Melbourne Ikebana will be participating at .......

type='html'>The preparations for the upcoming Family Day at Como Gardens to be held on the 17th February at their beautiful grounds in The Basin, is well under way.

Melbourne Ikebana will be participating with demonstrations and a display.   Many visitors are expected and this gives Melbourne Ikebana a wonderful opportunity to display this art to people who may be new to the concept of Ikebana.

Rainy Day Books at the roundabout in the Basin has already set up their window display featuring an Ikebana flower arrangement surrounded by books dealing with the subject.

(Photographs are covered by Copyright, R-PB)

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Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show

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At the recent prestigious Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, Emily Karanikolopoulos won first prize in the Shop Window Display section with this striking design.     Congratulations!

Emily has won several awards at MIFGS in recent years.

Betty and Toula Karanikolopoulos (yes, they are all related) also won 4th prize in the Shop Window section. We are pleased and proud to share their success.

The five ikebana schools in our chapter constructed "Harmony", a beautiful collaborative arrangement using willow and bamboo, with anthuria and orchids giving accents of colour.

Shogetsudokoryu school

 Sogetsu and Ikenobo schools

Ichiyo and Ohara schools

Ikenobo school

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The Melbourne Chapter had another birthday

type='html'>The Melbourne Chapter of Ikebana International turned 55 this month!

We celebrated with a cake, of course. Marjorie Campkin-Smith, a past president and long-standing member, made a delicious fruit cake. Pat Hetrel, our immediate past President did the honours in serving it.

Japanese gardens Melbourne-style

Trish Nicholls and Pat Hetrel described their separate journeys to make a Japanese gardens within their properties. They have both enjoyed planting out in a Japanese style, creating stone paths and embellishing the result with treasures such as stone lanterns and water basins.

Pat very generously brought packets of seeds to share and has offered to supply cuttings and slips from the  following plants, free of charge, to any member who is interested:

Hydrangea macrophylla
Hydrangea serrata
Iris ensata
Iris Louisiana
Iris japonica
Iris variegated
Iris orientalis (white and yellow flowers)
Enkianthus
Viburnum macrocephalum
Anenome, pink or white
Tricyrtis (toad lily)
Aucuba japonica
Euonymus japonica
Ilex cornuta (holly)
Osmanthus fragrans
Burnet

 

And there were arrangements to suit the season  -

Theresa Feile used grasses in a Japanese basket which she had acquired from Norman Sparnon many years ago. A fitting touch, as he had been the leading light in founding our Chapter.

The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show is adding colour and beauty to the Exhibition Gardens at present.
There are several ikebana displays, including one from our Chapter, showcasing the different schools with a harmonious design concept. 
It will finish on Sunday 30th March. So don't miss the chance to enjoy the artistry and sheer beauty of flowers in such abundance, all enhanced by Melbourne's glorious autumn light.
On Saturday morning, 29th March, there will also be a demonstration of ikebana in the main hall.

If you are unable to be there, watch out for the next blog post. It will have some photos.

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