Episode 108- Flower Power

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Host J Schwanke shows you how to use flowers to "petal it forward." The power of flowers affects our health and wellbeing—for the better. See how flowers can heal and cheer when we share them, gift them, even eat them!*Bonus Content - in Blue Links! One of the things I realized early on in my life- is how Powerful Flowers really are. People talk about Flower Power- and it's certainly a powerful slogan that came out of the protests to the Vietnam war. The Peace sign and Flower Power- went hand in hand - in an effort to stop war- and bring Peace to our world!Flower Power doesn't just stop there- there's scientific research from Harvard, Rutgers, Texas A&M, and the University of Northern Florida- that prove- the power Flowers have on our Health and Well being! It's fascinating to read these studies- and find out more about the Incredible Power we can unleash- with a just a few flowers!Another Fun Event- that capitalizes on the power of flowers- especially with giving and receiving flowers- has been established by the Society of American Florists. "Petal it Forward" is a Nationwide flower even- established by the Society of American Florists- where we hit the streets with flowers- sharing 2 Bunches of Flowers with people we meet!Here's a blog post about my own personal experience with "Petal it Forward" in Grand Rapids Michigan!This simple act of kindness- displays Flowers ability to make everyone Happy- giving flowers to someone - improves their well-being and makes them feel happier. The Act of giving flowers- releases endorphins in ourselves- that makes us feel better when we gift the flowers to someone else. So giving 2 Bouquets is Important- One to make the person feel better- and the second - so they can experience first hand- the positive effects of Gifting Flowers to Someone else- and since it's unexpected- it's even more special! Learn more about Petal it Forward here! Another interesting Flower Power Fact- People who receive flowers when sick- get better faster! Want faster results- GIVE YELLOW FLOWERS- it's true- People who received YELLOW flowers when ill- got better even faster! It's part of the scientific research - that proves the Power of the Flower!I love sharing Flower Power- and several years ago- I started a Local Charity event- that helps empower with Flowers! I call it the uBloom Flower Power Challenge. The rules are simple- I choose 5 Local Celebrities- (TV personalities, Radio Hosts, Chefs, Mayor, you get the idea)... they agree- to choose a LOCAL Charity- and make a flower arrangement in 5 minutes at the Annual Flower Power Challenge at the West Michigan Home and Garden Show... we've held this event for 6 years in a row- and each year - it gets bigger and better!The celebrities have 5 minutes make their arrangement and pitch their local charity... they make the arrangement on stage- and the audience votes - with cheers for the Winner! The Winner get's $500 for their local charity- and all contestants get $100 - courtesy of Showspan- the organizer of the Garden Show... it's the kick off to the event each year- and it's become an Annual Event!SPOILER ALERT- Chef Jenna- from my Flowers for Romance Life in Bloom show- wins this challenge- for the Local Gilda's Club- and we've had lots of Great Winners for Local Charities-2014 Jennifer Ackerman Heywood- won for the Wes Leonard Foundation2015 Kim Carson - won for Crashes' Landing2016 Chef Jenna- won for the Grand Rapids Gilda's Club2017 Lauren Stanton- won for Kids' Food Basket2018 Dan Harland - won for Friends of Cystic Fibrosis2019 Rick Vuyst - won for West Michigan's Veterans CoalitionSun Valley Flower Farms- and my friend Lane DeVries- donates many of the flowers for the event- and the FREE Tulips we give away following the event- to help celebrate Women's Day!  My Friend Catherine Behrendt- is my Co-host- and we make this Annual Charity Event- a Fun night with Flowers!It's Fun to have flowers around- but I also like to indulge with edible flowers- whenever possible- and the Flower Recipe for this week- is cupcakes with Edible Sugar Flowers! Edible flowers are unexpected- you get the benefits of having fresh flowers on the table- and sharing them with your guests- and then the Treat of eating them! I use Violas- and Pansies- that I planted- and managed so I can be sure they are organic! The Recipe for Sugared Flowers is easy- and fun! Check it out here!What will you do with edible flowers? I would love to know- email me at J@uBloom.com and let me know your favorite recipe!The Flower Power show is special because I invited my little neighbor girl- Amanda Gilbert into the flower studio to share her Flower Powerful Project and Business... Happy Henna - and "Crowns of Courage". Amanda is all grown up now- and she's make a powerful difference in our world with her Henna Crowns- for cancer patients- and providing them with Henna Flower Crowns- to signify their Beauty and Strength- Learn more about her in my blog- and also at Happy Henna- and "Crowns of Courage"...Amanda loved her Flower Crown- learn how to make a flower crown here!Rosemary is our Featured "flower"- while the Rosemary Plant does flower- simple bluish Flowers- when root bound- the Powerful Effect of the Rosemary scent- has been proven to improve memory- and enhance future memory. My dad suffered from Alzheimer's - and I would send him Rosemary plants- to help improve his memory- while our situation was not research- we all felt- it helped him for many years. I always keep a Rosemary plant around the house... not only for cooking but also for keeping my memory sharp... I enjoy it and make sure to visit it frequently for a little sniff or two!I love having flowers around the house- and I know that some people feel a little intimidated- so I love to share my favorite simple tips for making flowers last longer! here goes...1. Use the Flower Food- It's scientifically formulated to make your flowers last longer! Use the Packet and follow the directions- on the back! It's Important to measure accurately! Use COLD Water- not warm... because it helps reduce bacteria! Here's more information about Flower Food- check it out!2. Speaking of reducing bacteria- it's the Number one Enemy of Flowers- for flowers like Gerbera Daisies (a favorite of many) the fuzzy stem creates bacteria faster- so I use Gerbera Pills... this time released chlorine (like in swimming pools) helps keep the water clean and clear! Buy CVBn Tablets from Chrysal here! 3. Cut your stems at a 45˚ angle- with a sharp locking blade knife or a bunch cutter... don't use a scissors... it crushes the vascular system of the flowers- Knifes are better! Trust me on this one!  Want to learn to cut with a knife... here's more information including a video!4. Remove any leaves that fall below the water line... or use a Rose stripper to pull off leaves and Thorns- this is my favorite Rose Stripper- you can get it here! - Watch a Video about the Rose Stripper here! Clean Flowers are happy flowers... Enjoy this Show about Flower Power- and start to enlist the help of flowers to make your life Happier and Healthier!There's More Tips for Arranging Flowers in my Award Winning Book- Bloom 365- Get your Copy Here!Learn more about the Flower Basics- with my Flowers 101 Vidoes on uBloom.com! Have you missed any of "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom" Episodes?? You can stream there here on the uBloom.com website- and catch up- or watch again! Binge away!