While hanging socks to dry last week...
...I was startled when this Australian King Parrot came and perched on the line. I was surprised by its unusually bold behaviour, which would suggest it was used to being fed by someone nearby. Judging from its plumage colouring, it was most likely a juvenile male. It was a lovely brief visit.
In a recent Geelong class......
...Heather's exercise was to make a Basic Upright nageire ikebana using a vertical fixture. Her materials were Silky Oak Grevillia robusta, and Hibiscus.
Anne's exercise was the first in Book 3 of the Sogetsu curriculum, a Vertical Ikebana. Her materials were dried Pampas grass Cortoderia selloana and Common stock Mathiola incana.
In the same Geelong class I set the senior students the exercise of making an ikebana that extends the work beyond the vessel, so that it is not simply an ikebana within the vessel. In this case it is acceptable for the materials to touch the surface of the table. However, it must not look like the material has fallen onto the surface. The placement must be quite deliberate.
Jo used a large branch of dried Corokia that had been sprayed red, the main stem of which extended to the left. She added some lengths of bamboo that stood on the right side of the work and were supported by the tangle of the Corokia branches.
Maree created an unexpected interpretation of the exercise. Her principal material was two stones of the same kind. One was set within the vessel and the second placed on the table top. The botanical material was Banksia leaves and orange Chrysanthemum flowers.
Ellie used dried branch material which she stood on both sides, outside the vessel. Her fresh botanical materials were Acacia and Straw flowers Xerochrysm bracteatum.
Helen used a strong, dried branch set on a similarly-coloured vessel with a striated surface complementing the surface of the branch. Helen added three Forelle pears Pyrus, to add freshness and another colour to an otherwise monochrome arrangement. Unfortunately, this camera angle only shows the stalk of the third pear that is behind the lower part of the branch.
Christine has used several flowering branches of Pincushion Hakea H. laurina. The branches stretch strongly to the right while floating above the table surface. The base of a single small branch has been allowed to project to the left of the vessel.
Maureen has extended her ikebana to the left by using a curling dried branch that sits on the table and connects to the tallest vase. The ikebana also stretches to the right by the addition of a small colour-matched vase which has a green Bracken fern Pteridium aquilinum, stem extending to the right. The floral material is Ornamental cabbage Brassica oleracea
Today is the winter solstice in Australia, our shortest day of the year. Its is appropriately cold and damp, 12C in the middle of the day and drizzling .
My autumn-looking ikebana is therefore a little unseasonal. Our autumn and winter temperatures have been milder than usual, especially the overnight temperatures. So the last of the late hydrangea flowers have only recently darkened to their richer autumn tonings. A few weeks ago I spotted the red berries of this Cotoneaster and was taken by the long straight line of the branch. I arranged it naturalistically and added a small Hydrangea flower with some yellow leaves. The vase is by the American ceramic artist Mark Bell.
Greetings from Christopher
21st June 2026
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