Ikebana and us

Do take those flowers when visiting somebody in the hospital, maybe an Ikebana arrangement? Or better still a potted plant!! MANHATTAN, KS—Contact with nature has long been suspected to increase positive feelings, reduce stress, and provide distraction from the pain associated with recovery from surgery. Now, research has confirmed the beneficial effects of plants and flowers for patients recovering from abdominal surgery. A recent study by Seong-Hyun Park and Richard H. Mattson, researchers from the Department of Horticulture, Recreation and Forestry at Kansas State University, provides strong evidence that contact with plants is directly beneficial to a hospital patient's health. Using various medical and psychological measurements, the study set out to evaluate if plants in hospital rooms have therapeutic influences. Studies show that when patients have great stress associated with surgery, they typically experience more severe pain and a slower recovery period. Some of these p...

Here is Iemoto Akane Teshigahara's arrangement for January 2009. She describes it as follows : "As one of “Saikansanyu (Three Winter Favorites: pine, bamboo and plum),” bamboo is a key material for festive arrangements. With the smooth bamboo texture and neatened pine and Japanese winterberry branches, it's a very light-looking arrangement. Cattleya inserted at the end makes the point of emphasis." Pine, Japanese winterberry, Cattleya Bamboo vase 45×62×33cm