Ikebana

A novice's adventure in flower arranging

I enjoy flowers of all kinds, from the wildflowers in the fields to those grown and carefully tended around the house. While living in Orlat, Romania, we had planted quite an assortment: zinnias, dahlias, hostas, roses, hydrangeas, a large array of spring bloomers, and more...

Our daughter inherited my love for flowers and has taken it a few steps further by aquiring some not-so-well-known varieties of flowers and foliage, and they all adorn the beds around the house. Starting in spring, there are crocosues, daffodills, and tulips, and as summer comes along, a plethora of blooms in all shapes and colors. And let's not forget the flowering shrubs - the forsithia, snow ball hydrangea, and even a crepe myrtle that isn't thrilled to be planted this far north, but nevertheless still hangs on and puts out a few feeble blooms each summer.

They are all beautiful, enchanting the eye and gladdening the heart, and in order to have them around us more, I like to bring in fresh cut flowers and place bouquets around the house for all to enjoy.

It was our daughter who first suggested that we look into a more formal way of arranging flowers, and she purchased some "flower frogs", which are weighted bases with spikes that hold individual stems in a desired position. These lend themselves particularly well to "ikebana", the Japanese art of flower arranging. I think the philosophy around Ikebana is "less is more," and an arrangement often consists of a single stem complimented by a twig or just a leaf with the vase or support minimized so as not to distract the eye from the subject. Handmade low bowls of raku pottery are preferred for their earthy glazes that allude to naturally occuring materials.

Having given this introduction, I will share now some photos of our foray into the world of ikebana, as we understand and interpret it.

I hope this inspires you to start experimenting with flower arranging too, and if you live in a condo where the HOA doesn't allow you to plant your own flowers, there's always Walmart or the great outdoors, both of which usually have a good selection. So go ahead, add some color and cheer to your day with an arrangement of your own!