In April, IOR welcomed Duffy Boyd, Junior Master of the Ichiyo School, who displayed her passion for natural materials and designs expressing movement. The program, “Ichiyo in Spring: Baskets, Bamboo and Flowing Lines,” demonstrated traditional Ichiyo designs as well as contemporary freestyle arrangements. Duffy was assisted on stage and prior to the program by Alice Litchfield and Peyton Wells. In the workshop following, Duffy focused on the Flowing Form of Ichiyo which highlights the use of spring branches in arrangements.

April was also IOR’s annual member showcase which was pure eye candy. We had 21 wonderful exhibits which ranged from beginners to those who have practiced Ikebana for many years. The creativity on display was stunning, and it was a great opportunity to see multiple schools side by side.

In the workshop, Duffy demonstrated the Flowing Form Design from the second book in the Ichiyo curriculum. All the participants enjoyed the beautiful Poet’s Laurel, tulips and wax flower combination which made a beautiful arrangement.

In March, IOR hosted a wonderful program and live auction called “Contain your Enthusiasm!” Three IOR members, Evelyn Klumb, Libby Haynes and Helena Arouca demonstrated designs using containers selected from the extensive collection of Mrs. William Flanagan who was president from 2007-2009. They shared why they chose their container and what inspired their design. At the end of the program, Alice Litchfield auctioned the three designs as well as several special lots of containers. Thank you to everyone who worked on the program and auction. Your participation made it a very special day for the membership and was a fitting tribute to our past president.

Following the program, Libby Haynes conducted a workshop on skeletonizing leaves. The participants each received a collection of leaves including pandanus, flax, and yucca. Everyone learned about best practices for using a pasta machine and drying the leaves to achieve different shapes.

Our February program featured Maymont’s Senior Manager of Horticulture and Grounds, Sean Proietti, speaking about “Pruning the Japanese Garden.” Sean manages the day-to-day care and preservation of 100 acres of green space at Maymont. He received degrees in Economics and English from Virginia Commonwealth University but was unable to trade the outdoors for an office. For 17 years, he has served the community by sharing his love of the public gardens at Maymont. The members learned about the garden’s history and the involvement of IOR in the continuing development of the Japanese garden. He provided wonderful tips on specific plant materials and considerations for plant purchases in light of damage related to deer and the warmer climate. The program closed with his comments about an annual pruning schedule and how best to approach thinning out trees.

In the workshop following, Sean provided line material to celebrate the beauty of bare branches in winter. Our own Annette Ernst led the workshop “Winter Woodland,” which was for all levels and schools. Participants brought a nagiere or moribana container and added small rocks, wood or moss to enhance their design. Lunch was included as well as flowers and supporting materials. It was a wonderful and relaxed winter break.

​In 2024, Ikebana of Richmond (IOR) was invited to be a sponsor of the Samurai Armor Exhibit from the collection of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA). The 2024 Partnership with VMFA came to a close with IOR’s participation in Fine Arts and Flowers. Prior to the beginning of the November program, the IOR membership was treated to a brief review and summary as represented by all the projects undertaken and floral arrangements contributed. The following is a summary of that retrospective. You can find photos of each event in a link after each description.

Sponsor Dinner, April 15: 24 Arrangements
To celebrate the opening of the Samurai Armor Exhibit, the sponsors were invited to a preview and dinner in the Marble Hall of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. IOR was asked to provide table arrangements and decorations and the museum provided a budget. The colors for the evening were red, yellow, white and blue. 17 IOR members made 24 arrangements at the museum on the Sunday Afternoon prior to the dinner. The following day, all the arrangements and decorations were placed on tables. 
Those gathered for the dinner were delighted with the creative display of Ikebana which set an artistic tone for the evening. Each arrangement was accompanied by a card providing information about IOR. In addition, Annette Ernst designed a large floral exhibit in the entrance hall at the request of the VMFA Hirschler Endowment for Flowers, and Evelyn Klumb hand crafted origami helmets to accompany the floral designs. Throughout the evening, IOR was cited many times for its efforts.
View Sponsor Dinner Photos

The Council of VMFA Luncheon, May 6: 20 Arrangements
Because IOR was a sponsor of the Samurai Armor Exhibit, the council requested IOR to provide table arrangements for their May luncheon and provided a budget to cover materials. Seventeen IOR members gave their time to create 20 floral arrangements on Sunday afternoon prior to the luncheon. The following morning, these were placed on dining tables in Marble Hall. Blue was the theme color and the containers were purchased by IOR for the event. Libby Haynes was charged with creating a special arrangement which was presented to Kathryn Gray during the luncheon in recognition of her work. Evelyn Klumb contributed origami helmets and Carol Hutton provided Koinobori. Those who attended were charmed with the creative display of Ikebana. Each arrangement was accompanied by a card identifying the IOR Ikebana artist and their school. At the end of the luncheon, all arrangements were sold.
View Council Luncheon Photos

