In A Vase On Monday – Ikebana Study
Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of cuttings from our gardens.
Foliage was my starting point for this design. Ginger lily is blooming beautifully this year. It is sending up many new stalks, some of whose tips I harvested for today’s vase.
The dahlias are thriving in the cooler weather and seemed unfazed after quite heavy rain Friday. For this Ikebana-style arrangement I chose creamy white Dahlia ‘Tsuku Yori No Shisha’ paired with a purply pink one whose name I do not know. The latter was included as a bonus with this year’s spring order and I failed to record it.
Dahlia ‘Tsuku Yori No Shisha’
Dahlia sp.
Both flowers and foliage went in easily and I was satisfied with the placements until I began photographing. The flowers themselves were grand but the overall effect was underwhelming.
In A Vase On Monday – Ikebana Study
I kept coming back to them during the next hour and finally began experimenting with adding to the vase. Eventually I was happy again with the design. The color of the deep pink zinnia adds surprise. The zinnia stem arches gently away toward the back left. An added piece of ginger lily foliage continues the curving line down through the right corner, where a few sprigs of gardenia leaves help anchor everything.
In A Vase On Monday – Ikebana Study
With the movement created by the changes I think the design is more graceful.
In A Vase On Monday – Ikebana Study
Materials
Flowers
Dahlia sp.
Dahlia ‘Tsuku Yori No Shisha’
Zinnia
Foliage
Gardenia sp.
Hedychium coronarium (Ginger lily)
Vase
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Rectangle Blue Zen (6.75L x 3.75W x 2H inches)
Zinnia
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us an opportunity to share flower-filled vases across the world. Visit her to discover what she and others found to place in a vase this week.
pbmGarden 
Your perfectionism pays off Susie and you have created a truly beautiful arrangement. I initially thought the zinnia was a gerbera. It is very elegant.
Oh, thank you, Cathy. Fussing with the flowers was a nice diversion yesterday. I’ve not had any luck planting gerberas but one would have worked here as well. Have a good week.
Wow Susie – another stunner. Love that bonus dahlia. Such a rich colour!
Thanks Cathy. I like that dahlia too. I distinctly remember thinking if the dahlia survives I write down the name, but of course now the label is nowhere to be found.
You are not alone!
I agree, it is a stunning vase.
Thanks so much!
Ginger lily foliage is pretty cool there, and the zinnia follows it nicely. (It got my attention before reading because I did not know what foliage would ‘produce’ such a flower.)
The ginger foliage would be fun on other flowers!
I absolutely love this arrangement.
Thanks. It was interesting to try to work out. The house is filled with flowers today. I cut lots of dahlias and zinnias but the Ikebana vase requires very few.
Bet it looks a treat
My first thought was ‘pared down elegance’, Susie, and then I realised that I probably use the word ‘elegant’ or ‘elegance’ for every vase of yours that you post – so that tells us something, doesn’t it..?! Invariably it’s all in the detall, in this case right down to the considered placing of the ginger leaves. Thanks for sharing your vases each week Susie, and I hope things are progressing well for you
With Ikebana especially I feel each placement is crucial, not that I get them right necessarily but sometimes I can see an improvement. I’m gratified you think of elegance or elegant regarding my vases Cathy. Appreciate it!
You are very welcome, Susie
The addition of the zinnia was a masterful touch, Susie. It’s a beautifully balanced arrangement. I adore that white dahlia too.
I absolutely love this – my favourite style and you have brought colour and shape together in such a pleasing design.