A couple of weeks ago I commented on the warmer than usual autumn and winter weather. Since then we have had a reasonable amount of rain and much cooler weather.
However, we have also had days where the sun has shone, giving a very summery appearance to the terrace outside the conservatory, despite the really very cool air temperature. This photo was taken just last weekend.
In my Melbourne class...
Julie-Anne's exercise was to make a Variation No 2 Upright nagerire ikebana with unidentified branch material and Chrysanthemums.
The senior students' exercise was to make an ikebana in which the materials were intertwined, and using two vessels, .
Jacqueline had brought some very long, bare stems of Japanese Ivy Parthenocissus tricuspidata. The long tendrils were woven in and around a bare branch that was supported by the vase at the rear. Two large white Chrysanthemums were floated in the bowl at the front.
Yesterday, I finally got around to doing some pruning of two climbing plants in the conservatory, a Mandevillea splendens that has reached the ceiling and...
...this variegated Bougainvillea which, has bright pink bracts. Some of the branches were cascading below the shelf on which it sits. It was looking untidy so I also tip-pruned it to make the growth more compact.
So what does an ikebanist do with pruned branches?
Give them a second life in a vase! After removing the long, viciously sharp thorns, and stabbing myself in the process, I was able to insert the remainder of the stem through the narrow mouth of the bottle-shaped vase. For a second element that complemented the delicate paper-like bracts and pale leaves, I chose a dried Aspidistra leaf that had turned a beautiful amber colour. I secured it into the vase so that a space was created between the two elements. The leaf has a twist in it that turns the upper surface toward the viewer. toward its top.
The vase by the late Barrie Singleton, has an off-white surface that was sprayed with a copper-red glaze which has run slightly during the firing process.
Greetings from Christopher
5th July 2026
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