“How…Do You Make and Ikebana Arrangement,” Program May 17 and November 7, 9 Arrangements
The VMFA Education Programs Manager requested a meeting with members of IOR to plan a program to be called “How…do you make an Ikebana arrangement?” IOR eagerly embraced this opportunity and the program was developed to include a slide presentation featuring a brief history of Ikebana, descriptions of the schools participating in the program and information about IOR. Alice Litchfield did a live demonstration of a basic Ikebana arrangement and individual IOR members spoke about their school and arrangement. Libby Haynes provided a Sogetsu upright moribana arrangement photo, and the VMFA staff with the assistance of IOR designed a flyer to promote the program which was placed on the VMFA website. 
The "How To" program received rave reviews and was described as stunning. There were over 115 guests, which was a record for VMFA. Plus, the Education Programs Manager pointed out the audience gave a standing ovation at the end. She went on to share positive remarks from the survey which VMFA conducted. A modified version of the program was later presented on November 7th to the IOR membership (See the 2024 November Program under Recent Events). Many thanks to all those who participated: Evelyn Klumb (Ikenobo), Alice Litchfield (Ichiyo), Laura Anne Brooks (Ikenobo), Judy Sheldon (Ohara), Diane Burgess (Sogetsu), Libby Haynes (Sogetsu), Annette Ernst (Keika-Kazan), Elizabeth Biddle (Kado Sensho Ikenobo), Grace Morris, Sandy Haigh, Alison Munoz and Marga Cahoon.
View "How... Do You Make and Ikebana Arrangement" Photos

Weekly Arrangements for Floris and Amuse Restaurants, May 10 - August 4, 55 Arrangements
When the VMFA Samurai Armor Exhibit drew to a close, we learned that approximately 100,000 people toured from April 20th to August 4th. IOR was an active sponsor from the very beginning, and everyone who contributed to this effort played a major role. Weekly from May 10th to July 25th, Ikebana of Richmond members gave their time and artistry in designing and placing 55 arrangements in Floris and Amuse restaurants. IOR received many fine complements from the staff who also shared positive comments of their customers. Special thanks go to Libby Haynes and Annette Ernst who acted as coordinators. Weekly, they greeted arrangers at Floris and also returned to make sure that each arrangement had plenty of water and was looking its best. Evelyn Klumb also helped with encouraging words for all. Thank you to the following: Libby Haynes, Annette Ernst, Evelyn Klumb, Judy Sheldon, Laura Anne Brooks, Elizabeth Biddle, Alice Litchfield, Diane Burgess, Kumiko Suzuki, Janice Whitehead, Joann McNabb, Marga Cahoon, Theresa Redd, Sandy Haigh, Grace Morris, Helena Arouca, and Marty Jones.
View Weekly Arrangement Photos

Special Activities
To support this special opportunity, members developed a beautiful special edition newsletter as well as website and social media content and photos. When there was a need for an arrangement for a reception, IOR rose to the occasion. Through these activities, our membership and volunteers were kept informed and relations with associated groups were further enhanced. 
View Special Activities Photos

Fine Arts and Flowers, October 23 – 27
During the four days of this exhibition of floral designs interpreting museum artwork, 20,000 guests attended. Eight members of IOR participated as exhibitors including one large Ikebana display outside on the lawn by the Chihuly water garden. The exhibitors were Laura Anne Brooks (Ikenobo), Annette Ernst and Evelyn Klumb (Ikenobo), Marga Cahoon and Theresa Redd (Sogetsu), Kumiko Suzuki (Sogetsu), Grace Morris (Sangetsu), and Libby Haynes (Sogetsu).
In addition, IOR was asked to conduct a workshop about designing a basic Ikebana arrangement on Sunday, October 27th at VMFA. Three schools were represented by teachers of the Ikenobo (Annette Ernst), Ohara (Judy Sheldon) and Sogetsu (Libby Haynes) schools. We were also delighted to learn that our workshop sold out within a day and all 24 seats were filled. Members can take pride in knowing that IOR and Ikebana has been introduced to many new people throughout Virginia and beyond as a result of this wonderful partnership. 
View Fine Arts and Flowers Photos

Laura Anne Brooks, Annette Ernst and Evelyn Klumb, Marga Cahoon and Theresa Redd

​Libby Haynes, Kumiko Suzuki, Grace Morris

​Workshop

The November program featured a PowerPoint presentation and members from seven Ikebana schools who displayed exhibits representative of their schools. They also shared thoughts on their ongoing interest in their school. Evelyn Klumb began the program with a brief history of Ikebana including the involvement of the Samurai warriors. At the conclusion, a lively discussion followed among members of the audience and the panelists.

