Arrangement Using Iris

This bearded iris was transplanted from my daughter‘s garden a couple of years ago. It bloomed for the first time! As I walked through the room, the pleasant scent was wafting in the air.

Basic Style Moribana Using Peony

After Mother’s Day, all the peonies and irises became a main feature in my garden, a lot of them are budding and ready to bloom! Here is my basic slanting style moribana using pink peonies, hosta and branches (which I don’t know the name), which spread out like ground cover.

Viewed from above

Changed to white peony

Peony with Moon Shape Container

Same materials like the previous post, but I changed the container from a big rectangular suiban to this round shape metal container. It gives a totally different arrangement!  

Hosta and Wild Flowers

Buttercups, dandelions and violets are wild flowers that you see on the roadside or an open field. They actually look very cute and pretty. Suddenly, an Ikebana idea flashed in my mind! I created an arrangement using them with hostas. 

Hosta, buttercup, dandelion and bleeding heart / ceramic vase

Three Containers Arrangement - Spring Cheer

Here is my final arrangement for May 17th's zoom class, whose subject is using two or more containers.  Hata Sensei will demonstrate and teach us first, and then critique those of us whom submitted arrangements. 

Thanks to Nature, I have no problem finding Ikebana materials from my garden and surroundings during this time of year. Especially my yellow tree peony, which is blooming just in time! I am so fortunate and grateful!

Japanese maple, tree peony, lilac, iris and salvia / wine glasses

Side view

 

Three Containers Arrangement - Color in the Same Tonal Range

Using three different sized wine glasses as my containers. They are transparent (10.5”x 5.5”), green and deep purple (9.5”x 3.5”).  For the materials, I used lilacs, iris, bitter sweet vine and dried vine, and arranged them into three glasses with good balance and harmony!  The glasses of materials are in the same tonal range in color too! 

Two or More Containers Arrangement

The zoom class lesson for May 17th will be making an arrangement using two or more containers. More than two containers is encouraged. Sensei likes to challenge us to be creative!

Here is my first attempt: Two identical tall glass vases, with tree peonies blooming just in time and wild honeysuckle vines, which are everywhere. I use dried wisteria vine to connect two individually arranged vases together as a whole composition.  Thinking about challenging myself, I will use three containers, and that will be in my next post!

Side view

“Sailing Ships” May Virtual Little Show

May is the last chance to submit an entry to MWGC.  The title for this month is “Sailing Ship," just before we break and sail off into the summer months. A creative floral design of movement from wind or .... to mimic a ship’s sail. (all entries must be emailed by 5/18, I submit the second picture below for virtual little show)

Boat shaped ceramic vase with Eastern redbud, crabapple 

and changed to other kiwi vine. The green is Philodendron 

Same container with other materials for another look

Haiku - Happy Mother’s Day

Spring flowering trees are turning green, the daffodils and tulips are gone. But the another wave of spring flowers like azaleas, irises and peonies are blooming! It’s so delightful to stroll around my garden.

I arranged a basket of home grown flowers for all the mothers including myself. Happy Mother’s Day!!

I'd like to share a haiku from my granddaughter, who won a MS poetry contest! This is now a permanent fixture in her Middle School library:

Books are like dragons

Sweep in and fire your life

With wonder and awe.

A haiku she wrote for Mother's Day is below:

Mom, oh sweet sweet mom                                  

How I love you so so much                                  

Make(s) me laugh, happy                                    

                                                                               

Prolonging Its Beauty

Before all my daffodils faded, I used them one more time as my flower materials, arranged them and prolonged their beauty as well. 

Materials: white double miniature daffodil, yellow double daffodil, red Japanese quince and acuba Japonica on right side. Left side green I don’t know the name? Container: red and black ceramic vase, which I like very much,  for a bit larger arrangement.

Miniature and double daffodils with Japanese quince

 

Without Japanese quince

Camellia

I visited my MWGC friend, also a long time member like me. I went to her garden to see her beautiful and strong Camellia bush (or tree) at the end of April. I had tried plant one once for few years but failed. I would like to try again, and so am looking for suitable Camellia (zone 6) for my garden.