24TH MARCH, 2025

 

Hello all,

Vicky suggested we make an arrangement in a fish bowl container and I agreed. This falls into the theme 'Glass Containers' with an added requirement of all the containers being the same. We all enjoyed the exercise but had great difficulty in photographing our arrangements. The spherical shape of the fish bowl reflected light all around, thus blocking some of the interior of the container.

For my arrangement, above, I created triangles using umbrella grass stems (cyperus alternifolius) and built up a structure inside and outside of the bowl. The amaranthus and Japanese anemones softened the dramatic structure. I should explain that my structure was sitting higher, off the bottom of the bowl but, when I tried to vacuum some rubbish that had fallen to the bottom, I upset the balance and there was no way I was going to start from scratch.

Jenny used only two materials in her bowl - yellow calla lilies and asparagus foxtail ferns. When using the inside of a glass container it is important not to clutter up the space, so using few materials is ideal. 

Vicky used a small fish bowl inside a large one. She curved dietes leaves in both bowls and added a single dahlia as an accent of colour.

Lucy was unable to attend class but she was not going to miss out, so she made, not one but two arrangements and sent the photographs to me to share with the class. I'm including just the one here. The shape of the large branch of contorted hazel (corylus) is enhanced by the magnification of the water in the glass. Lucy submerged cathedral begonia leaves, which, to me, look like underwater seaweed.

Nicole used weeping willow to create curves to follow the shape of the bowl, then added hydrangeas in autumnal colours and berries from Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica). 

Mary used only green materials and relied on texture and variations in colour for interest. She chose aspidistra leaves, pleated curculigo leaves and squiggle grass.

Wendy's curriculum theme was 'Table Arrangements'. Because the arrangement in this exercise is close to the guests seated at the table, great care must be taken with the fine details. Also, it must be kept low so as not to obstruct the view of the guests. Wendy used a number of delicate materials in two, newly acquired containers. Her materials were pittosporum, tulips, cosmos and bouganvilia.

Lei's revision arrangement was 'Tsubo vases'. She used fig branches, chrysanthemums and fennel flowers in a large ceramic container.

This past week we had some interesting visitors in our back yard. We were quite delighted to see the 6 ibises (yes, that's the correct plural for ibis. I looked it up) grazing for hours on our lawn. I photographed them many times but was unable to get close because they sensed me and shied away.

I felt honoured that they graced us with their presence, however, that feeling was somewhat dampened when, while crossing the lawn I discovered a multitude of black things on the grass. On closer inspection, they turned out to be bird droppings but not the usual kind. These were commensurate with the size of the birds. Let's think of it as free fertilizer.

And, a gentle reminder that the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show is on - Wednesday to Sunday. This is the largest show of its kind in the southern hemisphere and well worth visiting. Lucy and I will be there tomorrow, finalizing our exhibit.

Bye for now,

Emily