In Japan, Viburnum Snowball is starting to appear in stores for the season.
I happened to find three stems for 400 yen (approximately $2.60) at a local supermarket that carries a wide variety of flowers. I took these, along with my weekly flower subscription bouquet, to my mother’s house to experiment with some styling ideas.
Early Summer Freshness: Long Stems and Shimmering Glass
Our first approach was a two-tier composition. We used a blue Japanese ceramic vase for the Viburnum Snowball, cutting the three stems at different lengths to create a sense of organic depth. In front of this, we placed a clear glass vase containing pink roses and alstroemeria. This combination of traditional pottery and modern glass is a simple way to achieve a Japandi aesthetic. By mixing materials, the arrangement feels grounded yet airy, fitting perfectly into a contemporary interior.
Later, we gathered all the flowers into a single glass vase and placed it atop a woven basket. This small change shifted the mood to something more casual and rustic. The transparency of the glass allows the vibrant, lime-green stems of the Snowball to be the focal point.
Capturing Movement: Flannel Flowers in a Small Pitcher
For the second style, we looked through my mother’s kitchen for something different and picked a Soba-Tsuyu-ire (a ceramic pitcher for buckwheat noodle sauce). It’s a bit larger than a standard cup and works well for a small arrangement with floral foam.
we placed three heads of Viburnum Snowball in the pitcher along with Flannel Flowers. I really enjoyed the natural movement of the Flannel Flower stems, which gives the arrangement its own rhythm. The combination of the green Snowball and the dynamic lines of the Flannel Flower felt very balanced in the pitcher.
Using an everyday item like a sauce pitcher reflects a Modern Wabi-Sabi feeling quite naturally.
In the last few days, Tokyo has suddenly become much warmer, and the air feels like early summer.
While the world often feels restless and uncertain, I believe that maintaining a sense of peace in our own small daily rituals is more important than ever. For me, spending this quiet time with flowers is a way to stay grounded and keep my heart calm.
I hope your space brings you a little extra joy today.
-mizu
