Ikebana Class—Moribana and a Natural Development

I got to try the moribana style of ikebana at the most recent class. Ta-da! I also did a traditional arrangement with Turkish flowers. “That’s not their real name,” said the instructor, “but they grow in Turkey, so that’s what Japanese people call them.” She also explained that some western-style arrangements seem claustrophobic to her because all the flowers are smothered in with each other, while ikebana leads the focus to one point, then compliments it. Notice the fronds/leaves all face the tallest pink flower, and all the smaller flowers seem to look up at it. And here are some plants that look like playdoh and are growing all along the houses by the river now. It’s a natural ikebana arrangement. That doesn’t really make sense, because ikebana is supposed to look like nature but better, but what I mean is the flowers are naturally in an arrangement of five. That’s lucky because the Japanese word for five–‘go’–sounds like the word for luck. Ikebana class is excellent, and, again, I’m usually the only person there and get tons of individual attention and training (second and fourth Mondays at 10:30 a.m., MWR shop).