Episode #410 - Simply Flowers

Episode 410- Simply Flowers  

Today’s Life In Bloom reminds us that arranging flowers doesn’t need to be complicated. We’ll review simple ways to display flowers for a great pick-me-up, show how to chop and drop to increase creativity, add floral flavors to simple syrup, and visit a Sunflower field for pictures and more.

 “Always have something beautiful in sight, even if it's just a daisy in a jelly glass.”                                                                                                                                   – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Many times, a simple approach is best for enjoying flowers. We lead busy lives and often feel we simply don’t have time to do one more thing. The rewards of a simple bunch of flowers, however, are many and varied - from a mood enhancer to memory jogger. How many times might you view the same simple bouquet during the week, and feel an involuntary smile across your face? Merely for taking a few moments and placing blooms in a jar with water.  Flowers have a unique ability to improve our lives- through their proven health and wellness benefits. You can learn more about the research and studies completed- by following this link: uBloom.com/Research

Simple Arrangements with Fragrance

I'm using one of my favorite flower arranging containers- it's 4 simple Vases that fit neatly into a mini chicken wire crate- that way I can use 4 different kinds of flowers- that happen to be super fragrant... it doesn't take many flowers- to fill this fun collection ... I'm using Freesia from my Friends at Ocean Breeze , Lilac fresh from my own cutting Garden, A wonderful Spray Rose that is scented from my friends at Green Valley Floral and the ultimate fragrant flower- and one of my all time favorites... the Gardenia! (I got this one from Torchio - located in the historic San Francisco Flower Mart!)

Having a fun little vase or collection of vases like this makes flower arranging easy -  and it doesn't take many blooms to fill up the container and add them to any room in the house- for a happier feel, a creative inspiration- or a fun way to destress!

A Visit to Lenderink Farm's Sunflower Field with GUEST Eddie Rucker

For a single flower that makes a big impression, it’s hard to improve on a sunflower. I’m here at Lenderink Farm - this local farm is Best known for it's Christmas Trees- but my friend Ed Nash- whose always up for my little visits to his farm... he decided to take a peat bog and turn it into a Fun Social Media Destination- and filled it up with Sun Flowers. Ed's farm is right up the road from me... so I can be in the Sunflower field in a matter of minutes. It's a fun way to enjoy their fields of sunflowers grown specifically for photo opportunities (or TV Filming) .  I’ve asked my friend Eddie Rucker to join me in exploring the rows of amazing sunny flowers and make an arrangement or two as well.”

I met Eddie Rucker many years ago- when I was asked to do a segment on Flowers for the Local Lifestyle Show- Take 5- Eddie was the producer- and she made contact with me- and invited to the show! Well that's the beginning of a life-long friendship- I loved appearing on Take 5 with Flowers- (You can see many of those appearances at this link!)  to explore and make arrangements.

I loved appearing on Take 5- and it certainly made me comfortable in front of a LIVE Audience- and helped me hone my skills for National Television... all the while my pal Eddie- was backstage- always with a Bright Smiling Face- to welcome me to the Green Room- and my next appearance on Take 5. Eddie now is an Insurance Agent- and still a wonderful friend- helping people and encouraging folks are what Eddie does best... so it's always a treat to get to meet up her- and even better when were surrounded by Hundreds of Sunflowers!

One of the things Eddie always coached me on was creating arrangements that are simple and easy! She would often tell me- "Pretend you know NOTHING about flowers- then teach us how to make something that will make us feel proud of ourselves" - that was great advice- so today- Eddie and will share these fun simple arrangements... A Single BIG Sunflower bloom in a vase...

Vase with Sunflowers & Black Eyed Susans... what a combination

We'll create a Topiary - with Sunflowers- they are IDEAL for making Fun Simple Topiaries...

Lily Bowl arrangement- this is one of my favorite containers- and it's made for floating big flowers!

I'll even Repurposed Vintage Ash Tray- and turn it into a Sunflower Focused Centerpiece!

Cool Color Reclaimed Vase Bouquets

Here's another fun way to repurpose and recycle- Glass Jars- from food- maybe it's peaches, or peanut butter, salsa or ketchup... whenever I empty a glass jar- I remove the labels- and look at the shape! It's amazing how many different styles- and shapes there are- and many provide an ample amount of water- and even a cinched neck- that makes flowers look even better.

