2nd August, 2021

Cordyline, Green goddess lilies, monstera deliciosa
and aeoniums

Curculigo, agapanthus and alstroemeria psittacina 
leaves.

Hello all,

Above are my two examples of the theme 'With Green Materials Only', which was the lesson for last class. Below are the arrangements made by the students.

Jenny Loo. Gymea leaves, stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus)
and alstroemeria psittacina leaves in ceramic suiban

Vicky Kalokathis. Umbrella grass stems and aspidistra in ceramic container

Lucy Papas. Monstera deliciosa and dietes leaves.
Interesting positioning of the reverse of the monstera leaf
in bamboo container

Nicole McDonald. Umbrella grass stems and aeoniums
in ceramic container

Wendy's curriculum lesson was 'Colours in Contrast'. The most important thing she learnt from this exercise is that daffodils are very difficult to use, especially when trying to make a mass.

Shaneen's curriculum lesson was 'Simplified Arrangements'. I think she nailed it!

Papyrus and fishbone fern

Lei's lesson was 'With Leaves Only'. She used dried cycad leaves to create contrast in colour against the green monstera deliciosa leaves and trimmed back palm frond.

We had a very pleasant, sunny weekend and I took full advantage of both days. On Saturday Sam and I had the four grandkids over for a picnic in the back yard, as we were still not allowed to have visitors in the house. This was a great success. After we ate the yummy but not so healthy foods, we played tic tac toe on the lawn, where I sprayed the grid on the grass and we used paper plates with O and X on them. The hula hoops were also put to great use.

Then we created an obstacle  course and we timed each child as they ran it. They kept trying again  and again in order to reduce their time. It was exhausting but very enjoyable. Sam and I had missed them so much, we loved seeing them.

Sunday was also a good day for outdoors, so I went to my elderly aunty's garden to prune and spray her roses for her. My reward was two stems of her delightful Japanese flowering quince, which flowers a good month before mine.

I have to explain that the stems of the Japonica sweep forward quite 
a way, which is not obvious in the photo. The jonquils from my garden
add colour plus a delicious fragrance, in self made container.

I absolutely adore the combination of Japonica and
Kamo Hon Ami camellias.

Bye for now,

Emily