APRIL MEETING - KOKEDAMA

The guest speaker at Tuesday's meeting was Rachael Binnie, a plant enthusiast who is keen advocate of DIY activities. She is a self-taught expert in the art of making Kokedama, Japanese moss balls. 

Ms Binnie became fascinated by Kokedama when she spent three years living in Japan. At the meeting she demonstrated two styles of making Kokedama, while dispensing practical information about the process of making and maintaining your Kokedama.

This example was made with a very loose style of binding that holds the moss around the outside of the soil mass. 

In her second example Ms Binnie used more twine around the outside moss covering. In some examples the binding is applied in such a way as to make decorative patterning.

Following the guest speaker's presentation Betty Karanikolopoulos demonstrated three examples of Sogetsu Ikebana inspired by Kokedama. Here she is explaining how she covered an inflated balloon with pine needles to resemble a Kokedama.

This is her completed work.

This second example features a sphere covered with Aeonium rosettes.

The third example was made using a sphere of narrow strips of brown paper. The lightness of the materials was such that it could be arranged in a small vase.

Below are members examples of ikebana on the themes of using green materials and inspired by Kokedama.

Lucy Papas.

Angeline Lo.

Chieko Yazaki.

Jenny Loo.

Helen Marriott.

Sally Wilkinson.