Ikebana Floral Design

Rebecca's Garden : Episode REB-716 -- More Projects »
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This floral arrangement represents Ikebana, the ancient Japanese art of flower arranging.
Elegant, simplistic, romantic and architectural--this is ikebana, the ancient Japanese art of flower arranging. Unlike Western bouquets, which are often loaded with bold colors and large sprays of flowers, ikebana is steeped in symbolism. Materials are used to express the passing of time, lines are used to mimic nature. Instead of full-blown blooms that simply wither and die, buds and branches are generally used.

Creating a piece of living art doesn't come easily. In fact, understanding the art of ikebana takes five years or more of training. For student Mary Rivett who has been working on the art since 1990, ikebana is a link to a childhood dream.

"I've been enchanted with ikebana since I was very small," she says. "Ikebana lends a sense of calmness and serenity, and the flower arrangements are very beautiful and very serene. The designs are simple, not busy and hectic like most of our lives are now. I love this style of floral arranging."

There's nothing hectic about this type of floral arranging, but there are strict guidelines and styles to follow.

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Figure A
Moribana (figure A) is the newest style and has a touch of Western influence. Flat, low containers are always used. The arrangement is more formal and always harmonizes with the room in which it's displayed.
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Figure B
Nageire (figure B) is a freer, more informal style that uses taller containers. It emphasizes naturalism and showcases the materials used in the arrangement. Flower stems stand apart to show natural growth.
In either style, the main elements are the same. Each must consist of three main branches, stems or flowers. These symbolize "shin" which means heaven, "soe" or mankind and "hikae" which means earth.

The tall branch, or the shin, should be one-and-a-half or two times the length of the container. The second branch, or soe, should be three-fourths the length of the shin, and the hikae is three-fourths the length of the soe. In the end, these three elements form a triangle. Using those parameters, use the plant material as a source for inspiration.

Next consider the passage of time--this is symbolic of ikebana. Branches and flowers are carefully selected to last, change and represent nature. It's a living art form. Flowers never stay the same, so the arrangement created today will not be the same tomorrow.

Also in this Episode
Rebecca's Garden : Episode REB-716
•Ikebana Floral Design
•Growing an Indoor Herb Garden
•Herbal Bath Bombs