An Ikebana-inspired floral arrangement brings the art of stillness into the new year
Kim Epley, artistic director at The Studio at Farmer Blue, designs with blooms grown on her 12-acre farm in Seabrook. This month she turns to the quiet discipline of ikebana to welcome the new year.
Story by Kim Epley
Photography by Amia Marcell
If the new year invites us to slow down, ikebana shows us how. This Japanese art turns simplicity into poetry by focusing on balance, form and space. Using a few accessible ingredients arranged with intention, this month’s design becomes quietly sculptural and reflects the season’s call for calm, clarity and gratitude.
ilex and field-foraged greenery to bring calm, structure and sculptural beauty to the New Year’s table.
In the arrangement
- Gerbera daisies
- Snapdragons
- Ilex winterberry
- Huckleberry
- Evergreen
- Fern
Design notes
- Focus on line and form. Choose three primary stems: a tall leader, a medium support and a grounding element that symbolically represent heaven, earth and humanity.
- Choose simple vessels. Shallow bowls, low ceramics and minimalist vases let the structure shine. Soft tones and matte finishes reinforce the sense of calm.
- Honor seasonal beauty. One snapdragon placed with intention or a single branch of ilex can have as much visual impact as a full bouquet.
- Care with intention. Refresh water daily, trim stems at an angle, and let the simple act of tending the arrangement become its own quiet moment of gratitude.
