WATTLE

The climbing Lorraine Lee rose bud I showed last week has opened along with a few others, much to my delight. 

Their short stems make them a bit difficult to use in ikebana. 

However, they are so high from the ground they are rather hard to pick anyway. When more flowers are open the fragrance on the terrace will be delightful. 

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I had to cut the top off the Cootamundra Wattle, Acacia Baileyana, because of a borer infestation. It is now in full bloom and cascading over the path. I do hope that the treatment I gave it works and that it lasts a few more years.

Here it is seen from the bathroom window where it is a bright yellow screen at this time of year.

It is interesting that the prostrate version of the Acacia Baileyana flowers a few weeks later, creating a mass of yellow blossom carpeting the ground.  I felt that this week's ikebana had to include the wattle flowers before they are damaged by winter rains.

Wattle dries rapidly after picking, but can do well with the following treatment. As soon as possible after picking, strip leaves from the  stem that will be underwater. I also give it a quick wipe with detergent if it is dirty. Re-cut the stem underwater removing about 3 - 4cm. Then place in warm water (40C) with 1% white vinegar solution (10ml per litre) and leave in a cool place for a couple of hours or overnight if possible *. A few drops of bleach will also prevent the growth of mould and bacteria on the stem, which restrict the uptake of water.

The second material I decided to use was the leaves of the Gymea lily Doryanthus, which are very broad. These leaves are excellent ikebana material because they are long lasting and their robustness allows them to be manipulated into interesting shapes.

I wanted to show the broad surface of the leaves and have formed three open rectangles that sit on their sides on this box-shaped ikebana vase.

The mass of wattle has been arranged in the opening created by the lowest of the rectangles.  The leaves pick up the rectangular form of the vase which was made by the Canadian potter, Leta Cormier. 

Greetings from Christopher
4th August 2019


*  Dr R Jones. "Post-harvest care of cut flowers". Institute of Plant Sciences, Knoxfield Campus. 1991.