Workshop led by Masako Crawford. Theme: Ikebana with Vegetables and Fruit

August 9, 2026 Ikebana Wellington

Masako explaining the origins of some of the fruit and vegetables in her arrangement

Our monthly workshop was held on Sunday August 9 in Khandallah Presbyterian Church Hall. Theme: Vegetables and Fruit in an arrangement Book 2, lesson 16, Book 4, lesson 10.

Masako has provided the following notes:
“Vegetables and fruits in an arrangement / Morimono. In winter we don’t see many flowers in our garden, but we can venture out into the supermarket and our kitchen to see edible materials instead.

Book 2, 16 talks about Morimono to celebrate the bounty of nature by presenting vegetables, fruits including roots, leaves, branches, flowers and fruits. In ikebana plants become more natural and wholesome with leaves and roots to show their growing aspects as well as the three elements of Ikebana; mass, colour and line. “Morimono can be displayed on a tray, a base plate, a cloth, or even on a large leaf.”

Book 4, 10 discusses how to find new charm and beauty in the plant materials which are usually regarded as food. We can arrange vegetables and fruits alone or can add other materials to enhance their unique colours and shapes.

Masako explaining the origins of some of the fruit and vegetables in her arrangement

Masako explaining how she used a whole bunch of celery with chrysanthemums in a low raised vaseh

Masako explaining how she used kale and cocktail tomatoes in her arrangement

Lois arranged several parts of a fennel plant as well as brussel sprouts and a red pepper in a low wooden bowl

Adriana arranged purple carrots, helibores in a matching glass container

In three separate container Lyn arranged a variety of fruit and vegetables including Tahitian limes

Glenys arranged lemons, silver beet and parsley with sliced yellw capsicum in a glass container

Sharon used driftwood to enhance her arrangement of a bunch of carrots, runner beans ugly fruit and small tomatoes on a woven mat

In a glass bowl Sandi arranged a cauliflower and leaves with a dark anthurium and the black roots of ivy

In a tall vase, Sandi arranged seeded rhubarb with grapes and red peppers

In a tall glass container, Elizabeth arranged young leeks with roots, with leaves and a bird of paradise flower

On a brightly decorated plate, Carolyn creatively placed satsuma and yellow flowers

In a low brass dish, Carolyn arranged an orchid stalk, rhubarb, tamarillos and bok choy

Kate arranged a camellia branch with flowers, purple carrots and brussel sprouts beaded together on a piece of driftwood placed on a low container

A large leek is placed with tulips, blossom and jasmine vine in a wide black vase all in a wooden tray

In an open-faced ceramic vase, Kathy arranged a large leek tulips with mandarins and lemons

Penny arranged a tall pikopiko fern tip, dark akeake with beetroot, radishes and pomegranate seeds on a shallow plate

Anne arranged flax, akeake, an arum lily and radishes in a low container

In two glass containers, Helen arranged mandarins and Tahitian limes with trimmed ligularia leaves and a single leucodendron

Marsha arranged a tall banksia branch with onion peel and grape 'flowers' with beaded grapes, stock and cabbage leaves in a raised ceramic container

Workshop led by Kate Graham: Theme 'Creating Movement with Spiral Structures'

July 5, 2026 Ikebana Wellington

Our monthly workshop was held on Sunday July 5 in Khandallah Presbyterian Church Hall, 33 Ganges Road.

Kate has provided the following notes:

In this workshop we will make spiral structures using bamboo skewers to incorporate in our arrangements. You will need to bring a packet of a least 100 skewers. They can be any length depending on the arrangement you will use them in.

In the picture below I used 20cm and 15cm lengths.

I will bring some cotton string and also some spray paint in white, red and gold which we will hopefully have time to use.

Please bring a container and simple materials for an arrangement.”

Kate demonstrating how to use skewers to enhance an arrangement

Kate used two with hazel branches with twisted skewers in a large ceramic vase

Kate demonstrating how to use skewers to enhance an arrangement

Carolyn arranged coprosma branches with a single chrysanthemum and twisted skewers in a ridged, raised container

Penny arranged used tall chrysanthemum and tulips with low hebe sprigs and a simple circle of skewers in a large black suiban container

Kathy arranged bird of paradise flowers and leaves with twisted skewers in a side opening container

Helen arranged vine and a single protea with twisted skewers in an interesting ceramic vase

Adriana arranged winter roses with twisted skewers around and under the glass vase

Yoko arranged kawakawa and small chrysanthemums with dyed, twisted skewers in a ceramic vase

Lyn arranged lilies and a delicate sprig with twisted skewers in a round low container

Sudama arranged a single camellia with twisted willow and skewers in a blue narrow vase

Sandi arranged tulips, protea, leaves and pohutukawa branches with twisted skewers in a round pottery container

Elizabeth stringing her dyed skewers

A Workshop led by Kathy Kerry: Theme 'Using Only One Kind of Material'

June 24, 2026 Ikebana Wellington

Kathy arranging strelitzia leaves, buds and flowers in a black raised container

Our monthly workshop was held on Sunday June 14, in Khandallah Presbyterian Church Hall, 33 Ganges Road.

Kathy has provided the following notes:
“Theme Book 4, lesson 4, Using Only One Kind of Material.
The material can be only one kind, it can be fresh branches, leaves or flowers in any style. Please choose different materials including, flax, geraniums, hydrangeas, angelica, chrysanthemums, buttercups, alstroemeria, agapanthus. Being mid winter the options are somewhat limited.”