I.I. Melbourne

I.I. Melbourne

Friday 16 October 2015

NATIVE FLORA

The theme of the meeting on Tuesday was 'Let's Go Native', focussing on the wealth of Australian indigenous plants. Our guest speaker was Mr Barrie Gallacher, a 'Garden Ambassador' and volunteer guide at the Royal Botanic Garden, Cranbourne in Melbourne's outer east. Mr Gallacher gave an excellent virtual tour of the garden using a slideshow. In the opinion of a number of I.I. members at the meeting, this garden is well worth a visit for its presentation of flora from the great range of the diverse botanical environments in Australia.

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Emily Karanikolopoulos, Sogetsu, gave a demonstration of a freestyle ikebana using: Gymea lily leaves, 'spear' grass and red callistemon. 


Above is her completed arrangement. Below are photos of a number arrangements
 setup by members using Australian native materials.



Christopher James: Luecophyta brownii and Lepidosperma gladiatum.



Robyn Unglik: Callistemon and red Eucalyptus flowers.



Thea Sartori: Eucalyptus macrocarpa.




Marcia Lamrock: Banksia spinulosa.




Rosemary Horden: Leptospermum continentale, Actinotus helianthi and a helichrysum. 




Elizabeth Angell: Casurina stricta, red Calistemon and Eucalyptus caesia seed pods.



Leonora Duffield: an I.I. member from Ottawa, Eucalyptus lehmannii.




Eleanor Heath: also from Ottawa, used Leptospermun continental and Waratah.




Nicole McDonald: Eucalyptus bark and Callistemon.




Marjorie Campkin-Smith: Waratah and the fruiting branch of a palm.