The Japanese art of flower arranging

Flowers are synonymous with Mother’s Day and while decadent, pre-made bouquets are undeniably beautiful, there’s just something about an understated arrangement that exudes elegance. So this Mother’s Day, treat her to something a little different by making your own bouquet.

You needn’t be a florist to master the art of flower arranging. "Ikebana can be arranged by anyone, anywhere, at any time," explains Kasia Borowiecka, owner of Cosmos&Plums Floral Studio and Ikebana workshop runner. "It's a practice that reflects the person who arranged it - you are the artist and you choose the materials you want to use."

Also known as ‘Kado’, Ikebana originated in China and Korea but arrived in Japan at the same time as Buddhism, when monks would place floral offerings on the alters of temples. Consisting of three main stems gathered closely together, the display represented a harmonious relationship between heaven, man and earth. “It’s a 3D composition,” explains Kasia. “Three elements are important – height, width and depth – and they’re the main rules you need to follow. Asymmetry is important to emphasise the lines, while the biggest difference to western arrangements (which tend to be full and crowded) is the use of negative space, or ‘MA’ as it’s called in Japan. It’s a ‘less is more’ concept, and the negative space allows the viewer to appreciate the materials used in the arrangement. It’s a pause in time.”

If that sounds a little complicated, don’t worry. The art of Ikebana is much more ritualistic and meditative than just putting some flowers in a vase. To make a simple Ikebana, all you need is a shallow container, a flower frog (kenzan in Japanese) or floral pinholder, a pair of scissors and the foliage and flowers you want to use. If there’s a favourite flower in your family, make sure you invest in it to make your display all the more personal. If not, simply go for something seasonal so that your bouquet is aligned with the time of year. Do remember that less is more – you only need between 5 and 13 stems for your masterpiece.

To begin with, arrange your three stems. Consider the height and width as these will act as the focal point for your display and hold it together. Start with a branch and a tall flower, and then add fruit or berries, such as rosehip, into the mix. Once you’ve decided, push each one into the flower frog where the pins will pierce the stem and hold it in place so you don’t have to worry about it toppling over and out of the shallow dish.

As with everything, inspiration is everywhere and while your display should mirror how you feel, you can always have a quick scroll on Instagram or Pinterest for more ideas. Discover Kasia's own feed @cosmosandplums and her recommendations @ikebana.sogetsu and @watara_ikebana for an understanding of what’s feasible with your flora.

While you might be able to whip up a display in five minutes, the idea is that you create your display mindfully. Take time to look at the shapes, which petals compliment the outline of the twigs and branches you’ve chosen, and of course, make sure you like how it appears. “For me, it’s so relaxing as it teaches us to look at each material and analyse how best to showcase its beauty. It also teaches us to find beauty in imperfections and in passing (wabi-sabi),” says Kasia.

You could even create a display with your mum if you’re not feeling confident about going it alone. Talk about which flowers you want to use, what you love about them and why you’re drawn to them. Connecting you with nature as well as each other, there’s more than one reason to embrace Ikebana, and unleashing your inner creativity is just one of them.