Inspired by the Bamboo Container

My Ikebana arrangement with the theme of weaving

The jasmine vine in my backyard shows healthy growth in the summer.  Too healthy that it almost overwhelms the spiderwort flowers blossoming nearby. One of my summer garden chores, therefore, is to trim the excessively long jasmine vines once in a while.

The vines don’t go to the compost bin right away.  They are usually parked in one of my bamboo basket containers for a week or two.


This bamboo container has a small round opening on the top and a rectangular bottom. The handle is rather long, with two rods twisted into one.  Meticulously hand-woven, this bamboo basket container is a regular that accompanies my jasmine vines every summer.

Inspired by the impeccably woven surface of the container, I try to weave the jasmine vines on and around the basket.  Sometimes I successfully create beautiful curved lines that look like they are almost floating.  Sometimes the lines end up sloppily dangling from the basket. 

I try to replicate the most successful curved lines I can remember, but none of the vines are exactly the same.  That’s the wonder of nature, and I have no choice but to accept the different lines each time.


So here is the Ikebana arrangement I did this summer.  I accompanied lisianthus and lysimachia flowers, both of which have graceful curved lines.  Hopefully the jasmine vines are happy with the company.