A CROWDED DIARY .....

Last weekend Australian Plants Expo 2013 was held at St Sava's Church Hall in Greensborough. It is an annual event and showcases native plants and many environmental issues. Ikebana International organised a display...... 

Australian natives tend to have a subtle beauty, of colour and texture. Their struggle to survive in relatively harsh conditions often produces a straggling habit, which may provide some interesting lines for an ikebana arrangement, such as with this xanthorrhoea flower stem.

Emily Karanikolopoulos also demonstrated using Australian native flora and material......

And there are several exciting ikebana events on the horizon. 
Add these dates to your diary now....

......The Gasworks Arts Park at 21 Graham Street, South Melbourne will be the venue for the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Chapter of Ikebana International. From Tuesday 17th September until Sunday 22nd September, between 10am and 4pm. With a cafe on-site friends can enjoy the exhibition as well as share refreshments, so make sure you spread the word.

......There will be an exhibition of Sogetsu ikebana at QDOS Gallery in Lorne by Christopher James and his students, in conjunction with an exhibiton of ceramics by Graeme Wilkie. From Sunday 22nd September until Sunday 6th October. The complement of ikebana and Graeme Wilkie's pots in past years has been spectacular. QDOS Gallery also has a sculpture park and cafe. See roadsideikebana.blogspot.com.au for more details.

......Also on Sunday 22nd September the National Rhododendron Garden at The Georgian Road, Olinda (Mel 66 K6) will celebrate spring with Hanami or Cherry Blossom Day. There will be ikebana arrangements scattered around the beautiful gardens and a demonstration of ikebana techniques at 11 am by Lara Telford. Japanese food, spa treatments, calligraphy and bonsai as well.

So much to choose from!