#65 St Petersburg USA

September 16, 2024
Demonstration Workshop Chapter Meeting　Open to the Public
Ikenobo, Sogetsu, Banmi Shofu, Ichiyo, Ohara
Sensei Jeanne Houlton of the Ichiyo School was our demonstrator this month. She shared with us many of the beginning skills that everyone needs regardless of what school or Ikebana design being worked on. Her goal was to ensure there is a basic understanding of the fundamental elements that helps anyone make a beautiful arrangement. Afternoon workshops were held by each school represented in our chapters.
October 21, 2024
Demonstration Workshop Chapter Meeting Open to the Public Sogetsu
The Garden Club of St. Petersburg suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Helene and so we met at our now temporary meeting location at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Pinellas Park. The turnout for our meeting was small due to members negotiating the significant damage to their homes. In spite of our timid attendance, our demonstrator, Sybille Ruschmeier of the Sogetsu School did an amazing job of presenting Opposites Attract by designing arrangements which held deep personal meanings for us all. The happy and sad theme was significant as it exemplified the sadness of damage done to so many homes and happy portrayed the silver lining of people coming together and helping each other in this great time of need. Items for a few of her arrangements were procured from piles of debris found on the driveways of people’s homes. Her explanation and description of her arrangements were moving. Following her workshop and our short business meeting, we shared our brown bag lunch.
11/18/2024
Demonstration Workshop Chapter Meeting Open to the Public　　　Ohara
Susan Thorpe, our chapter president and Hoaoi of the Ohara School, gave a brief history of her involvement with Ikebana which goes back to the 1990’s. She mentioned that the Ohara School started in the mid-1800s. She presented four arrangements and gave tips such as misting mum leaves on the underside. She arranged a landscape using dried lotus leaves. Landscape is one of the famous styles of Ohara.
After lunch, Susan Thorpe led a workshop arranging dried okra, stems and tornado red disc buds in a moribana, upright style.