Cherry Blossoms, Skirts and Ikebana

We have welcomed September with the first days of spring. Yet on Modcloth, one of my regular shopping haunts, the styles have turned to autumn tones. With this changing of season comes the all new style of Ikebana Skirt.

I already own two other styles of this particular skirt and was keen to add this new flourish of floral to my collection. As you can see, the deep reds and purples sing of autumn, not of spring. It was perfect then, that our spring blossoms were coloured with pinks and deep reds. Today’s styling is therefore a spring and autumn hybrid. I hope you enjoy more serious colours to match this celebration of new growth and the breaking of winter. I also have written a little poem in celebration of the sweet cherry blossoms that grace our streets for such a short time.

Cherry Blossoms

Little sleepy fairies in the winter kingdom wake.

Cocooned inside their armour which rays of sunshine flakes;

Peels away their prison and whispers in their ear

‘Wake up little fairies, the springtime sunshine’s here.’

These photos have been taken at the incredible location of the Titanic Band Stand in Ballarat. On the main promenade in Ballarat is a band stand dedicated to the musicians that died aboard the Titanic. I have been told before (by someone who attended) that each year, at the exact time of the sinking in the dark of night, musicians gather in the bandstand with people wishing to pay their respects. At the time of sinking, they play Nearer My God To Thee, then have a minute of silence and depart. Atop the bandstand is a windlass which is adorned with a cast iron Titanic. I lived in Ballarat 14 years before my best friend (a new resident) pointed it out to me and I was fascinated at this teenie little ship that I had spent my whole life oblivious to. Thanks Melanie! xx

The below image is of my sister at the anniversary of the Titanic sinking. The Ballarat Fashions in Time group held and commemorative morning tea (among other festivities) at the bandstand for which we all dressed era appropriate. I have a couple of snaps from the occasion on my Flickr (scroll to the end of album).

The bandstand is surrounded by steep flower beds and large old cherry blossom trees. While the garden beds are well maintained all year round, it is just for these short weeks of blossom that we truly get to experience the serenity of the location. I think it is also perhaps a little nod to the time of year in which the tragedy occurred as these trees would be blooming in April in the northern hemisphere.

My little cherry blossom branch is well camouflaged against the tapestry pattern of the Ikebana skirt.

What is a Ballarat streetscape without a little yarn bombing? I almost cropped this out of the picture but then I remembered there is currently a local scandal with some no life resident having complained about yarn wrapped posts being… I don’t know… too radical. I’ve left the yarn bombed tree limb in frame in solidarity with rational people who love colour, art and vibrancy in a cold and dreary winter city.