I made two arrangements this week, both representative of autumn. One is full with amaranthus, hydrangea and magnolia leaves. It has a strong core, textural interest and beautiful colors. It represents one kind of “soul” food.
The second arrangement, best described as spare, represents another. It is this second arrangement, consisting of branches, berries and seeds, which has engaged my thoughts. Why? It is a foretelling of “bare November days, before the coming of the snow.” (See Robert Frost’s poem, “My November Guest.”)
The branches in the pictured arrangement have very few leaves, and those that remain continue to fall. In the cycle of the seasons, leaves emphasize the essential quality of change. They speak to the seasonal life and death of the tree. That cycle is captured here.
The Chinese character for “grain” or “seed” shows a modified “tree” bending over at the top, combined with the character of something heavy or weighty. For the farmer, the grain counts as the most significant or “weighty” part of the plant. The berries, if they persist deep into the winter, are the counterpart for overwintering birds.
“November in Three Dimensions” is an edit to essentials of this month and time in the cycle of seasons. I see beauty in its starkness and simplicity.
November does lie bare the bones.
Posted by: Princess Haiku | November 03, 2007 at 10:51 PM