IKEBANA: THE ART OF JAPANESE FLOWER ARRANGING

In Japanese “ike” means “make it alive” and “bana” means “flowers”. There is a belief in Japan that plants and flowers are more spiritual than animals as they still grow after being cut from their original roots.  The art of Ikebana was developed to please guests but also as an offering to the ancestors and it includes methods of composition and techniques that are rich in meaning and in cultural history.

Kazuko Iwai will show you how to make flowers last longer and introduce you to the art of arranging in this fascinating style. This session will focus on what we have available to us seasonally and how we can make stunning displays without spending a huge amount of money. Please bring your own plant scissors if you have them. If you have a vase at home that you wish to arrange, please bring it along. There will be a selection of low-cost vases available for sale for a gold coin on the day. The fee includes flowers and foliage which you will get to arrange AND then take home!