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Classes and Workshops
In-person Ikenobo and Sogetsu Ikebana classes
We regularly present classes and workshops in a variety of longstanding Japanese popular arts. These include gift wrapping with furoshiki (colorful squares of printed cotton cloth), origami (folding paper to create three-dimensional figures without the use of glue or scissors), and Ikebana, or traditional Japanese flower arranging. Taught by Japanese instructors, or by Western teachers who have lived and studied in Japan for years, these courses not only help you acquire new skills, they give you insight into the sources of artistic creativity in Japan, and the values of discernment, refinement, harmony, and subtlety that have shaped Japanese society for millennia.
Learn Ikebana!
If you have marveled at the floral arrangements in our Ikebana exhibitions and wished that you could make such striking displays for your home or as gifts for family and friends, consider enrolling in our flower arranging classes. Educational and entertaining, they will acquaint you with a quintessential and cherished element of Japanese culture.
Born 550 years ago in the custom of decorating altars in Buddhist temples with flowers, Ikebana is far more than a simple expression of creativity like the Western custom of putting pretty blooms in a vase. For the Japanese it is “The Way of the Flower,” a disciplined art with deep-rooted rules and a form of meditation; its ideals embody for them the essence of taste, beauty, and oneness with nature.
Ikenobo is the oldest school and emerged in the 1550s. It specializes in a time-honored classical manner of arrangement. Sogetsu developed in 1926 and makes use of a wider range of plant and other materials to achieve a style that is more fluid and free-form.
You can learn the most basic of flower arranging methods in a few classes. But the Japanese do not pursue Ikebana to gain expertise. They practice it to attain a serene sensitivity to the subtle undercurrents of nature and life.
It is a life-long learning experience and we suggest that you take more than one class, because multiple lessons not only reinforce your skills, they also intensify your experience of the spirit of Ikebana. This enables you to better cultivate the discipline’s benefits, including inner stillness and harmony.
All classes require prior registration. After registration, an email will be sent with more details about the class.
2025 Ikenobo Ikebana Classes
with Patricia Deridder
Schedule:
TBD
There is a charge of $40 per class.
Materials included.
Just bring a bucket, kenzan (frog), shears, towel, and a vase.
Payment must be made at least 3 days prior to the class via check in the name of Patricia Deridder.
Please, mail your check to the following address:
Attn: Patricia Deridder
Yume Japanese Gardens
2130 N. Alvernon Way - Tucson, AZ 85712
Check needs to be received before the class, or student won’t be considered confirmed.
2025 Sogetsu Ikebana Classes
with Cristiana Bertoldi
We are thrilled to announce a brand-new opportunity to explore the beauty of Japanese culture with
Sogetsu Ikebana classes, offered for the first time in person at Yume Japanese Gardens.
Sogetsu Ikebana is a modern and innovative approach to the ancient Japanese art of flower arranging. With its focus on creativity, self-expression, and the harmony between nature and design, Sogetsu Ikebana is perfect for everyone—from complete beginners to seasoned floral enthusiasts.
Spring Class Schedule:
Friday, March 14, 2025, 10am-11:15am
Friday, March 28, 2025, 10am-11:15am
Friday, April 11, 2025, 10am-11:15am
Friday, April 25, 2025, 10am-11:15am
Group Class fee: $40 per class.
Materials included.
Just bring a bucket, kenzan (frog), shears, towel, and a vase.
Payment must be made at least 3 days prior to the class via check in the name of Cristiana Bertoldi.
Please, mail your check to the following address:
Attn: Cristiana Bertoldi
Yume Japanese Gardens
2130 N. Alvernon Way - Tucson, AZ 85712
For more information, or inquiry about private classes, contact Cristiana at yume.gardens@gmail.com
About the Teacher:
Cristiana Bertoldi is a 4th grade Sogetsu Teacher Yonkyu Shihan.
Member of the International Ikebana Club and I.I. Sun Cities Chapter 167.
She has participated in numerous ikebana exhibitions and floral festivals.
IG: cristi_hana_bertoldi