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!
In August two workshops provided ideas for celebrating the limited material of the winter season.
Carlyne Patterson (Sogetsu), with her students, demonstrated working with metal and green leaves. It was an chance to be creative, playful and finally use some of that scrap metal which has been hoarded for an opportunity such as this!
At our general meeting on 13th August, also our AGM, Peter Leigh from Post Office Farm Nursery spoke about his specialty, hellebores, the heroes of the winter garden. Apart from the commonly cultivated hybridus variety he introduced us to their diverse foliage, colour and style...including double blooms of many shades, with exquisitely delicate markings. It was easy to see why they are often called 'winter roses'. He recommended cutting the stems once a couple of flowers have developed and then putting them into hot water briefly.
Incidentally, Peter's Nursery, at 934 Ashbourne Road, Woodend, is open on Sundays until the 29th September (inclusive), 10 am to 4 pm.
Inspired by last month's meeting, which focused on camellias, Theresa Feile, Sogetsu, sent this photo of her arrangement of tortuous willow and camellias.
next meeting
Just another reminder that our next meeting is at 10.30 on Tuesday 13th August at the church hall, Toorak Uniting Church, 603 Toorak Rd., Toorak.
Peter Leigh from Post Office Farm Nursery will give an illustrated talk about Hellebores. There is now a fascinating range of colours and variety among these 'winter roses'. He will also bring some plants for sale.
Please bring an arrangement which uses them. Elizabeth Angell will demonstrate as part of the meeting.