This project- is color based- and I used a translucent paint - (Just for Flowers by Design Master)... and painted the jars- in a palette of Cool Colors,( Green, Aqua, Teal, Blue, Purple and Lavender) and then filled the vases with flowers in like Colors... It's a simple and Super Fun way to work with color- and repurpose and recycle- glass jars into flower vases!

Featured Flower: Daffodil

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_(plant)

- Daffodil are also known as Narcissus and Jonquil and is a genus of predominantly spring flowering perennial plants of the amaryllis family

- They plant is associated with a number of themes in different cultures, ranging from death to good fortune. 

- The flower is often viewed as a symbol of Spring, due to its blooming early in the season.

- The daffodil is the national flower of Wales

- Narcissus is perceived in the West as a symbol of vanity, in the East as a symbol of wealth and good fortune

- Daffodil are popular as cut flowers and as ornamental plants in private and public gardens

- Narcissus is a genus of perennial herbaceous bulbiferous geophytes, which die back after flowering to an underground storage bulb. They regrow in the following year from brown-skinned ovoid bulbs with pronounced necks.

- The Daffodil bulb lies dormant after the leaves and flower stem dieback and has contractile roots that pull it down further into the soil. 

- The flower stem and leaves form in the bulb, to emerge the following season. 

- Most species are dormant from summer to late winter, flowering in the spring, though a few species are autumn flowering.

The Daffodils pictured in this segment- are the various varieties- I grow in my own garden... they come up every year- and I'm keen on adding new unique varieties every year... it's a fun way to welcome spring- to West Michigan!

Daffodil Arrangement in a Vintage Daffodil Planter

I found this wonderful Vintage vase- at the Allegan Antique Market- here in Michigan - this special antique show- has hundreds of vendors- and they set up on the last Sunday of every month- April through October- on the Allegan County Fair Grounds...It's number is 899- and it's an Abingdon USA vase... I really love it... and it looks great with Daffodils in it... it's 5 and 1/2 Inches tall and about 8 inches wide at the base...

Shot Glasses as Vases

Here's another great idea- for simple flower vases- that you can place around the house- or into a shape- like a heart or circle- or even a letter or number... and it's done with shot glasses. Not just for the quick drink of your favorite liquor- a Shot Glass- makes a wonderful flower vessel for one bloom (or a couple of small blossoms too)...

We all might have a few shot glasses sitting around- and if you're like me- I shot of booze- isn't really as appealing as it was when I was in my 20s... so filling my shot glasses with flowers- is an even better - experience! I hope you agree!

Recipe - Lavender Blueberry Simple Syrup

Simple Syrup is basically sugar and water combined and then used to sweeten beverages with alcohol, or even just to add flavor to soda water. Additional ingredients can be added to create different flavors.  Today I am making a simple syrup flavor with Lavender and Blueberries.”

It's a perfect way to create a mocktail- (a cocktail without any booze)... and you can create simple syrups with many different kinds of herbs or fruits... you can make your own decisions- and try out some new combinations... I hope you enjoy this recipe...

Lavender Blueberry Simple Syrup Recipe

1 Cup water

1 Cup of organic pure cane sugar

2 Tablespoon of culinary lavender

1 Cup of Fresh Michigan blueberries

Put all ingredients over medium high heat until the blueberries start to burst and the mixture thickens. Remove from heat to cool. Makes 11 oz of simple syrup

Chop and Drop Bouquet - Workplace Creativity

Did you know- that flowers in the workplace- can increase our creativity? It's also proven- that flowers help us reach more creative solutions to problems... so having flowers around the office- your works pace or creative space at home- will provide additional benefits- beyond destressing or making us feeling happier or less depressed...

Today- I'll show you an easy technique for placing a store- bought bouquet - into a vase- and I'll share more about the benefits of having flowers in the workplace!

J shares- “I want to show you the best techniques for what’s known by many as the chop and drop. You know - when you purchase a bouquet like this and cut of the ends and place it in a vase - like this…It’s a simple task, but a few extra moments will ensure you can enjoy this simple bouquet for days longer.”

“A simple bouquet like this one -from my Friends at Ocean Breeze Bouquets- is one of the easiest ways to bring flowers to the workplace and can improve your productivity and even your well-being.”

A couple of simple strategies for flower arranging, and you are always ready to enjoy flowers from anywhere - be it your own garden - or a bouquet that you just picked up on a whim. This way you can enjoy the flowers - and the benefits they provide - as much as possible. For Life In Bloom, I’m J Schwanke.