IRIS ENSATA

( Oops, re-published with the correct date. December not November.)

In mid-November I set the advanced students of my Geelong class the exercise of making an ikebana in a tsubo vase; that is, a round vase with a relatively narrow opening. In the Sogetsu School practice, one should not use a kenzan in such a vase. The opening in the vase should be greater than the ikebanist's fist and the diameter of the vase should be at least 1.5 times greater than the opening.

Of the three recommended fixing methods taught by the Sogetsu school, one involves using a cross-bar. In this particular class I showed the students how to attach the cross bar using string. The particular advantage of using string is that it enables the ikebanist to swivel the cross bar. It is a useful technique when the opening is too narrow to put one's hand inside the vase. 

Tess used a branch of Cotoneaster, and a small focus of red Grevillea.

Maureen used a branch of Magnolia grandiflora, and a single stem of Asiatic lily for the colour focus.

Ellie's branch material is Eastern ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius, (native of the USA). She has added a subtle contrast with a mass of Queen Anne's lace Daucus carota.

Helen used Mahonia for her branch material and pink Geranium for the floral focus.

Maree's exercise was to make an ikebana in which a surface is created by massing lines. The leaves are from a Yucca plant. The flower inflorescence is possibly Gymnadenia rhellicani. 

Meanwhile in the garden...

...the Japanese iris Iris ensata, has finally flowered. It is a bit late this year, presumably because of a cooler and wetter-than-usual spring. These plants were given to me by my friend and colleague Emily Karanikolopoulos. I have two pots in which I am able to keep the soil wet, which would not be possible in our garden otherwise. The flowers are large with very soft pale blue-purple petals. 

I am not prepared to sacrifice the leaves to make a traditional arrangement as the plants are few and small still. I was pleased to create a modern ikebana setting them with these two inwardly curving New Zealand flax leaves. The shallow bowl is by the Victorian ceramic artist Phil Elson.

Greetings from Christopher

11th December 2022