A series of Ikebana workshops takes place next month in the Visitors Center at Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, Illinois.

Dates are 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. February 10, 2023, 9 a.m. February 18, 2023, and 1:30 p.m. March 11, 2023. Cost is $45, including flower materials.

Space is limited and registration is required.

Leading the workshops in this ancient and modern art form is Reiko Takahashi, an Ikenobo-certified ikebana instructor. She has studied ikebana since 2001 under Professor Emeritus Kimiko Gunji at the College of Art and Design, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She teaches a monthly workshop in Chicago, and has demonstrated and exhibited her ikebana at various venues and events.

Ikebana, also known as the flower way (kado), developed alongside the tea ceremony (chado) with the introduction of Buddhism to Japan. The Ikenobo school of ikebana began more than 550 years ago, and is still flourishing today. Through the flower way – carefully observing how plants grow and arranging ikebana – we make discoveries about nature, others, and ourselves.

(Photos courtesy of Anderson Japanese Gardens)