"FLOATING" LEAF

In my Geelong class, Maree's exercise was a continuation of the fixing practice necessary when using a Tsubo (spherical) vase. 

In this case, the very long branch on the left side has been stabilised by securing it with a screw to the branch on the right side of the vase. The main branches are Banksia, a mass of Nandina is placed at the front, and the flowers are Gladiolus.

I had given my senior students the task of making a slanting ikebana in a tall vessel and asked them to then make a complementary moribana (literally, heaped flowers) arrangement in a low vessel.

Eugenia used two stems of Banksia and some Everlasting daisies Xerochrysum bracteatum, for her Slanting ikebana. In a low black trough she then arranged branches of semi-prostrate Cootamundra Wattle Acacia baileyana and more Everlasting daisies.

Marisha used Camellia branches in both vessels,  Chrysanthemum and Asiatic lilies Lilium in the tall vessel, and  only Chrysanthemum flowers in the low vessel.

Jacqueline set two Clivia leaves and a stem of Alstromeria in her "tall' vessel. In the lower vessel she used Carnation Dianthus caryophyllus, and Alstromeria flowers.The mass volume was increased with Nandina leaves. 

Maureen used a tall vessel in the centre behind the small suiban at the front. The tall vessel is hard to see against the background because it is very dark. She has used Pin oak Quercus palustris branches and Asiatic lily flowers in both vessels.

Christine has used branches of Manchurian Pear Pyrus ussuriensis, with Nerine sarniensis flowers. The autumnal red in the leaves harmonises closely with the Nerines. 

My own ikebana this week was inspired by the bright yellow of a fading leaf from our Tree Philodrendon Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum. The plant is growing in a pot close to the table where we usually have our lunch. 

Because of the angle of its stem, the leaf would have leant forward if I had set it upright in a vase. My solution was to place it across a shallow bowl by Phil Elson which has a golden brown inner surface and a black underside. The leaf almost appeared to float across the vessel as it extended over the rim on all sides. Because it was dying and would soon start to wither and become brown I felt that I was justified in showing the stem out of water. The addition of a single white incurve Chrysanthemum makes this a bold ikebana in the "One leaf one flower" style. 

Greetings from Christopher

30th March 2025