NO KENZAN

Saturday morning, Laurie walking on the beach as the tide was beginning to go out. In recent weeks a lot of the ever-shifting sand has been washed away, revealing many stones at the base of the cliffs.

We are 'in training', in preparation for a few days' walking-tour along the Nakasendo, in Japan, before we go to the Ikebana International Conference in Okinawa in April.

In the garden we have been very relieved to see new growth on some 30 year-old casaurinas.

We had to have these 6 metre trees lopped because they had become weakened and diseased as a result of serious insect infestations. The resilience and capacity for regrowth of many Australian trees always amazes me, especially after bushfires.

   

Also in the garden the Bursarias have been flowering for about six weeks now. Locally, these shrubby trees can grow to about 6 metres and are attractive for their relatively dense canopy and masses of white flowers in early summer. They are less attractive for their very fine long sharp thorns.

   

Last week I noticed that bright lime green seeds had started to form on one of the smaller bushes while other branches were still in flower. The contrast was rather lovely and I thought these two elements would make an interesting ikebana subject.

I decided to make a 'no kenzan' arrangement as I have not used the technique for a while. This style of arrangement, in a suiban, requires the materials to be self supporting, with the assistance of discrete wiring, so that the space at the bottom of the arrangement is open showing the surface of the water. The water then becomes an important element which the botanical materials rise above. 

Greetings from Christopher
21st January 2017