Date & Time
Saturday, August 15, 2026
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Duration: Approximately 2 – 2½ hours
Fee
$73.49/ Members $59.03
All materials provided
Registration
Maximum Participants: 7
Age Restriction: 14+
Program Description
About the Workshop
In this two-hour workshop, you will create your own ikebana arrangement using seasonal materials that reflect the coolness and calmness of Summer, highlighting the important role of both waterside plants and water itself. The piece follows a traditional style from the Ohara School, one of the largest ikebana schools with more than one hundred years of history.
The instructor will guide you through the structure of the arrangement and demonstrate how to handle each material. You will learn how to work with a shallow water basin and a kenzan to build the composition, as well as how to refine and enhance the final form.
At the end of the workshop, you may take the flowers home and practice creating a new arrangement on your own.
All flowers, tools and supplies are provided, so you do not need to bring anything. No prior experience is required, and beginners are warmly welcomed.
* Please note that the flowers and materials used in the workshop may be adjusted according to market availability.
Summer Ikebana
In traditional Japanese ikebana, the feeling of the seasons is one of the most important elements. Through flowers and plants, ikebana reflects the changes of nature and reminds us to slow down and notice the beauty of the present moment. Summer has its own special mood. In the heat, flowers become more delicate, while grasses and leaves continue to grow full and lively. Because of this, greenery plays an important role in summer ikebana. Seasonal flowers are chosen for their fresh and cooling feeling, while leaves and waterside plants bring to mind the quiet atmosphere of a summer breeze by the water. In the style of the Ohara School, water is also an important part of the arrangement. The surface of water adds a sense of openness and calmness, helping flowers, leaves, and water come together in balance and harmony.
About Ohara School
The Ohara School of Ikebana is one of the oldest and most influential ikebana schools in Japan. It was founded in 1895 by Unshin Ohara, who developed the original “moribana” style, which uses wide, shallow containers and combines classical Ikebana techniques with natural materials from around the world. A key focus of Ohara-ryū is capturing the natural growth of plants and reflecting the spirit of the landscape within the container.
Learning Ohara Ikebana is more than just arranging flowers. It is a calm and mindful practice that helps you connect with nature and become aware of the subtle changes in the seasons and life around you.
About the Instructor
Amanda Fu is a certified professor of the Ohara School of Ikebana and currently serves as the Vice President of the Vancouver Ikebana Association. With six years of study and practice in Ohara-ryu, she teaches Ikebana classes at Mizuki Floral Studio and has extensive experience in both instruction and creative work.
Amanda’s arrangements have been showcased at various cultural and public events, and she has been invited by the Consulate-General of Japan in Vancouver to exhibit her work. She has also hosted Ikebana workshops themed around the seasons, nature, and Japanese festivals, sharing Ikebana’s beauty and philosophy with the local community.
