CHAENOMELES

Two weeks ago I set the senior students of my Geelong class the task of making an Ikebana "taking into account the shape of the vessel". This exercise may include repeating the overall form of the vessel with the botanical materials. It may also include exploiting some aspect of the vessel's form to develop the ikebana.

In this case, Christine has chosen a squat ovoid vase in which she has set purple ornamental Kale. She has then added circular loops of New Zealand Flax Phormium, that has been shredded then dried.

Ellie chose an interesting vessel that can be stood vertically, as used here, or placed horizontally on its narrow side. The position she has used allows for a dramatic upward surge of the Tortuous Willow Salix, lines.  A single red Leucadendron flower provides a floral focal point.

Jo has used a flask-shaped vase with two openings. This has enabled her to emphasise the space below the line of the Banksia blechnifolia branch by the placement of a single leaf in the lower opening of the vase.

Maree has used a vessel with two openings made from a folded ceramic cylinder. She has placed her materials to follow the vertical and horizontal lines of the vessel. Her botanical materials are two Strelitzia flowers and both fresh and dried leaves of New Zealand Flax.

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In the garden...

... Laurie drew my attention to a mess of overturned soil where there is an ant nest beside the path and under the stone edging. What could have done that other than an Echidna?  "Spike", or a relative, has returned to the garden after an absence of more than a year.

We actually first noticed the echidna as it appeared from beneath the small deck at a side door, before we noticed the digging evidence. 

Being inside behind glass and moving very stealthily, I managed to take these photos without disturbing the visitor.

We were delighted to be visited again in spite of needing to clear the soil off the path. It was a very warm sunny day after a stretch of cold weather and we were not surprised to see the Echidna lying on the warm decking for quite a while.

The warmer weather is welcome and heralds the change of the season to spring.

I noticed that the Japanese Flowering Quince, Chaenomeles has put out lots of leaves recently and is less dramatic than the bare flower-covered  branches of mid-winter.

I made this ikebana several weeks ago. The line of the branch with so many flowers caught my eye and I decided that its shape was strong enough to not require additional material.

The small vase is by the Victorian ceramicist Graeme Wilkie.

Greetings from Christopher

6th September 2025