr5i3hUppJZMCRdqIziddXEPhSFOL5vFYPvVM/w520-h640/IMG_4469.jpeg" width="520" /></a></div><p>This photo shows a group of ikebana where the exhibitors were using their own vessels. </p><p>Senior members were given the option of making two ikebana arrangements.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPK9DajL20B7taeqsfPrXvNP0-10Romw6mBJGjDtK2qLmpyYSptMAz45SpX1wFBt0uMhd5zghurAJj1kgowHzW8qUXq6gz2XNz54c0NIPwnU0EDKE9qDbYHWGaL2jOWBybyyVyPcQ6Pi2ChgngQ2j9JTWprnqoYg8KlPk94qx2ezPpHBThyphenhyphenMf7poILzp0/s1280/IMG_4473.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="1280" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPK9DajL20B7taeqsfPrXvNP0-10Romw6mBJGjDtK2qLmpyYSptMAz45SpX1wFBt0uMhd5zghurAJj1kgowHzW8qUXq6gz2XNz54c0NIPwnU0EDKE9qDbYHWGaL2jOWBybyyVyPcQ6Pi2ChgngQ2j9JTWprnqoYg8KlPk94qx2ezPpHBThyphenhyphenMf7poILzp0/w640-h510/IMG_4473.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></span></span><p></p><p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is my second ikebana in a Japanese vessel that I had bought from Cherie some years earlier. I have used <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus_lehmannii"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Bushy Yate </span></a><i>Eucalyptus lehmannii </i>with three stages of flower formation: operculum-covered buds, open flowers, and developing seed pods. The latter are against the front surface of the vessel and have yellow spikes.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjePQThcyt1Z6-KdqbKJ_BTBBiMSrr2IZr0LGyJe-wJu76T5BgcU8CSeRMFdfRWz2Wzynosiac-wdAsjb71UVuYPmGIljHqq5D4MO0NiYIrskwrlqGGETusCMQbtVRTTQbE7juW2LItizclWgV2Fubbax0Du6rH0E5wj1hFECT0VIO0-OT8DI7J-zmok/s1280/IMG_4466.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1280" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjePQThcyt1Z6-KdqbKJ_BTBBiMSrr2IZr0LGyJe-wJu76T5BgcU8CSeRMFdfRWz2Wzynosiac-wdAsjb71UVuYPmGIljHqq5D4MO0NiYIrskwrlqGGETusCMQbtVRTTQbE7juW2LItizclWgV2Fubbax0Du6rH0E5wj1hFECT0VIO0-OT8DI7J-zmok/w640-h418/IMG_4466.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;">My first ikebana was made in one of the bequeathed vessels, and was made by the Victorian ceramic artist <a href="https://johnstroomer.com.au/gallery"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">John Stroomer</span></a>. In his career of almost 50 years he has developed a great skill in creating crystalline glazes, in this case a very subtle pale blue. The ikebana I created used what must be the last of Elizabeth's budding Magnolia and a leafy branch of Oak. In the centre between the contrasting branches is a small mass of pale pink to white <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helichrysum"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Helichrysum</span></a> </i>flowers. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I will eventually provide a link to further photos of the exhibition.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Greetings from Christopher<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">2nd October 2023</span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p></p>Christopher Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765329999398356586noreply@blogger.com1