This beautiful arrangement sat on a granite table welcoming us!!! The 3 terracotta pots were hand painted in black, red and orange to such beauty and perfection, complete with mirror work!! The dry vine and an artificial flower made it even more beautiful!! Meenu expressed her joy on her Ikebana (that started twenty years ago with Malathi Sensei) coming a full circle! She had planned three arrangements for her demonstration. One each in Moribana, Nageire and Free Style.
She began with the Nageire arrangement in a Green Fibre Glass container (by Suma Eapen). The materials were Cannon Ball Tree Branches and Asia Lillies. She explained briefly about the angles and measurements of each stem. She finished the arrangement with ease to the applause of the whole group.
The next one was the Moribana. The beautiful and wide container is from Auroville. She used Heliconia flowers and leaves to demonstrate the ‘missing style’ where the Soe is omitted. She used separate kenzans to place the Shin and Hikae. The space between the separate Kabu (groups) was created with artistic tension!
She finished her demonstration with a free style arrangement . She used beautiful drift wood (from Haridwar), Red Asia Lillies, White coloured Anthuriums, Mehndi (Maruthani) branches and some Star Daisies in a beautiful blue coloured square glass plate to depict a “Pond Scene”. The show of water added a coolness to the arrangement. It turned out to be a gorgeous piece!!
I was looking for some sign of nervousness or tension or atleast a light trembling of hands from Meenu during the Demo, but she did not seem at all to understand what they are !! (Seriously! I am already nervous about MY DEMO which will happen after ……… some years!!!). I am sure Meenu was in paradise when Malathi Sensei congratulated and appreciated her achievement and work!! All the members of the Sogetsu Chennai group who were present and absent congratulate you for your achievement Meenu!! Keep it up and keep going! I am sure you will make it “BIG” in Ikebana like Malathi Sensei once wished!!
Some other members did arrangements as well. Here is Chitra’s moribana in a green shell shaped vase usiing vines, chrysanthemums, money plant leaves, branches and some bleached material.
Pushkala did 2 arrangements. This one in a nice moribana vase with ficus branches and carnations.
This nageire arrangement is also by Pushkala. Materials are Ixora & Gerberas.
Another view of the arrangement
Seetha brought a lovely boat shaped granite vase. She used cigar lillies, chrysanthemums, some orchids and leaves to create this arrangement. The arrangement could be viewed from all sides!!
Venkatesh used this vase (from Auroville) to create an arrangement using 5 materials. He used Anthuriums, Dry Vines, Carnation, Gerbera and Cypress leaves.
The fragrance of the Punjabi Dishes cooking was too irresistable and we moved to the dining hall. And there…. Was this absolutely beautiful Ikebana on the table!! She had plaited leaves to form this lovely shape on a plate with motiff of a bunch of grapes. Flowers in different colours were added at the back so that the arrangement had different views from different angles!! It was perfect for the dining table!!
Meenu, despite her not-so-okay leg had taken all the pain to create a great variety of dishes – Delicious Dal Makhani (my jaws dropped when I heard that it has to cook overnight in a low flame – or atleast for 8 hours!!!), Kadai Paneer, Parathas (thank you Vaishali & Prerana for bringing along different varieties), Cauli Flower & Carrot pickle, Carrot Halwa, Pineapple Raitha, Jeera Rice and a salad – (sorry, I don’t remember the name because I missed it somehow – such a pity). Thank you Pushkala for the nice Mysore Pak!!
Padma Ma’am , Trishala and Dally we missed you. And you did miss the nice demo and great food!!
There was one more greeeeeaaaattttt event we were celebrating. Malathi Sensei and Pandurang Uncle celebrated their 50th Wedding Annivrsary two weeks ago!!! Wow!!!!! I have no words to describe how happy we all feel for the sweet and graceful couple!! May they be blessed with many more wonderful years of togetherness. Sensei was overwhelmed, shall I say, when the group gave her a surprise gift!! Thank you so much Ambika for keeping the secret a secret till the last moment! I would have gone into therapy if I had to keep a secret for such a long time!!
All the while, The Buddha lay there silent, serene and enlightened - witnessing the happenings and suggesting that we could achieve THAT through the way of the flowers - Ikebana!!
The next workshop is scheduled for Monday, 14th December at Malathi Sensei’s residence. The theme is Tate-No-Soegi-Dome ; Jumonji-Dome and Jika-Dome. That’s going to be very interesting!!! Ok ok.. Let me make it simple for you : The Vertical Type Fixture, Cross Bar Fixture and Direct Fixing. So…… practice, group!! Vertical bar isnt a joke!!












