December can be a dreary month, which is probably why it features so many holidays to brighten things up. Its human nature to dream of bright flowers and sunny days when it is snowing out, and dream of blizzards and evergreens when its baking hot and dry.

I thought I might indulge in this impulse as our bicentennial year draws to a close by sharing a gallery of the flower arrangements which I have made for Dunham Tavern . My goal when it comes to curation to make the museum seem more “lived in”. Fresh flower arrangements help both inject seasonality into the museum, and bring the beauty of its gardens indoors. In this way, the museum and the gardens mutual support one another. Since have many antique vases in our collection, I took the opportunity when spring brought plant life back to our gardens to make use of them. I have been extremely happy with the results. See what you think of them!

How did a museum professional wind up arranging flowers, you might wonder? Well, some years ago now when I was still an undergrad student at John Carroll University, I took a course in Ikebana (the art of Japanese flower arranging). This was part of what I jokingly called my “Samurai studies”: I took courses in Ikebana, Calligraphy, and Kendo (Japanese fencing). Of the three, I was probably best at Ikebana!

An ***Ikebana*** *arrangement, showing the better known style using the spike plate* ***kenzan*** *to hold up the flowers of the arrangement.*

Ikebana stereotypically involves a kenzan, or spiked plate which rests in a shallow bowl into which the stems of the flowers are driven. But this is not how I practice it at Dunham. Obviously, antique Western vases are not designed with such a style of arrangement in mind! Instead, I use another style of Ikebana known as Heika or “Tall Vase” style, which does not use a kenzan and is far more adaptable to Western vases and plants. This style is considered more free-form, and aims to be more naturalistic with it’s arrangements.

These are basic principles of Ikebana: Firstly, the goal is to produce a naturalistic arrangement, rather than a perfect one. Plants should be arranged to look as if they are growing amidst each other in nature, not plucked as perfect specimens. It’s also generally good to have several plant types in the arrangement which grow together naturally at the same place and season. That's a task made vastly simpler when you are picking them from your own garden!

Secondly, if you can, it is good to select flowers where there are still some unopened buds on the stem. This produces the effect of seeing the life-cycle of the plant as a frozen snapshot. Buds and flowers should be arranged so that they are bending upwards towards the viewer, as if they are growing naturally in the sun.

*The* ***Heika*** *(tall vase) style of* ***Ikebana.*** *As this style uses no* ***kenzan*** *it is more adaptable to Western style vases.*

You should not worry too much about such things as asymmetry in the flowers themselves, holes in leaves, blemishes, &c. All of this approach is very much in line with the Japanese aesthetic philosophy of wabi-sabi, or impermanent beauty. In fact one might say that Ikebana, being so impermanent by nature, is the ultimate expression of the wabi-sabi aesthetic.

Asymmetry is also something that you should embrace and emphasize, not avoid. You can achieve this simply by having one taller plant which is leaned backwards and to one side and is balanced out by two plants lent forward. The result should be something like a scalene triangle when viewed from above. This isn’t always possible though, depending on the vase you are using and where you are placing the arrangement.

I’ve found that asymmetry when viewed from the front works just as well, if the vase is being displayed so that you can’t see the back or top of the arrangement. You can also use asymmetry to create symmetry by making two similar arrangements in identical vases which are mirrors of one another. That trick is useful if like me, you are also a lover of symmetry.

For more contrast and interest, your arrangements can also look beyond flowers to other plants as sources of beauty. I’ve used everything from sage to tree branches in my arrangements with success. This is helpful if you want to avoid having to denude your flower garden to make an arrangement!

I don’t strictly follow Ikebana principals here at Dunham, since I due to the need to adapt them to the vases that I am working with. Rather, I use them as a general aesthetic guide to arranging flowers. You can choose to approach Ikebana in this, or in a more traditional way. Either way, I encourage you to try it for yourself: it is a relaxing, rewarding hobby that can brighten up your home.

*…Or in this case, to donate to Dunham Tavern!*

As the year here at Dunham Tavern draws to a close, there are many more great articles and projects on the way for 2025. This year has been an eventful one. We have accomplished much in that short time.

The most significant accomplishment this year has been the restoration of the Tavern’s roof and siding. This project not only repaired the damage of the 2023 Tornado but ensured the continued existence of the museum for years to come. It is thanks to a single large private donation that we were able to finish this project in such a short time.

Now that our bicentennial year is almost over, we will start looking towards the future and the next two-hundred years of the Tavern’s existence. Please consider helping to support the oldest structure in Cleveland during this season of charity through our donation page. Every donation, no matter the size, helps us to continue to share the story of Dunham Tavern and its tradition of hospitality.

If you are interested in joining us here at Dunham Tavern, consider becoming a member or volunteering. As our museum changes and grows, there is no shortage of work to be done!

This will be the last blog article I write for 2024. Look forward to more great articles in 2025!

In the meantime, from myself, and the volunteers and staff at Dunham Tavern Museum & Gardens: We wish you all Happy Holidays!