This program was a reprise of the “How To...” program presented by IOR on May 17 at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in conjunction with our sponsorship of the Samurai Armor Exhibit. All participants were featured in both; however, the exhibits in November were updated to reflect the season. Many thanks to: Evelyn Klumb (Ikenobo), Laura Anne Brooks (Ikenobo), Judy Sheldon (Ohara), Diane Burgess (Sogetsu), Libby Haynes (Sogetsu), Annette Ernst (Keika-Kazan), Elizabeth Biddle (Kado Sensho Ikenobo), Alice Litchfield (Ichiyo), Grace Morris (Sangetsu), Sandy Haigh and Alison Munoz.

Download IOR November 2024 Presentation
Download IOR November Handout

​Laura Anne Brooks - Ikenobo

Judy Sheldon - Ohara

Diane Burgess - Sogetsu

Libby Haynes - Sogetsu

Annette Ernst - Keika-Kazan

Elizabeth Biddle - Kado Sensho Ikenobo

Alice Litchfield - Ichiyo

Grace Morris - Sangetsu

Fall Baskets Ichiyo Style Workshop
This month, our workshop participants received a wonderful surprise - a handmade cloud basket by Alice Litchfield, teacher of the Ichiyo School. Everyone delighted in her demonstration of how to use clouds, which are a specialty of Ichiyo, in moribana and nagiere containers. While everyone enthusiastically worked on their designs, Alice visited each student and offered tips on how best to place flowers and line materials. Some students boldly even tried arranging by balance only.

Our EGA program in October showcased the artistry of Kimi Kika Shibata, Sogetsu Riji. She has taught for over 56 years and started her study of Ikebana in Kumamoto, Japan at the age of four. After moving to the United States, she frequently returned to Japan to study with Kasumi Teshigahara who was the second lemoto of the Sogetsu School and daughter of Sofu Teshigahara, founder. Shibata Sensei currently lives in Las Vegas and San Diego and is Director of Sogetsu San Jose-South Bay Branch. She teaches classes in multiple locations as well as on the internet.
Shibata Sensei designed eleven arrangements to the delight of the IOR audience in her program, “Expression of Paper and Bamboo.” In addition to her memorable and creative paper structures, she incorporated seasonal flowers, branches, fruits and seed pods gathered from member gardens. The large-scale bamboo finale was breathtaking and required all hands on deck to assemble. Shibata Sensei deftly used materials ranging from persimmon branches to miscanthus to create a stunning fall bamboo tableau.
She was assisted by members Libby Haynes, Annette Ernst, Kumiko Suzuki, Noriko Burke and Marga Cahoon. Her remarkable designs were made possible through contributions of multiple types of plant materials from the gardens of Linda Pinkham, Marga Cahoon, Evelyn Klumb, Theresa Redd, Annette Ernst and Libby Haynes. Alison Munoz helped to design the beautiful promotional brochure as well as taking photos of the program and Marcia Elliott managed the raffle following the program. Many thanks to all of these members for their help in making Shibata Sensei’s program possible.
Three workshops followed the program and participants learned how to create original designs to be used in floral designs using paper, washi paper and Japanese craft bands.

​Workshop: “Harmony with Branches and Paper”

​Workshop: “Harmony with Air”

​Workshop: “Structures with Japanese Paper Craftbands”

The October program began with a poem by Buson which expressed a sentiment which all Ikebanists experience.​

White chrysanthemum…
Before that
Perfect flower
Scissors hesitate
Haiku by Buson (1716-1784)
Translation by Peter Beilenson

Our September program, concentrated on keeping flowers fresh and extending the life of floral designs. Many thanks to all those members who contributed tips and shared their experience as well as members, Evelyn Klumb, Linda Pinkham, Judy Sheldon, Grace Morris, Annette Ernst and Libby Haynes who participated in the program. If you would like to refer to the slide presentation or the handout, you may download them below.

Download IOR September 2024 Presentation
Download IOR September 2024 Handout

Ikebana of Richmond is proud to be a sponsor of the Samurai Armor Exhibit from the collection of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller at VMFA. Activities to support the opening of the exhibit began on Sunday, April 14th , when seventeen IOR members gathered at VMFA to create table arrangements for the sponsor dinner on the following evening. The museum and all those gathered for the occasion were delighted with the creative and artistic display of Ikebana on the tables as well as at the entrance. In addition, Annette Ernst designed a large floral exhibit in the entrance hall at the request of the VMFA Hirschler Endowment for Flowers, and Evelyn Klumb hand crafted origami helmets which accompanied all the floral designs.

