LILIUM BUDS

Recently I asked my U3A students in Torquay to make an ikebana in a suiban to be placed on a table, so that it could be seen from all around. The model for this arrangement is the Sogetsu curriculum variation No 6. This variation has the three principle lines radiating so that from a bird's eye point of view they divide a circle into equal parts.

This is Coralie's ikebana. She has used Eucalyptus for two of the lines and a fine-leafed material for the third. Freesias are partially hidden among the massed material in the centre.

At my Geelong class, Anne made her first freestyle arrangement. We discussed the idea that this means following fundamental principles of ikebana, but not the patterns of the early exercises. She arranged several  branches of pink flowering blossom of different lengths. Their placement is asymmetrical and the kenzan is off-centre in the suiban. Her second material, three stems of daffodils Narcissus, were placed at the back so that they were seen through the screen of branches. 

The senior students' exercise was to make an ikebana incorporating bare branches in the two-step approach. This means first creating a self-supporting structure, which is then incorporated in a vessel with fresh materials. 

Ellie used some dried honeysuckle Lonicera caprifolium, outside her vase, which was contrasted with a mass of dwarf Nandina and Chrysanthemums. A further mass of finely branched material was placed at the back. 

 

Maureen's branches were a fine branching material that had some mustard-coloured lichen. In the photo, the lichen is on the thicker part of the righthand branch. She added some yellow Leucadendron that was supported by the branch material; thus managing without the use of a kenzan.

 

Jo's exercise was to make an ikebana using 'Green materials only'. It made me laugh to see the use of two apples and one Monstera leaf. I thought it was a cheeky-looking ikebana!

Maree set her 'Green materials only' in two shiny metal tins. The curving green lines are the grass-like leaves of a Xanthorrhoea which are very strong and springy. It is the tension of the leaves that is holding smaller tin at the tilted angle.  The other materials are Dianthus 'Green Ball' and a single small Arum lily Zantedeschia leaf.

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A couple of weeks ago I bought some Oriental lilies Lilium, for an event, then did not need them. Being surplus to requirements, I arranged them at home. They are very large flowers, even at this unopened stage, and needed a strong second material to visually balance them. A single large Strelitzia leaf was sufficient for this purpose. The lily stems cross each other so that all the buds are pointing in the same general direction.

The vase is a mid-20th century Japanese ceramic ikebana vessel.

Greetings from Christopher

6th October 2024