IKEBANA INTERNATIONAL CHAPTER #182
Columbia SC
This page is under construction.
Prelim dates are updated as shown but events need to be finalized by August 2026
2026/2027 EVENTS
Events are listed chronologically
All planned events for the 2026/2027 year will primarily be held at the Garden Club Council Building unless indicated. Note that this year's schedule has several events held on Saturdays and not the traditional Wednesdays.
1605 Park Circle
Columbia SC 29201
Ikebana International Chapter 182
Program for 2026-2027
Monthly Chapter Meeting Times (unless otherwise noted)
Coffee/Set up: 9:30-10:00
Business Meeting: 10:00-10:15
Program 10:15-11:00
Workshop: 11:15-12:00
Clean Up: 12:00 - 12:15
August 22 Saturday, 2026
Inaugural Tea and Potluck
Note: The Location and Times are different and specific to this particular event.
Location: John & Lucy Spence's Home, 188 Castle Road, Columbia SC 29210
Start time: 11:00 am to 2:00 PM
Our first meeting of the new year will be a tea hosted by 182 members, John & Lucy Spence at their home to inaugurate the new 2026-2027 year. You are invited to see the progress in their Japanese garden construction and to bring a potluck dish to share with fellow chapter members. There is no demonstration planned but there is always Ikebana on display. There will also be arrangements integrated with the surrounding garden. There is lots of on-street parking. Park by the forest. The house numbers are clearly on the mailbox. Enter via the boardwalk to see the waterfall or park and walk down the driveway to enter through the Japanese Gate.
September 16 Wednesday, 2026
Demo: Pam Kolb, Augusta Chapter 81, Ikenobo School
Location: GCCB
Set up: 9:30 am Start time: 10:00 am
Workshop:
October 15-25, 2026
South Carolina State Fair
Ikebana Exhibition in the Cantey Building
Location: SC State Fairgrounds-Cantey Building 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia SC, 29201
State Fair set up on October 14. Take down on October 25, 5 PM.
Chair: Jewell Patterson
October 21 Wednesday, 2026
Demo: Sachiko Day, Charlotte Chapter 41, Koryu School
Location: GCCB
Set up: 9:30 am Start time: 10:00 am
We would like to welcome Sachiko Day to her first presentation for our chapter and secondly, to the first presentation our chapter has had from the Koryu school. We typically say there are three main schools of Ikebana, Ikenobo, Sogetsu and Ohara, because those schools each have more than a million practitioners. At one time it was common to say there were FOUR main schools of Ikebana. That fourth school was Koryu. It is an extremely rare school to find in the United States although it remains popular in Japan. Koryu translates as “Old Style” and it has centuries of history.
November 7 Saturday, 2026
NOTE: November schedule change!
Free Lesson for Guests
Demo: Hideko Rainey, Augusta Chapter 81, Sogetsu - 1st Grade Instructor, Riji
Ginza Ikebana Container and Materials Sale
Location: GCCB
Set up: 9:30 am Start time: 10:00 am
Ginza silent auction, Chair: Kathy Elliott
The Ginza is a silent auction of ikebana containers and materials donated by chapter members with proceeds goint to benefit our chapter. it's a great opportunity to add to your collection.
December 5 Saturday, 2026
NOTE: Date and start time change due to holiday conflicts.
Holiday Social Gathering and Potluck
Location: GCCB
Start Time: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
January 20 Wednesday , 2027
Demo:
Location: GCCB
Set up: 9:30 am Start time: 10:00 am
February 17 Wednesday, 2027
Cutting Edge Arrangements by Chapter Instructors
Exhibition Preparation Workshop
Location: GCCB
Set up: 9:30 am Start time: 10:00 am
March 20 Saturday, 2027
10:00-5:00
Irmo Cherry Blossom Festival, March 21. 2027
Location: Irmo Town Park, 7330 Carlisle Street, Irmo SC 29063
We have a booth promoting ikebana AND Japanese culture. We make arrangements an invite attendees to do the same. It's loads of fun and a great way to promote our exhibition the following week.
Chair:Lucy Spence
March 27 Saturday, 2027 10:00-3:00 Demonstration at 1:00-3:00
Annual Exhibition and Demo
Featured Presenter: Fay Charlesworth, Charlotte 41, Ohara School (Tentative)
Fay is a First Degree Master in the Ohara School
2027 marks the 100th anniversary of the Sogetsu School
Location: GCCB
Members will set up at the GCCB on March 26 to make their arrangements for the exhibition.
Building opens to members: 9:00 on the 27th
Doors open to public: 10:00
Demonstration: 1:00-1:45
Doors close at 3:00
Take Down, Clean Up: 3:00-3:30
April , 2027
South Carolina Orchid Society Show
Location: GCCB
Chair: Betsy Kaemmerlen
April 21, 2027
Presenter:
Location: GCCB
Building opens: 9:00
Demonstration: 10:15 to Noon
Biography:
Fay ‘Hoki' Charlesworth is a Charlotte, NC, based Ohara School Ikebana Associate First Master.
Fay started studying with Ohara at their Headquarters some 24 years ago when living in Tokyo. Since then Fay has studied under many Professors, and Grand Masters across the world, mainly in Asia, Europe and across the USA. Eventually she settled in the Carolinas where she set up a studio, Hoki Studio, and resumed teaching. She is the Vice President of the South Eastern US Ohara Chapter, regularly attends the highest level seminars across the US and also in Japan including lessons with the Iemoto Hiroki Ohara. This April she was pleased to be able to attend the Ikebana International World Convention in Kyoto. Fay exhibits at the National Arboretum in Washington DC each year and also locally. From time to time she also teaches at public events and demontrates. Her love for the seasonality of Ohara Ikebana grows year on year - there is always something new to learn and feel that this is an exciting time to be an Ohara Ikebanist.
April 2027
Bloomin' Art
Bloomin'Art is an event organized by the Garden Club Council of Greater Columbia featuring artwork by local students alomgside floral arrangements inspired by their creators.
Location: GCCB
Chair: Betsy Kaemmerlen
April 17-18, 2027
April 17 10:00-7:00 and April 18, Noon-7:00
Columbia International Festival
Location: SC State Fairgrounds-Cantey Building 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia SC, 29201
Chairs: Cindy Sanders and Robert Neese
May 19, 2027
End of Year Potluck, Business Meeting and Installation of Officers
11:00-1:00 pm
Location:
Our final chapter event of the 2026/2027 year will be a potluck at (not at the GCCB). Bring your favorite dish to share with your fellow chapter members.
YEAR END POTLUCK LUNCH AT JOHN'S
May 15, 2019 11 AM
Special Event
The final event of the 2018-2019 year will be a Potluck Lunch and Make-Your-Own arrangement at the Chapter President's house. Line material is readily available on the surrounding 5 acres of forest. Bring a good pair of shoes, your cutters, flowers and favorite container and we can learn from each other.
J. Spence
188 Castle Road
Columbia, SC 29210
MAY SOGETSU CLASS
May 22 from 10 AM to 12 Noon at the GCCB
These classes are offered to Chapter members by Norman Churchill who will provide all materials. There is an additional fee of $40 per class. Please contact Norman directly to arrange scheduling and payment.