The colours of autumn

The general meeting on April 8th celebrated autumn....and the traditional Japanese theme of grasses

......and the final stages of last summer's zucchini plant for good measure, with amaranthus
 


   


....with some coppery roadside fungi collected on a walk before the meeting

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The 2014 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show

On March 26th the Exhibition Buildings became an indoor garden and Melbourne Chapter members joined the bustle and excitement once again.

A combined display was set up by the five Melbourne ikebana schools. Using geometric frames a series of arrangements created an autumn melody with the warm tones of Nandina, Chrysanthemum, Dancing Lady orchids playing against the muted harmony of dry branches and the dark containers.

The schools have many differences in technique and philosophy so that a joint enterprise such as this showcases goodwill and our commitment to 'friendship through flowers'.

From left to right the schools represented are : Ohara, Sogetsu, Ikenobo, Sogetsudokoryu and Ichiyo.

                                            

Toula and Betty Karanikolopoulos (Sogetsu) entered their own display. Building a bamboo structure, they used the soft lines of pine and amaranthus as a contrast. There was a delicate harmony created by the variety of green tones from the bamboo and pine, and the red from their amaranthus and anthuria.

Another exhibit in the Shop Window section was by Chieko Yazaki (Shogetsudokoryu) who used traditional hexagonal weave  bamboo panels from Japan.

Finally congratulations to Nici Thomson (Sogetsu) 

whose display with willow and gloriosa lilies won 5th prize!

A diary date

The next general meeting of the Melbourne Chapter of Ikebana International will be held on April 8th at Toorak Uniting Church Hall, 603 Toorak Road, Toorak. The meeting proper will start at 10.30. but from 10 onwards there will be an opportunity to set up an arrangement to suit the season, favouring autumn grasses and leaves.