A DIFFERENT APPROACH

Early last summer we planted some new Correa bushes in an area of the garden that had become rather bare as older plants reached the end of their natural lives. These Correas are fairly small shrubs and make good ground covers under the partial shade of some larger trees. Although most of these are cultivars we are happy to have the new additions to our garden which also has indigenous Correas which are not bothered by our hydrophobic sandy soil.

The following photos show first the rather small bush, then the dainty bell-shaped flower belonging to that bush.

  

The protruding stamens from this flower create a colour contrast to the pink of the flower.

This bush has been planted by the garden path where it is filling in an empty space left by an earlier shrub.

The more open flower on this bush is the most open of the new plants and is less pendulous that the others, allowing the centre of the flower to be seen. 

  

As you can see with this orangey-coloured flower, the inner side of the petals are much lighter.

The same is true of this pale pink flower...

...which also has reflected tips to the petals.

Now to ikebana. A month ago the Victorian Branch of the Sogetsu School held what has turned out to be the last meeting prior to the regulations against gatherings of people in groups. The theme of the meeting was the Sogetsu curriculum exercise of making ikebana 'Taking into account the shape of the vessel'. 

Unfortunately our presenter Aileen was unable to attend the meeting and, at short notice, I had to do the demonstration. I was able to show photos of two examples that Aileen had prepared in advance which are on the Victorian Branch website, (16th March 2020).

My thinking about this was that the two most obvious options would be to contrast the ikebana with the shape of the vessel or to complement the shape of the vessel.

In my first demonstration example I have contrasted the round shape of the vessel with a geometric design of straight lines made with agapanthus stems. I used the spent flowers with seeds removed to create a focal point in the work. Using just green material has also contrasted strongly with the black of the vessel.

In my second demonstration I have complemented the strong curving lines of this unusual vessel. The banana and passion fruit emphasise the vessel by make curving lines that move in the opposite direction. I had actually tried to make the two dietes leaves curve the same way as the banana. However, they would not cooperate so I quickly changed my plan and followed the curve of the vessel.

I was particularly interested to see the ikebana by Akemi Suzuki, above. She took a different approach. She used a round red glass vessel with a closed top and a hole in the side. She arranged her materials to appear to be issuing out from the side of the vessel. This is yet another way of interpreting the theme: 'Taking into account the shape of the vessel"

Greetings from Christopher
19th April 2020