A Moribana Upright Style arrangement featuring backyard buckthorn, ferns, and bright yellow roses shows how seasonal materials can come together beautifully in Ohara ikebana.
One of the things I love most about Ohara School ikebana is its connection to nature. Classic Ohara arrangements often combine materials that grow together in the same season or environment. This Moribana Upright Style (Chokuritsu-kei) arrangement is a perfect example.
The branches come from a European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) that’s been in my backyard since I bought my home in 1989. Although it’s considered invasive, I can’t bring myself to take it down. I love the glossy berries, and so do the birds. (You can learn more about buckthorn on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources site.)
The ferns are also from my yard. I believe they are Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), though I’m not sure of the exact variety—they originally came from a Trader Joe’s purchase years ago and have happily spread in my garden.
The third element is a trio of yellow roses. Unlike the buckthorn and ferns, these were purchased, but they add a brilliant splash of color and a sense of balance to the design.
This arrangement is a Moribana Chokuritsu-kei (Upright Style) in a large round suiban about 13 inches in diameter. It uses two rectangular kenzan for support, though traditionally it might be made with two shippo holders (one with three rings and one with two rings). Mechanics may change, but the style remains timeless.
Arranged in this way, it demonstrates the basic method for a Shikisai Moribana Shikisai-hon-i (The Color Method in Color Scheme Moribana). This form calls for three different types of plant materials:
Because it’s the Color Method, the materials are not intermingled. Each holds its own space, blending only slightly where they meet.
The roses show a wonderful detail along the petal edges, a bit of orange that makes the yellow glow even more vividly.
You don’t need exotic materials to make ikebana. Some of the most rewarding designs come from what you find just outside your door. By pairing garden cuttings with one or two purchased stems, you can create arrangements that are both personal and seasonal.
Take a walk around your yard or neighborhood and see what nature offers you today. You might be surprised at how beautiful an “ordinary” branch, leaf, or flower becomes when given its own space to shine in ikebana.
Joe Rotella
Associate Second Term Master
Ohara School of Ikebana
