The Lotus Light Longevity Star Senior Club Holds Its Second Flower Arranging Workshop, Delighting Senior Members
On the afternoon of July 4, the Lotus Light Longevity Star Senior Club hosted its second flower arranging workshop, much to the delight of its members. The first workshop, held at the end of April, was a resounding success, with participants enthusiastically praising the professional instruction and the instructor’s thoughtful guidance. Since then, many seniors had repeatedly asked when the next workshop would be offered.
In response to their requests, the Lotus Light Charity Society organized another flower arranging workshop less than three months later. Instructor Carol explained that this session focused on the Sangetsu Ikebana basic style—Upright Moribana—using witch hazel branches combined with chrysanthemums, hosta leaves, and hypericum berries.
At the beginning of the workshop, many of the senior participants were a little nervous. They watched the instructor’s demonstration intently, worried that they might not be able to recreate the arrangement correctly. However, Carol encouraged them by saying, “The flowers are yours. Just listen to the dialogue between yourself and the flowers, and you can create your own style.”
Participants were invited to choose chrysanthemums and berries in different colors and shapes according to their own preferences. Although everyone worked with similar materials, each arrangement reflected its creator’s unique personality and artistic vision. Carol encouraged the seniors to treat the flowers as they would themselves and to discover their own reflections in the world of flowers.
With growing confidence, the seniors carefully trimmed leaves and branches, thoughtfully adjusted the angles of each stem, and became fully immersed in the creative process. The workshop room was filled with concentration, creativity, and quiet appreciation for the art of flower arranging.
Carol praised the participants’ work, saying, “I really like everyone’s creations. The two woody branches create an uplifting sense of movement, while the three chrysanthemums in the center resemble a family. The broad hosta leaves provide steady support for the entire arrangement, and the green hypericum berries symbolize new life waiting to bloom. The overall composition is peaceful, yet full of strength.”
At the end of the workshop, the seniors proudly held up their completed arrangements, their faces beaming with smiles. Even before the class began, participant Susan shared, “I’m going to give today’s arrangement to a friend.” Following the previous workshop, Susan had also gifted her handmade floral arrangement to a friend. The classroom was once again filled with joyful laughter, reflecting the happiness and sense of accomplishment shared by everyone.
The flower arranging workshops are part of the Lotus Light Senior Growth and Care project, funded through the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program. The project offers 24 workshops covering a wide range of topics, including health and wellness, spiritual care, social and cultural activities, arts and crafts, digital literacy, and personal finance and fraud prevention. Through these activities, the program encourages seniors to stay socially engaged, embrace lifelong learning, enhance their physical and mental well-being, express themselves through creativity, and enjoy a vibrant and fulfilling retirement.
For more information about the activities of the Lotus Light Longevity Star Senior Club and the charitable programs offered by the Lotus Light Charity Society, please visit vllcs.org, email llcsvancouver@gmail.com, or call (604) 685-5548.
The Lotus Light Charity Society is a federally registered Canadian charity (Registration No. BN 14110 4893 RR0001).
