RED PAPER

In late March, Laurie noticed a flower spike on the Dracaena fragrans in the conservatory.

When I came closer to investigate I was really surprised to see the spike. I had never never thought about the possibility of this variegated Dracaena flowering in the conservatory.  

A week later...

...the small spherical groups of flowers had opened.

I discovered the botanical name of the plant, Dracaena fragrans is most appropriate, as it refers to the sweet scent which became very apparent in the evening. I found that I started to notice the fragrance twelve or more metres away in the corridor that leads to the conservatory. The fragrance must be of the kind that has evolved to attract nocturnal pollinating insects. 

In my Melbourne class last week, I set the students the exercise of making an Ikebana on the curriculum exercise "Showing the lines at the base". The focus of this exercise is to draw attention to the way the stems rise strongly from the vessel without any side branches or leaves causing distraction.

Eugenia used "Lucky bamboo" which is actually Dracaena sanderiana (not a bamboo) and three stems of white Haemanthus, possibly H. pauculifolius. The stems are arranged in a shallow trough and placed so that the materials all face toward the centre of the arrangement.

Jacqueline used three Strelitzia reginae leaves, altering their appearance by removing sections between some secondary veins. Two are placed upright and the one on the left at an angle. Three Gerbera flowers, one all but completely hidden, are set at around half the height of the leaves. This placement ensures that the leaves are the principal subject of the ikebana.

Marisha used Chrysanthemum flowers only in three different colours. She has stripped the leaves from the lower parts of the stems so that they are emphasised.

Marcia used only, Dwarf Japanese anemone Eriocapitella hupehensis. She has set the stems in two groups to create a space in the centre of the ikebana. The upward movement draws the eye toward the four small open flowers.

My own ikebana is a re-working of my thwarted plans for the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. I was intending to participate as a member of Ikebana International Melbourne. Unfortunately I came down with Covid after my visit to Sydney and had to isolate at home. All of the arrangements were to feature the use of an Obi within the ikebana as a uniting feature. 

I was able to re-work the idea without the Obi for the Sogetsu School's Victorian Branch AGM on Monday two weeks ago. The theme we had set for members was to use their favourite material and/or vessel. I chose a large wood-fired ceramic vessel by Ian Jones as being representative of my passion for hand-made ceramics. My favourite material is the twisted branches of Moonah Melaleuca lanceolata, a very wind and salt-hardy tree, commonly found on the cliffs near our home. The vertical lines are three Gymea Doryanthes palmeri leaves. In the absence of suitable flowers I added a colour focus made with two masses of red tissue-paper.

Greetings from Christopher
19th April 2025