Spring 23. Ikebana

Simple arrangement using negative space

Use round flowers for this one if possible.

Equipment: tall container with oasis, small sticky pads to secure leaves to the container.

Flowers: 3 round statement flowers, 2 smaller round flowers

Foliage: Phormium or Cordyline leaves, large statement leaf, interesting twig, some moss.

1) Preparation: Soak the oasis and add it to the container. It should sit just below the top of the container.

2) Twig: Add the twig to the back centre of the container. This will define the frame and the negative space for the arrangement.

3) Tall flowers: place these close together in the centre of the oasis. They should look as if they come from the same point but are cut to different heights. Use the smallest bloom for the top one, the next size up for the middle and the largest bloom for the bottom.

4) Leaves: cut the phormium cordyline leaves to create a stiff upright blade cutting the top to a point if needed. Place one at the back between the flowers and the twig. Add a further two to the front LHS bending them over the side of the container. Use the sticky pads to secure them.

5) Small flowers: add these close together to the RHS base of the arrangement.

6) Leaf: add it at an angle to the RHS of the arrangement.

7) Moss: fill in all visible parts of the oasis with moss.

And that is it! Try to balance the twig / flowers / foliage to create interesting negative spaces. Mine wasn’t great for this, but some of them were and they looked great. It creates an interesting balance.