FROM DESTRUCTION, RENEWAL

In the first week of January this year I reported on the destruction by wind storm of a large old White Oak, Quercus alba, in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

The tree was 130 years old and split apart at a point where it had become weakened by age. Fortunately the tree had protective fencing around it before the storm because the Gardens' staff had observed splitting in some part of the tree and feared branches falling. It was a very sad sight for a long time while the Gardens' management decided what to do with the remains of the tree. 

I was delighted when I visited the Gardens for the first time at the end of the 112 days of Melbourne's lockdown, to see that a new project had begun on the remains of the tree.

It seems that the new project is to make a gathering place for visitors to the Gardens by turning the fallen branches into informal seating and perhaps tables. Volunteers from the Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking recently visited the site and shared their knowledge and skills with the project team.

The main trunk has been left in position and decorative carving has been done at its base.

This photos shows some large branches that have been carved and  interlocked to create bench seating.

      

A sense of playfulness in the execution of the project is one of its delightful aspects.

This photo shows the replacement tree, a Valley Oak, Quercus lobata, native to California and therefore more likely to survive in Melbourne's predicted drying climate.

In our own garden at the end of last summer I had to prune the Marguerite Daisy, Argyranthemum frutescens, which had become very untidy and overgrown.

This is a small section of the bush as it is today. When I pruned the bush I immediately recognised the ikebana potential of the branching stems, so I hung them up to dry out. Later I stripped the withered leaves off the branches and created a structure, securing two together, before spraying them with gold paint. 

When I see painted branches, especially in ikebana, I am reminded of Mr Tetsunori Kawana's wisdom. At a workshop he said, painted branches should no longer be thought of as branches but as a sculptural form which has that particular shape. Having created this golden sculpture, I used it in February this year at the Consul General of Japan's residence for the reigning Emperor's birthday celebration.

Last week I refreshed the paint and re-used the sculpture for the end of year celebration at the final meeting of Ikebana International Melbourne. I have added a mass of green and white using Feverfew, Tanacetum parthenium, from our garden supplemented by the red and green of Alstromeria psittacina. Follow this link to the I.I. Melbourne blog for further photos from the meeting.

The ceramic bowl is by the Castlemaine ceramic artist Phil Elson.  

Greetings from Christopher

19th December 2020