Jim Williams, percussion instructor, also hopes to help in any way he can. To prepare Ikebana displays at the Woodruff House during the festival, Jackie Noll of Warner Robins has been teaching weekly classes at Flint Energies on Elberta Road. Lee Hale of Jackson is president of this Middle Georgia Chapter of Ikebana International. Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arranging that emphasizes form and balance. Many of the 27 members come from Houston County and other Middle Georgia cities such as Macon and Milledgeville to meet at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday from September to May at Flint.
Visitors are welcome.
Next year you may be doing an Ikebana living floral exhibit for the festival. Be sure to drive around the world's Cherry Blossom Capital to feast your eyes on the Yoshinos' beauty. They began blooming early this year. But they always seem to blossom during the festival, says Carolyn Crayton, executive director of the festival and the Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful Commission, who is retiring after this year. What a joy it has been to work with her.