Ikebana Journal

News & Articles

Events & Experiences

Join Me at the Flower Club International Online Conference 2026

I’ve been invited as a Featured Demonstrator at the Flower Club International Online Conference 2026—and I’d love for you to join me. Here’s what this global event is all about, what I’ll be presenting, and why it’s such a unique opportunity to learn from floral artists around the world.

Snake Ball Allium

The Curly Allium Sold as “Snake Ball”: What It Really Is, How It Grows, and How to Use It in Rising Form

Close-up of plum blossom (ume) flowers and buds on a dark, leafless branch in late winter, symbolizing resilience and the approach of early spring.

Plum Blossom Arrives Before We’re Ready

Carol Malott (center) receiving her Third Term Master certificate from sensei José Salcedo (left) and Joe Rotella (right) at the Southeastern Ohara Chapter conference in Greer, SC.

Why Certificates Matter in the Ohara School of Ikebana

News & Announcements

Sharing Happiness: How Our Ohara Ikebana Community Came Together to Support Children in Madagascar

News & Announcements

A Shared Celebration: Reflections on the Iwaya Poinsettia Festival 2025

Iwaya Poinsettia Festival 2025

News & Announcements

Join the Worldwide Iwaya Poinsettia Ikebana Project!

Southeastern US Ohara Ikebana 2025 Fall Seminar in Arlington, VA

Events & Experiences

Learning and Growing at the Southeastern U.S. Ohara Chapter Fall Seminar

Teaching on the Road: Ikebana in Cleveland

Events & Experiences

Kamo-sensei’s 2025 Columbus Demonstration: A Summer Evening with Lotus

Ohara Ikebana Styles & Forms

A Garden-to-Table Ikebana: Moribana Upright Style with Buckthorn, Fern, and Roses

Ohara Ikebana Rimpa-cho arrangement created by Kamo-sensei on 8/13/2025 in Columbus, Ohio

Ohara Ikebana Styles & Forms

Rimpa-cho: When Ikebana Meets Japanese Painting

Manners Matter when welcoming a guest teacher

Meeting a Sensei: Etiquette for Meaningful Encounters

Tanabata display at the Yokoso Center, Columbus, Ohio

Wishes in the Bamboo: A Tanabata Reflection

Japanese Antique Original Woodcut Print, Imao Keinen, "Japanese morning-glory, Chestnut-eared bunting"

Morning-Glory: Celebrating the Ephemeral Beauty of July

5 New varieties of Japanese Snowballs are helping drive demand for this beautiful ornamental tree

Japanese Snowbells: A Graceful Addition to Ohara Ikebana Arrangements

Joe Rotella's Bunjin-cho arrangement at the Southeastern Ohara Chapter’s Spring Seminar in Greer, South Carolina

Ohara Ikebana Styles & Forms

Bunjin-cho: Where Art Meets Scholarship

June’s Flower of the Month: Iris - Many Faces, Many Meanings

Rohdea Japonica in the landscape and in a Shikisai Moribana Yoshiki-hon-i arrangement (woodblock style)

Planting Sacred Lily Now for Beauty in Winter: Rohdea Japonica in Ikebana

Joe Rotella standing next to a tree peony in his yard in Columbus, OH

Celebrating the Splendor of May: The Peony (牡丹 - Botan)

Cherry Blossom (Erika) Moribana from the Ohara School of Ikebana Book 3, April 10, 1984, pages 62 & 63

Capturing the Essence of April: The Cherry Blossom (桜 - Sakura)

Celebrate the Ohara School’s 130th Anniversary – Enter the Ikebana Photo Contest!

News & Announcements

Celebrate the Ohara School’s 130th Anniversary – Enter the Ikebana Photo Contest!

Picking flowers from a garden early in the morning

Secrets to Making Your Flower Arrangements Last Longer

Moribana with Peach Blossoms and White Stock in a low oval suiban.

The Flower of the Month for March: The Peach Blossom (桃 - Momo)

Women, dress in kimono, shopping for Valentine's Day chocolates in Japan

Valentine’s Day Means Chocolate for Men in Japan

Cover of the book "In Praise of Shadows" - An essay on aesthetics by the Japanese novelist, this book explores architecture, jade, food, and even toilets, combining an acute sense of the use of space in buildings.

Exploring Cultural Aesthetics: A Summary of "In Praise of Shadows"

Ohara Ikebana arrangement in a tall case featuring plum blossoms

Embracing the Beauty of February: Celebrating the Plum Blossom (梅 - Ume)

Japanese symbols of the new year, including a bamboo rake.

Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu: A Happy New Year!

Pine Arrangement from the Ohara School of Ikebana Book #6, Pine Ikebana, December 10, 1986.

The Flower of the Month for January: Pine (松 - Matsu)

Embracing the Journey of the Ohara School of Ikebana: A Structured Curriculum for Mastery

Camellia in a moribana arrangement

The Elegance of December: The Camellia (椿 - Tsubaki)

Celebrating Shichi-Go-San: A Timeless Japanese Tradition

Red Maple Moribana, Slanting Style

Autumn's Radiance: Celebrating the Maple (紅葉 - Momiji) as November's Flower of the Month

Ikebana mechanics (Kenzan, Shippou, Natural Bracing)

Mastering Ikebana Mechanics: Kenzan, Shippo, and Natural Bracing

Mum arrangement in Basket

Embracing Autumn Elegance: October’s Flower of the Month – Chrysanthemum (菊 - Kiku)

Japanese Woodblock Print style of Elders

Honoring Our Elders: Celebrating Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro no Hi) in Ikebana

Japanese woman bowing, showing politeness

Essential Etiquette for Ohara Ikebana Classes

2 Pair of Ikebana scissors (Hasami)

Mastering Ikebana: The Art and Care of Hasami (Scissors)

Woodblock print style of grasses in a field or in an arrangement

The Flower of the Month for September: The Seven Grasses of Autumn (秋の七草 - Aki no Nanakusa)

Japanese woman in Kimono sitting in front of an Ikebana arrangement

Journey Through the Blossoming History of Ikebana and the Ohara School

Japanese woodblock print of Mount Fuji

Celebrating Mountain Day: A Reflection on Japan’s Newest National Holiday and its Connection to Ikebana

Image of a Peony in Japanese woodblock style

The Elegance of Peonies in Ohara Ikebana: Bush Peony vs. Tree Peony

Picture of a lotus in Japanese woodblock style

August's Floral Gem: The Lotus (蓮 - Hasu) in Ohara Ikebana

Calendar surrounded by flowers for the Japanese floral calendar

Discovering the Beauty of the Japanese Floral Calendar: A Journey Through the Seasons

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Proudly supported by a generous grant from the Ikebana IWAYA Fund