HOSTA and ALSTROMERIA

This week Roadside Ikebana comes to you from Ottawa. 

One of the famous features of Ottawa is the Rideau Canal which has its northern end in the city. The first of 46 locks is situated between the Parliament buildings and the Chateau Laurier (on the left in the photo). The canal links the Ottawa river, with Lake Ontario, via the Rideau River and the Cataraqui River. The photo shows the lowest lock in this section of the canal.

A short distance away is a bluff overlooking the river, where I came across a planting of materials that are indigenous to the area. The photo above shows a beautiful plant, Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum, which is just turning to seed.

Near by I was delighted to see this extraordinary sculpture which I first saw on our visit in 2014. It is called 'One Hundred Foot Line' and is by the American sculptor Roxy Paine. The artist used the natural growth patterns of trees as his inspiration and model for sculptures in this series.

Below some further ikebana from Hokkaido.

In a tsubo vessel, Eleanor made this ikebana using vine as the principal subject, with some  small Cypress branches and a single yellow Chrysanthemum.

Also, using a tsubo vessel, Aileen made this arrangement with some tall strap-like leaves, a large spider Chrysanthemum with a pinkish centre and some variegated Hosta leaves.

In Ottawa, we visited our friends Leonora and Richard. Leonora organised a gathering of ikebana practitioners for afternoon tea, and conversation about our shared passion. I gave a small demonstration of one ikebana arrangement. Being very limited in the use of my right hand, I was assisted by George.

Among the company were Gail and Wendy.

The material in the ikebana included two Hosta leaves and two stems of Alstroemeria flowers. The higher leaf shows the underside only, and the lower leaf is showing its upper surface. The main mass of the Alstroemeria is situated between the leaves with a couple of flowers below.

Greetings from Christopher

8th June 2025