Two excellent arrangers from our sister chapter in Sacramento appear in February. Rosamond Vallejo, known to most of us as Rhody, was first introduced to ikebana by her aunt who was a National Garden Club Master Judge and a member of the Sacramento Arrangers Guild. Her aunt also introduced her to Shuko Kobayashi who taught Sogetsu in Sacramento. Her studies began with him in 1989 while she balanced her time between work and family. Upon Mr. Kobayashi's retirement, Rhody continues her studies with Kimi Kika Shibata each month. Rhody has served as president of the Davis Flower Arrangers, Sacramento Arrangers Guild, and most recently Ikebana International in Sacramento. Raised on a ranch in Sutter County, she explores canals and ditches for cattails, stems of wheat, and other materials such as live oak and enjoys the natural connection of these wild materials with ikebana.

Helen Kosoku Tashima has studied Sogetsu ikebana since 1991, first with Shuko Kobayashi and for the last eight years with Kimi Kika Shibata. Helen is a member of the Sacramento Arrangers Guild and serves as corresponding secretary for the Sacramento Chapter of Ikebana International. She teaches ikebana at various Shambhala meditation centers in the Central Valley and provides floral arrangements for the Davis Shambhala Meditation Center.