This picture was taken through a fly-wire screen, hence its blurry appearance

Hello all,
The juvenile kookaburra in the picture, above, landed on my kitchen window sill and stayed there long enough for me to get the camera and capture it. For some years now, we have had a pair of kookaburras coming to our back yard and been hand fed by Sam. We've watched as they produce two chicks every year. We know when they are nesting because only one comes to feed and when it has had enough it takes food in its beak and flies off, obviously, to feed the one sitting on the eggs.

When the chicks are still fledglings we hear their awkward and quite comical cry. Unlike the majestic call of the adults. When they are able to fly, the adults bring the chicks to our garden but they, themselves, sit up high guarding them while they learn to eat. The young remain with the parents to help with the next generation of chicks and only leave when the new chicks become independent. It's a fascinating family cycle.

We love having them visit and being a part of our lives but we, also, appreciate the services they render. Many times we've seen one of them swoop down and pick up a mouse or other rodent. They, also, keep me company whilst I'm working in the garden.

Perched on the rose arbour

And on the rake handle over the bin

We love these birds that have learnt to trust us but they are not very smart. In marked contrast is the cleverness of the ravens and magpies. They have observed that when we give meat to the kookaburras, they beat it against the tree branch to 'kill' it. This means that bits of the meat drop down and the very opportunistic magpies and ravens are quick to pick them up. They have, also observed and learnt the routine. When the kookaburras appear in our garden, Sam, whose office windows face the garden, usually will go out to feed them. Sometimes, however, he may delay, due to clients, phone calls etc. Then the magpie will come to his window making all kinds of sounds, to alert him that the kookaburras are here and he should come and feed them. Now, that's what I call clever!

And, now, back to ikebana.
Last week we had our first Sogetsu meeting for the year. The workshop was run by Lara Telford, who is the current recipient of the Norman and Mary Sparnon scholarship and, who has recently returned from Japan after three months study at headquarters. Lara's theme was number 48 of 'The Fifty Principles of Ikebana' - 'Remember there are always new,surprising themes and approaches to arranging Ikebana.

Lara requested that we plan and sketch a freestyle arrangement using only botanical materials. Then, at the workshop, she asked us to rethink our original plan and come up  with something new.

I had planned to use 2 agave leaves and a garlic flower on a glass base that has two small holes. I was going to cut two sticks to about 10 cm and place in each hole, which would then, pierce the agave at the base, thus holding it upright. My very basic sketch is below and next to it is the my final piece.

Original plan

Rethink

Please go to  Sogetsu Ikebana Victorian Branch  for more information and photos.

In my class, last week, the senior students were given the theme from Book 5 - 'Glass Containers'. In this exercise, because the glass is transparent, the inside of the container is just as important as the outside and, sometimes, even more important. We can even create an arrangement only inside the container.

I used agapanthus seed heads and stems, both curved and straight.
Although it looks as though the seed head on the right is touching
the table, in fact, it isn't

Nicole used New Zealand Flax and
Nandina domestica

Vicky's arrangement is a little hard to see - the container is up-side-down, with one
flower head under and two over the container. There is, also, water in the centre

Lucy used straight agapanthus stems
and 2 bougainvillea flowers in a tall vase

Bredenia used a type of Aeonium, featuring the interesting
curves of the stems

Below are two pieces with the theme from Book Four - 'Arrangement with Plants on a Wall'

Aurelia used a prostrate banksia stem and Singapore orchids

I used gymea leaves and ivy

Before I go, I'd like to give you details of our upcoming Ikebana International Exhibition:
Monday 5th – Friday 9th March
9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Bourke Place Foyer
600 Bourke St, Melbourne

Demonstration (Free): By our Lucy Papas
Tuesday 6th March 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm
‘Mistress Café’ Balcony, Bourke Place Foyer

Bye for now,
Emily

Hello all,

I found the seed pods in the above wall arrangement on a small tree growing by the side of the road. I'm surprised I never noticed it before, as I drive past it several times a week. I would love to hear from anyone, who might know what it is.

Last Wednesday was the first of our classes for the year and, even though we were a little rusty after the break, some good ikebana was produced.

My frilly fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia) has taken over the garden bed, in which I planted it three years ago and, now, needs to be thinned out. So, the theme for class for the senior students was to workshop this fern, which I was able to provide.

I stripped the fern stems half way and massed them in this
basket and added the garlic flower.

Lucy, also, stripped the ferns in this vertical
arrangement and placed a small iris just
peeking above the vase

Vicky used a curved agapanthus stem with the fern fronds

Nicole used wild Queen Anne lace and sedum with the ferns

Here I wanted to feature the lacey look of the fern, so
I stripped the top half, letting the bottom half drape down.
The apricot rose is called 'Lolita' and I've had it for 25 years

The two arrangements, below address the theme 'Paying attention to the Container and the Place Where the arrangement will be put'.

Aurelia's used curved agapanthus stems, which extend beyond
the vase to encompass the space in front.

I used a Viburnum Tomentosum stem to extend over the dining table horizontally and
hydrangea flowers and leaves. If you look closely, you'll see that the viburnum is
flowering, completely out of season.

I was very pleased to have Judith Cougle return to class after a lengthy absence and just as pleased with her 'Simplified Arrangement', below.

Judith used a calla lily, which turned green as it aged
and a leaf from the same plant, which has mutated.

On Tuesday, we had our first Ikebana International meeting for the year. Christopher James was our speaker and demonstrator. He did a very informative presentation on maintenance tips and preservation of materials in ikebana arrangements. He also demonstrated with materials that he had previously treated to last. Please go to II Melbourne for more.

'Memories of Summer Holidays' was the theme for the members' arrangements. Below is mine. I did not go away this summer, but chose to stay home with hubbie and 'rest' without doing chores around the house. Ha! However, the vegetable patch, which is no longer being used because of aggressive root competition from the elm trees, was so overgrown with weeds, that I couldn't stand to look at it. So I snuck out one morning to make  a start and, after removing a section of weeds, I was rewarded by rediscovering some dried branches I had put there year ago. I used the very first of my Belladonna lilies with it in this container I bought from headquarters last year.

Bye for now,
Emily