Narcissus Ikebana Flower Arrangement

Narcissus, also referred as Suisen in Japanese, blooms in December, in the midst of winter (where it does not snow) or from the beginning of autumn to the beginning of spring. Narcissus anticipates the coming of spring, it always have a congratulatory impression alongside its delicate fragrance even its growth lasts through the season.

Most commonly seen, a narcissus arrangement is often an Isshuike Shoka arrangement during the winter season. From mid-season onwards, the material can serve as nejime (filler flowers in Japanese) for other materials. For example, a long stemmed narcissus can serve as a nejime for a short small flower. 

The long and rather straight stems of narcissus make it most suited for shin or gyo style arrangements. When making an arrangement with just narcissus, the below is the general set of rules to follow:

• Open flowers are used higher, buds are used lower.
• Flower stems should not extend beyond their cluster of leaves. 
• The leaves of each natural stem of narcissus are surrounded by a white sheath (also known as shirone or hakama) and each group of leaves must have this sheath.
• The sheath should also be visible in the mizugiwa (the 2 inches visibility of stems above water level). So don't cut too short! 

Depending on the time of the season and the stems, one can either make an arrangement with two stems of narcissus or three. The leaves and flower stems of narcissus are always recombined. That is actually where the "arranging" part happens, before the insertion of stems onto the kenzan. Here's a step-to-step how to:

1. Press gently on the bottom part of the flower stem on the white sheath. Then slowly pull the stem out of the sheath and put it aside for later use. If you have a bunch of stems, pick the few with the tallest and widest sheaths for use.
   
   
2. Remove all the leaves and flower stem one by one. 
   
   
3. Arrange inner, outer leaves and flower stem carefully back to their original positions, but with each adjusted to a more ideal proportional height.
   
   
4. Please refer to the diagrams below:
   
   
   For a two stems arrangement
   
   
   
   For a three stems arrangement
   
   
   Each group should have four leaves and one flower stem.
   
   
5. The taller rear group, in a two stems arrangement, will form the shin and soe. In a three stem arrangement, each stem will stand in for shin, soe and tai. The shorter front group will be tai and its ashirai (supplementary stems).
   
   
6. The highest part of the sheath should face the front. You will notice a little "tip" for each sheath when observed closely. The sheath in the back group should be positioned slightly higher than the sheath in the front group. That is to mimic nature growth, in which the longer stem will have a longer sheath. 
   
   
7. Re-insert the group into the sheath very carefully so not to damage or tear the sheath.
   
   
8. Insert the groups onto kenzan. Place in center and one in front of another.

Due to the special properties of the sheath of narcissus, this method of arranging is difficult to be transfers to another material. Sheaths of other materials are often too fragile for reinsertion. This thus make the narcissus arrangement special and distinctive.