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.
