Fall Ikebana Class: What's Next?

October is the fallen leaf, but also a wider horizon more clearly seen. It is the distant hills once more in sight, and the enduring constellations above...

— Hal Bourland

Ikebana with seasonal materials including crabapple and maple.

I’m excited to be teaching another Ikebana session at COCC here in Bend, OR. We had such a great time in spring, it seems only natural to see what we can conjure up in autumn while the colors are changing and we put summer to bed.

Creating ikebana puts one in a great mood!

Daultless students from the spring class with a few of their arrangements.

I found some inspiration for October's first class meeting when was hiking this summer in the San Juan Islands and discovered whole hills covered with Salal, a go-to filler for many ikebana arrangements here on the west coast. What struck me was how the fading leaves mixed with the verdant new growth, creating a striking contrast of gold and green. When I returned home, I bought a small bunch to see if I could replicate the wonder.

The result was even more successful than I had hoped. The dried leaves had turned a delicate peach and gold while remaining sturdy, the stems firm and hardy. Can’t wait to bring them to class along with some fresh green Salal and set my students to work.

Dried Salal.

As always, classes will run four consecutive Sundays from 1-3 p.m. We’ll start on October 15, and end November 5. Class size is limited and there are only a few spaces left, so if you’d like to attend, please sign up here.