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

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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.

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​​​September 16 Wednesday, 2026

Demo: Pam Kolb, Augusta Chapter 81, Ikenobo School

Ikenobo Shoka and Free Style Emphasizing Fall Materials

Location: GCCB

Set up: 9:30 am Start time: 10:00 am

Workshop:  Examples of flowers to bring: Chrysantemum, rose, dahlia, aster, thistle, sunflower

Examples of line material: Grasses, driftwood, dried vines, blueberry, bittersweet, reeds, cattail, euonymous, quince, pyracantha

Containers: Round bowl with sloping sides and a freestyle container of your choice

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​​​​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

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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.      

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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

Workshop: Hideko will bring dried and shaped wisteria vine for everyone.

Plants: Small flowers such as small-medium chrysanthemum, carnations, etc., green leaves that would compliment your flowers

Container: Large moribana and two kenzan

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. 

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December 5 Saturday, 2026 

NOTE: Date, time, and place change.

Holiday Social Gathering and Potluck

Location: Home of Cindy Sanders

Start Time: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm

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January 16 Saturday, 2027

Demo: Lin Ko, Sogetsu

Location: GCCB

Set up: 9:30 am Start time: 10:00 am

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February 17 Wednesday, 2027

Cutting Edge Arrangements by Chapter Instructors

Exhibition practice workshop: Bring the plant materials and containers you want to use in the exhibition

Location: GCCB

Set up: 9:30 am Start time: 10:00 am

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​​March 19 Friday, 2027

Exhibition Set-up

Members will meet at GCCB to make arrangements for the exhibition and set up the room

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March 20 Saturday, 2027 10:00-3:00 Demonstration at 1:00-3:00

Annual Exhibition and Demo

Featured Presenter: 

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

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April , 2027

South Carolina Orchid Society Show 

Location: GCCB

Chair: Betsy Kaemmerlen

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April 21, 2027

Presenter: Fay Charlesworth, Ohara

Location: GCCB

Building opens: 9:00

Demonstration: 10:15 to Noon

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​​​​​​​​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

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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

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​May 19, 2027

End of Year Potluck, Business Meeting and Installation of Officers

11:00-1:00 pm

Location: TBD

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.

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