"Summer Passing into Autumn"

Presented by: Karen LaFleur-Stewart - Ohara School

As we ikebanaists realize, the floral compositions of our respective schools are often planned to include symbolism. That is true in the Ohara school…and can be seen in the plans for Karen's demonstration.

By incorporating a mixture of lingering summer plants and emerging fall blooms, the arrangements reflected both the current plants' season of flowers and flowers which suggest and direct to the upcoming season. Concurrently, the plants also symbolize the present and the future.

The Ohara School's well-known Moribana, Karen mingled both current, lingering summer and early fall flowers and branches to echo both present and future. Focused primarily on seasonal flowering plants, Rimpa (or Rinpa) arrangements are clearly in the present, and neither in past nor future, inspired by the decorative arts like the magnificent and well recognized iris screen paintings of the 17th and 18th centuries. Besides seasonal present and future flowers and branches, the Bunjin Heika composition incorporate some of the desk tools of Chinese literati of the 17th and 18th centuries. Composed in a tall vase with Chinese styling, the arrangement, made with plants of Asian origin, accessorized with items which might be on the desks of thoughtful scholars. 

Enjoy viewing the demonstration by Karen and marvel at her completed arrangements.