About the Samurai Armor Exhibit and Collection
One of the largest and most refined collections of Japanese samurai armor will be exhibited by VMFA from April 20 to August 4, 2024. Amassed over 30 years, the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller collection features over 130 works including:

• 17 full suits of armor
• 50 plus helmets and masks
• War coats
• Weapons
• War horse equipment

These examples were produced for high-ranking samurai for use either on battlefields or in ceremonies from the 14 th through the 19 th centuries. The exhibition illuminates the exceptionally high level of design and craftsmanship dedicated to these elaborate instruments of ceremony and combat.

Who were the samurai?
The term samurai, meaning “those who serve,” is associated with military elites who rose to power in Japan in the 12 th Century. Tumultuous wars followed for centuries and samurai warriors demonstrated masterful skills in archery as well as excelling as swordsmen and equestrians. Their honor was won not only through bravery and loyalty but also through power and prestige. The Samurai class continued to dominate politically, socially and culturally through the peaceful Edo period until the late 19 th century.
Tracing the evolution of armor styles from medieval through early modern Japan, the exhibition explores the artistic legacy of the samurai’s reign over seven centuries.
​
How does the Exhibit tie into IOR?
The very beginnings of Ikebana reach back over 600 years in Japan where Buddhist monks placed floral offerings to Buddha in the temples. Over time, noblemen and samurai warriors also took up Ikebana which was practiced as a meditative process aligning the practitioner's spirit with the natural world.
For the Samurai, Ikebana offered a welcome release from battle because they could focus on the nature, simplicity and balance. While known for their military prowess, they also excelled in this art form blending their strength with delicacy.

IOR ended our program year with a demonstration by Alice Buch, 2nd Term Master of the Ohara School. Her program, “Spring Forward,” featured seven arrangements which included stunning materials gathered from the garden of Arlene Evans in Northern Virginia. Alice focused on the naturalistic style characteristic of the Ohara School and a primary tenet of its founder, Unshin Ohara: to observe nature and how plants respond and grow.
Alice was a student of Grand Master Betty Taylor and is currently a student of Grand Master Ingrid Lϋders. Alice has also studied at the Ohara International Center in Tokyo, Japan, the Southeastern Ohara Workshops in Highlands, NC and at the North American Ohara Teacher Conferences in Cleveland, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Houston, Victoria BC, Chicago, and Boston.
Alice resides in Arlington, Virginia. She teaches classes in Arlington and Richmond. She has exhibited at the National Arboretum, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

​The April meeting was also our annual member showcase, and we were treated to a variety of wonderful arrangements representing multiple schools. It was an excellent opportunity to see the many approaches to the art of Ikebana.

IOR welcomed in March with a burst of yellow. Elizabeth Biddle, a Level 10 Instructor of the Kado Sensho Ikenobo (KSI) School, treated IOR members to a celebration of International Women’s Day and a demonstration highlighted by yellow blooms. Accompanied by a slide presentation featuring an overview of the KSI School and tips on conditioning, Elizabeth demonstrated six artistic designs using seasonal materials.

The KSI School is based on the Philosophy of Wa (harmony), Kei (respect), Sei (purity) and Jaku (tranquility) which are integral parts of each design. As well as movement, depth and negative space. Kado is used instead of Ikebana because it refers not only to the beauty of the flowers but also requires manners, techniques, mental and physical training. It is considered to be one of the ”ways” of Japanese beliefs. The school focuses on a quick simple approach befitting today’s fast-paced lifestyle.

Elizabeth delighted the audience with her sense of whimsy and her creative use of line materials and flowers. Her sense of joy was expressed in all her arrangements as well as in comments to the audience.

Enhancing Nature, Basically Workshop

The afternoon workshop lead by Elizabeth Biddle was attended by 21 students representing six of IOR's schools, new members and guests. Sensei Elizabeth's instruction centered on components of Kado Sensho Ikenobo arrangements - line, angle, placement and their significance or meaning. Starting with a calming chime for all in the room, she taught by illustration and by demonstrating with the plant materials. Her line materials were pussy willow or poet's laurel and the flowers were daffodils. Students then enthusiastically chose from the line materials available and began their arrangements. The results were all beautiful and quite varied. With expert and kind guidance, the arrangements were then critiqued. Often overheard was "does your arrangement give you joy?"