Mainline Branch Annual Exhibition at Brandywine Museum of Art (1 of 2)

Our Sogetsu Mainline Branch’s annual exhibition is held on 6/27/2025 to 6/30/2025. We have 17 class members participate in an Ikebana exhibition at the museum. They make a beautiful setting just for us. When the museum open, the visitors will not only see the paintings, art pieces and also see the unique arrangements at the same time. 

My arrangement: I have two trunks of wood, I am thinking about using them to make a floor arrangement. Because of that I am looking for larger branches, a friend of mine who has a big wooded area in her side yard, I have been eyeing on her beautiful azalea bushes for a while, when the time comes, she graciously allow me to cut a branch! It’s perfectly to suit my needs! I am so grateful! I would like to show my arrangement here first, the rest of others will follow.

Sunflower, mum, alstroemeria, philodendron, hosta / ceramic vase 

Displayed between the two pedestal 

Side view 

June Class Lessons (1) - Variation No.5 Slanting Style Moribana

The June class lesson is the last of the season. Followed by our traditional annual potluck lunch.

Lesson (1): This composition is made by the two kabu so that the water surface create the space in good harmony.  Materials: Kangaroo paw plant, Carnation azalea / ceramic suiban  (6/17/2025)

June Class Lesson (2) - Two or More Containers

It’s a summer time, my choice for the containers I think they should be light and airy. So I use two different shapes of the bamboo baskets.  As you can see here I arranged the tall one with some kind of vine to be interesting and the low basket just simple materials.  (6/17/2025)

Solomon seal, mum, feverfew, carnation and azalea 

Sensei’s Demo, using more than two containers.
I am impressed and surprised! Gorgeous! 

Classmate’s arrangement, Three containers 

“Mass, Line and Color” Using Feverfew

It’s a raining and cloudy Father’s Day! I stayed at home preparing for up coming class lessons. At the same time, I used a lot of feverfew tiny flowers that I picked from my garden to make an arrangement “Mass, Line and Color”, in the basket.  (6/15/2025)

With cornflower and horse tail 

With lily and Iris leaves 

Time to Post My Orchids

I just realized what a busy schedule I have in June! Besides doctor’s appointments and class lessons. I also attended I.I. Philadelphia Chapter #71’s event for 60th anniversary celebration luncheon, and went to Brandywine Museum of art to check the site, which MainLine branch will be holding an annual exhibition in the last week of this month.  I have no mood to do Ikebana during this time period!  But it’s time to post my orchids, they are blooming all around from April to June now.  Five are Oncidium orchids, only one is Cattleya (Apple Blossom). Some faded and some are still going strong. 

Oncidium (Sherry Baby, smell like chocolate) 6/12/2026

Oncidium (Pacific Panache) 5/18/2025

Oncidium 5/18/2925

Oncidium (Issaku Nagata)5/9/2025

5/5/2025

5/5/2025

Cattlaye (Apple Blossom) 5/5//2025

4/24/2025

Japanese Irises Arrangements

Summer is coming! Spring flowers are almost gone. I would like to make a couple of arrangements using irises before they disappeared from my garden.

Materials: Japanese irises, Solomon seal and tiny wild flower / bamboo baskets 

The End of the Season- Peony

Here is my last peony arrangement! A small simple piece of ikebana with no particular subject.

Materials: peony, zinnia, ninebark, and small wild white flowers / ceramic 

Peonies - Rearranged

People have named peonies “the king of flowers”. It is a symbol of happiness, prosperity and spring. There’s a Chinese saying: “ Good flowers don’t bloom forever, good times don’t last forever”.   

May Class Lesson - Freestyle, Cross - bar fixture (Jumonji - dome)

As I have always mentioned I like to use seasonal flowers for my arrangement if possible.  Now, I would love the peonies with different colors in my arrangement and I wanted it to be a gorgeous (華麗) one! During our critique, I asked Sensei if it’s there are too many flowers?  But she said: It’s spring! You did a good job, it’s pretty! Indeed, that’s what I meant. 春天就是要華麗的插花!  (5/19/2025)

Horizontal style using cross bar fixture 5/19/2025

Besides peonies, there were mountain laurels 

Back side view, 5/19/2025 in class

Hata Sensei’s Demo, basic style using cross bar fixture 

5/18/2025, tried at home 

cross bar fixture (Jumonji- dome)

For My Own Pleasure - Lilac Arrangement

I had no class for almost two months since March. For those days I was practicing Ikebana for my own pleasure without any subjects or Sensei’s guidance. My arrangement was the lilac (Mrs. Kim) which was in full bloom in my garden, and a porcelain vase which has a unique opening. I thought they were nice together.

5/17/2025

5/16/2025, without the lilac leaves