Hello all,

This afternoon we attended the Sogetsu Victoria meeting and workshop. Christopher James led the workshop, demonstrating three different arrangements on the theme 'Glass Containers'.

I made the arrangement, above, using two, rectangular, glass containers. I created triangular shapes with umbrella grass stems and placed them inside and outside of the large container. In the smaller container I placed a small number of triangles and a small anthurium, creating depth in an otherwise flat looking arrangement.

The arrangement, below, was made by Lucy in this unusual, glass decanter, which has a pointed bottom designed to sit in a silver base, which holds it upright. However, it is much more interesting to use it lying down, allowing it to swing creating movement. Lucy used only dietes leaves, in and out of the container.

You may remember the arrangement, below left, from last week's post. I was quite pleased with it at the time. However, after two days and with the pernicious effect of gravity, the materials collapsed, below right.

Original arrangement

After two days

So, reminding myself of the old proverb about lemons and lemonade, I reworked the materials in a nageire container, allowing the droopy agave to be accommodated.

Final arrangement

At our recent Ikebana International monthly meeting our guest speaker was Debra Collett, above, who gave a very interesting and informative presentation on dahlias. She, also, very kindly, brought a large number and variety of dahlias, which were raffled at the end of our meeting. And, in case anyone is interested, The Dahlia Society of Victoria will hold their 2026 Show on Saturday 28th February and Sunday 1st March at the Mount Waverley Community Centre. I, for one, plan to go.

After Debra's presentation, my sister-in-law Toula demonstrated four, very creative arrangements featuring dahlias. The photographs, below, are of Toula and three of her arrangements, curtesy of Lei Wang.

Below is my arrangement using dahlias. I have a flat dish with holes across the centre of it, which I placed over a round suiban into which I placed kenzans. I particularly wanted to use my pinellia pedatisecta leaves with the three dahlias that survived in my garden.

Lucy, in her arrangement, below, used kiwi vine and a small golden elm branch with her dahlias in a cheeky, glass vase. The photograph is by Lei Wang.

Bye for now,

Emily