Crafts with a focus on flowers are in store on this episode of Life in Bloom. Young friend Emily joins J to create flowers animals. Also included: printing with flowers, arranging strawflowers on canvas, decorating shortbread cookies with pressed flowers. J shares crafty flowers from a viewer.

This is the Shortbread Recipe for the Cookies- I decorated with Edible Pressed Flowers in Episode 708- Flower Crafts- You can watch the episode here!

A Flower Experience of a Lifetime- I’m so honored to be able to visit Ānuenue Pūnua- and watch her create a Pua Kenikeni Lei- in the time honored tradition- of her mother- Primrose- in the shade of her Generational Pua Kenikeni Trees- at her home in Kaneohe, Hawaii!

The Team at FabulousFlorals.com recently published two evergreen guides I think are of Great value to our Flower Friends and Viewers

Today I’ll be create an Analogous Arrangement featuring Purple, Lavender, Blue and Green… these colors are next to one another on the color wheel- and represent the COOL Colors.

Explore the history of the Mason jar at the Minnetrista Museum and Gardens in Muncie, Indiana. Learn why these ubiquitous jars make ideal vases for flower arrangements, both large and small. J interviews a centenarian. See how one flower farm creates beautiful arrangements with canning jars.

Today on Behind the Bloom I’m visiting with my Flower Friend Bob Mellano- at Mellano & Company in the LA Flower Market. Bob is one of my Favorite Life Long Flower Friends

The magic of Flowers is the theme for this episode. Stylist Aimie Vredevoogd joins J at the Los Angeles Flower Market to discuss how flowers lend their magic to everything. A visit with Mellano & Company, as they celebrate a century of magical flowers. Flower farming at FBI Flowers in the Mountains of Southern California.

I had the distinct pleasure to “talk story” with Kimo Keaulana- about Lei- and he brought his extensive collection to share with us and teach us more about Shell Lei, Fire Flower Lei- and Feather Lei- in this Behind the Bloom show today!

Today on Behind the Bloom I am deeply honored to present my Friend Kimo Keaulana- a Cultural Practitioner, Hawaiian Knowledge Teacher and Hula Master. Kimo graciously invited us to the Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute- (translation: Where Heaven meets the Earth) –

Part two of our special trip to Hawaii, focused on the native art of the lei. A visit to a generational Pua Kenikeni tree and its care-takers. J chats with cultural practitioner Kimo about lei traditions and culture, then it’s off to the Lei-making contest and Lei Day celebration at Queen Kapiʻolani Park.

The Hawaiian Gibson- courtesy of Jenny Fiedler - Author of the Essential Bar Book- as featured in J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom- Episode 705 A Day for Lei #FlowerCocktailHour

Any professional educator at the middle school, high school, community college, or university levels is welcome to a FREE subscription to uBloom.com. Professional Educators are invited to send requests to j@ubloom.com

Today on Behind the Bloom- I’m viewing the 2024 Lei Day Contest- in Queen Kapi’olani Park with my Life Long Friend Deb Di Bella AIFD.

On location in Hawaii, with a special two-part episode focused on the native art of the lei. In part one, J visits a lei store in downtown Honolulu to see the variety and multitudes of lei, meets lei maker and author Meleana Estes, and tours Little Plumeria Farms. Also: Ed Kenney, host of the tv show “Family Ingredients,” creates a local dish.

Today’s Video is a Bonus Web-Exclusive- for Episode 703 Market Bunches- 4 Ways (Watch Here) - in Season 7 of J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom…  I’ve got one more project up my Sleeve- with this Beautiful Market Bunch from our Friends at PassionRoses.com

J shows viewers multiple ways to arrange a classic BEAUTIFUL market bouquet (from our Friends at Passion Roses) yielding different looks, to enjoy your favorite bouquet in a new light! Ideas include: adding blooms from the garden, including fruit or vegetables, combinations of vases.

Today on Behind the Bloom- I’m with my incredible Flower Friend- Karen Lau Lee at Cindy’s Lei Shoppe in Honolulu. Karen shares the history of this Iconic Lei Shoppe

J visits the Bob Ross Studio in Muncie, IN and interprets a painting with flowers. Techniques for painting flowers in water color are shared by artist and instructor Eric Santoli. J arranges flowers with a dear friend and also mixes a Happy Trees Cocktail.

Happy Little Trees Cocktails- courtesy of Joan Kowalski- with this version- I introduced a Kiwi Liquor which is quite delicious!