EUCALYPTUS PREISSIANA

Recently I set my Torquay students the exercise of making an ikebana with curving and straight lines. As is always the case, the materials the student brings to class determines to a significant extent how the exercise can be interpreted. 

Coralie used several branches of Acacia aphylla for the curving lines in her ikebana. The unidentified straight lines have been placed centrally and bent at right angles at the top.

Norma brought two Aeonium arboreum inflorescences because they had strong straight stems. However, the mass of the inflorescence had to be trimmed considerably to show the straight line. The curved lines are from an unidentified strappy

leaf that has been split.

Louise used green materials only in her ikebana. The straight lines are stems of sedge and again unidentified curving lines. A small mass of Broom Genisteae has been placed at the base.

Lyn used Manchurian pear Pyrus ussuriensis for the curving lines and a trimmed stem of Statice Limonium for the straight line.  

Pamela made an ikebana showing strong straight lines and a single curving line coming forward. Unfortunately, the camera angle prevents it from showing clearly. The line is in front of the second Yucca leaf from the right side.

 

In the Geelong class recently, Maree used a newly acquired "Mondrian" vase. It is the acrylic vessel in the centre of the photo. Maree supplemented the vase with three clear glass vases. She has reduced the botanical materials to minimal elements which is consistent with Mondrian's abstract style. Her exercise was to make an ikebana "expressing herself". In this case, the aesthetics of minimal elements and the clean lines in midcentury design which reflect her personal taste and style. 

A couple of weeks ago Maureen brought a surplus of Eucalyptus branches to class from a larger tree branch that had fallen in a wind storm. It is the Western Australian Bell-fruited Mallee Eucalyptus preissiana.

This particular plant in the photo is growing in a nearby garden. I have only come across Bell-fruited Mallee in recent years and find it quite beautiful. The rich yellow flowers are 5 cm across and abundant at this time of year.

 

This photo shows both flowers and fruit on the same bush.

This is a close-up of the top of the fruit. In addition to the attractive fruit, what I found particularly striking about the branches Maureen brought to class was their angularity. Strong, straight parallel stems emerged at an angle from the main stem. Also, the unblemished leaves were particularly uniform in colour and form.

I set the branches in an open-sided vase that allowed me to place them in more or less parallel lines at an angle. I have removed a few leaves to emphasise the lines and added a focal mass of Coastal Banksia B integrifolia, flowers and leaves

The vessel is by the Canadian ceramicist Janet Keefe.

Greetings from Christopher
25th August 2024