14TH SEPTEMBER, 2026

 

Hello all,

The celebratory arrangement, above, was made using dry branches, one coloured black and the other white. The fresh materials were disbud chrysanthemums and cotoneaster berries.

The stems in the glass arrangement, below, are acanthus, as is the small leaf. The flowers a crucifix orchids.

The autumnal coloured material in the next arrangement is a strawberry stem with hydrangeas at the back.

Agaves feature often in my ikebana and below is another example. The container is a tall and heavy one, necessary to support the heavy agaves as well as the pomegranates.

I, also, used agave in the next arrangement but this time it is much smaller and secondary to the container. The magnolia flower is partially hidden, again, to allow the container to shine.

I look at this next arrangement with sadness because my garrya elliptica tree has since died, thanks to some careless plumbers.

I had to wire the jonquil leaves in the next arrangement, so that I could shape them this way. The arum lily finished the piece.

The arum lilies in the arrangement, below, have been manipulated by me when they were buds to create these curves. At the mouth of the container I placed arum leaves.

I have a large patch of monstera deliciosa plants, so I can afford to cut some even before they unfurl. I love the ceramic container but I avoid using it too often because it is a little unstable.

My sister, Lucy, had gifted me the aluminium, art piece, below. Here I used it as a container on the wall. I used a camellia and Portuguese laurel berries. 

Bye for now,

Emily

7TH SEPTEMBER, 2026

 

Hello all,

Continuing with photos from the archives. The container in the arrangement, above, is one I made many years ago and have used it here with tarnished, copper pipes and blue iris.

The arrangement, below, requires no explanation except that I love the Kamo Hon Ami camellia  and use it as often as I can.

I used a giant philodendron leaf, from which I removed all but one section and placed it in a donut shaped container. The mass of nandina domestica nana adds colour.

I remember making the arrangement, below, as I was trying to find a different way to use aspidistra leaves. I had cut an asymmetric V shape at the top of the leaves and placed them in a row with the taller ones at the front, graduating to the shortest at the back. The berries are from nandina domestica.

The wall arrangement, below, has a winter theme. The bare branches are magnolia soulangiana and the rest are camellias and cotoneaster berries.

The small arrangement, below, is made with beefsteak begonia leaves and a rose in a lopsided vase.

I used jonquil leaves and flowers in the next arrangement. The leaves have been wired and twisted to give a windswept look.

I used floating, cotoneaster berries inside the glass decanter as well as a stem with berries at the tip. The black material is a thick wire.

I made the vase in the next arrangement in the early days of my ikebana journey, when I was quite inexperienced. I have since learnt that the less pattern on a container, the more useable it is. However, I do like it and use it, almost exclusively, with dry, ZN flax flowers.

Bye for now,

Emily