I've organized an Ikebana Meetup here in Bend, OR. If you live nearby, please join us! We gather once a month. Most members have had little or no experience in the art of ikebana. We share materials and ideas.
This week, we worked with fresh Manzanita branches and roses. Manzanita is a beautiful, although challenging material. It's heavy and dense -- not kenzan friendly!
Typically it's stripped of leaves and dried before being used in an arrangement, but Meetup participants on August 25 stepped up to the task!
Here are samples of their work.
Good luck