Basic Ikebana Flower Arranging

Master Gardener Mary Heim shows how to make a basic ikebana flower arrangement. Ikebana was developed in Japan over many centuries. It is minimalist by western flower arranging standards often only including three flowers. This arrangement is in the Moribana style. Moribana ikebana requires a container (Mary is using a shallow round container), a kenzan (a disk of prongs to hold the flower stems), a mat, and a few small stones. For this arrangement Mary uses three hydrangeas and three leaves. The flowers are arranged in a triangle with the largest on the bottom. Mary then adds the leaves between each flower. None of the flowers or leaves touch. While she is working, Mary explains how to place each piece to create a simple elegant arrangement. When she is done she places the container on a mat.

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