FAREWELL TO HOKKAIDO

In Hokkaido we caught this view of Mt Yōtei, in the distance across Lake Tōya, a crater lake to the south of Niseko Hirafu, We had travelled there the day before our departure to Canada. 

In Canada the first city we visited was Toronto where we previously had a brief stay in 2018. That earlier visit left us keen to return to see more of the cultural life of the city. 

I was pleased that we were able to visit the Gardiner (ceramics) Museum. We also visited the Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario. We were also able to attend a short evening recital at ROM as well as attending a Beethoven concert with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. 

This photo shows Laurie in front of a large concave-fronted building, which made the reflection of the flat-fronted building on the opposite side of the road appear convex.

On our second last day in Toronto, we took a ferry out to a small group of very low offshore islands in Lake Ontario, which were formed from sandbars. Since I was 8 years old I have lived on the southern sea coast of Victoria. I find it very strange to think that this huge body of water that disappears over the horizon is all fresh water.

It was delightful to walk in a less crowded place and in nature's greenery. The photo above shows a large flock of Canada geese with quite a number of goslings. The small fry seem to be being protected by all of the adults, not just the individual parents.

The islands are very low to the water level, but are able to support some large and obviously very old trees like the huge willow behind me in the photo.

The view of the city made a striking contrast from the island.  The Toronto skyline is dominated by the enormous CN Tower. 

The following ikebana photos were made with purchased materials, supplemented with others foraged from around Niseko Hirafu a couple of weeks ago. 

Eleanor used two New Zealand Flax leaves Phormium and Wintercress Barbarea vulgaris in a shallow trough.

Andy arranged Narcissus and a large unidentified leaf in a tall footed vessel.

  

In a shallow trough, Aileen arranged Indian hellebore Veratrum viride as a receding mass, with a single yellow tulip.

 

While foraging for wild materials I came across an unidentified vine.

The vine is the principle subject of my ikebana which I arranged in a tsubo, spherical vessel. I added an unknown green branch material, pink flowers and two white tulips.

The arrangement met the criteria for the Sogetsu curriculum exercise, as one to be 'seen from all angles'. Such an ikebana needs to present a different appearance from each angle.

Greetings from Christopher

1st June 2025