The Three Garden Beds

June 1 / 2026, was the last class lessons for the session. We will take break for July and August, new session will start on September. I started my first class lessons last November at DPW group, five lessons in total by now. Although I am eager to attend classes, I am also concerned about causing too much trouble for family members involved, but my daughter is worrying about my depression, she thinks the Ikebana will help me and lift up my spirits, so she made a schedule who’s taking care of dad and who’s driving mom, so I could go to ikebana class. I am no longer so easily saddened and tearful since I have started taking antidepressants, but it makes me low energy, headache, withdrawal and fatigue. To gain my strength, I have a caretaker come to take care of my husband few times a week to give me a break. I also hired a landscaper to make three small garden beds, one I enlarged the existing front yard, one in a front left side yard and one in backyard. So, I can do some gardening work and etc…

Enlarge the front yard

Front yard 

Front yard 

Close view of the front yard 

Left side front yard 

Back yard 

June Class Lesson (3) - Dried, Bleached, Colored Materials

This subject was no problem for me! I had collected a few dried materials, but finding a suitable container was a little challenging. Here was my arrangement which I made with dried Cycas Sago Palm (蘇鉄) and bark. The Protea Pincushion was provided. 

The pictures below were gradually turned into what it’s now. 

The final version 

Less is more, one palm only 

Sensei wanted me to make palm higher

Tried at home 

June Class Lesson (2) - Massed Expression

Three elements “Line, Color, and Mass”. The third element is Mass. I had a hard time finding a container I’d like to use; I also like to bring my own beautiful peonies to be part of it. (6/1/2026)

I like this arrangement by classmate

Tried it at home, mugo pine and peonies 

June Class Lesson (1) - Combined Styles

Variation No.8 Moribana and Nageire combined style. The completed arrangement with their own individual beauty combined to create a whole new composition. (6/1/2026)

Materials: mums provided, the lilac branches cut from my back yard.