Sogetsu Ikebana Artists’ Wish or a Photographers' Delight.
Written by Sandy Marker
To have a working Ikebana garden is the wish of all Sogetsu artists and if that is not possible, what a wonderful treat it is to visit my Sensei’s garden in Sydney.
The garden is built on a slope and only a mountain goat would relish. Climbing steeply from the road taking your breath away not necessarily by the climb but the beauty of what is laid out before you. The winding path leads through thickets of yellow and green bamboo, cascading maples, black pines, moss covered rocks, yellow clivia lilies and everything else one can imagine to be tucked in every available space.
Into the back garden and a huge rock greets you and tries to dominate the stage. Ferns, colourful day lilies, maples, Queen of the Night cactus laden with fat bubs awaiting the full moon over power the rock. What a beautiful sight, then your eyes are treated to the sea of mauve, purple and white like floating butterflies. Water Irises standing there in the most magnificent splendour one can imagine. Even with the unseasonably hot weather, Sydney experienced the irises stood tall and regal. One could not take enough photographs even if you tried.
The garden beckoned you to see more, climbing the steep steps where every ‘nook or cranny’ had another gardeners’/photographers’ delight. At the top of the climb, you could rest on a rock beside a perfumed bush and survey the Water Irises from above creating a patchwork ‘quilt’ of harmonizing colours.
