21st March, 2022

Hello all,

My haemanthus lily produced 2 flowers that had to be cut and used. Their short stems are somewhat limiting, so I chose this self-made container in which to display them. Because I don't use this container very often, I had forgotten about it but re-discovered it during some tidying up of the store room. I, also, used dietes leaves and Murraya Paniculata in bud.

It was Vicky's turn to choose a theme for the advanced students and she chose from Book 5, Lesson 14 - 'Composing with Branches - A Two Step Approach'. In this exercise a free standing structure is to be created using cut branches that are joined together. This structure should be interesting enough to stand alone. Then we introduce a container and fresh materials. The branch structure can be used either in its original standing position, or turned in any direction that best fits the container and fresh materials.

Below is my branch structure. I used dried pine branches that were attached to the lower part of the trunk of the tree. I used screws to join the pieces together, then glued some bark over the screw heads to conceal them.

And here it is with a ceramic container, hydrangeas and nerines.

Jenny's dried branches were rhododendron. She wirred her pieces together.

And here is the final arrangement in a ceramic vase with hydrangeas.

Nicole used fine Manchurian pear and apple branches.

She, also, used hydrangeas in a ceramic container to complete her arrangement.

Vicky likes tall arrangements and this was no exception. She used long,silver birch branches, creating contrast between the strong, white stems and the finer, darker ones.

She used a tall, ceramic vase and oriental lilies to complete the piece.

Lucy's material was tall but quite fine. She found it in my store room but I don't remember from which tree it came. She created a delicate balance.

She retained the delicate feeling by using a horizontal elm branch and one crucifix orchid.

Bye for now,

Emily