Episode #412- What Goes Around

Episode #412 -What Goes Around 

We’re looking at ways to re-use, re-purpose, and recycle - including upcycling thrift store vases, I’ll get some help building a garden bench from palettes, we’ll also recycle leftovers and even a flower arrangement - after all- what goes around- becomes an important part of our Life In Bloom.

 “The ground's generosity takes in our compost and grows beauty! Try to be more like the ground.” – Rumi

Have you ever noticed the topic of recycling can cause some people to tune out? Eyes glaze over and the mind wanders off in other directions. It can be an overwhelming topic laced with personal guilt for not doing one’s part. To me, recycling means using resources to their best advantage, in multiple ways whenever possible. Even small efforts in this direction can provide personal satisfaction and when everybody’s efforts are added up the effect is compounded. Today we’re exploring ideas in recycling - around flowers - that are simple and beneficial on a personal scale – and have the benefit of simultaneously contributing to the bigger picture.

UpCycle Thrift Store Vases

What goes around- like vases at the Thrift Store- can come back around- and be transformed- into lover flower and plant vases for our home- it's another great way to repurpose those vases- with the magic of color and paint- and help us create more FLOWER POWER for our life in bloom- at the home or office!

Repurposing Containers in the Garden / Fairy Garden

What goes around- comes back around- as we take an accidentally broken garden urn- and transform it into a Fairy Garden.

But First- lets start with a chipped tea cup from my Franciscan Starburst collection- (You became acquainted with this collection- and the Designer Mary Brown- in a previous episode of  Life in Bloom- Watch Episode #308 - Coffee, Tea or Flowers? Here!) This chipped tea cup is what goes around- and now- it will be become the centerpiece of a wonderful planter- that also repurposes an unexpected ground cover- Pastel Egg Shells... did I get your attention?

 Found Vases / Decoration Idea

What goes around- can come around- as a decoration for our window sill- using Spice Jars- and other novelty glass containers- to create a miniature window sill landscape of flower vessels- filled with flowers from the garden...

Recycle Pallets into a Garden Potting Bench with GUEST Troy Caswell

It’s no secret that I am the flower expert - I know a lot about arranging flowers. However, there are many things for which I claim no expertise. But I’m not afraid to ask for help. I saw an idea for building a garden potting bench for using discarded palettes. It’s not an especially complex project and I sometimes have palettes hanging around - so I asked my neighbor Troy - who is very handy and has most tools known to man - if he would help me with this project…

No one is better at grabbing "something that goes around"- and then crafting it into a piece of home decor- or functional piece of furniture than my friend and neighbor Troy Caswell- and his wife Lisa... they are the King and Queen of Home Decor- and today Troy is going to share his talents as we take some shipping palettes (what goes around) and turn them into a masterful potting bench (comes around)... for the garden!

https://www.apieceofrainbow.com/pallet-potting-bench/

 It's another great way to take what goes around- and transform it into a useful part of our Life in Bloom!

I would be remiss to not include all the different things that Troy has created for us- in his workshop garage- or "Yoder and Yoder" as he calls it. At the end of every show- there is a Michigan State created out of wood palettes- that's Troy's Handywork... and we have some wonderful shelves that hang in the great room- that are gifts from the Caswells too! The Wine Rack- that you see in this episode- behind Troy and I when we place the Potting Bench- was also created by Troy and Lisa... it's amazing- and In Season 4- you'll see it updated- to hold vases of flowers- I can't wait... Stay Tuned!

Troy joins me- for a Cocktail- as we so often do- after a fun project- in the garden and the NEW Potting Bench- doubles brilliantly as a bar... as we enjoy a couple of Cucumber Infused Margaritas... Delicious!

Here's the Cucumber Margarita Recipe:

Prepare the Infused Cucumber Juice:

Puree a large cucumber - including the peel in a juicer... strain the juice through a coffee filter...

You'll notice the Juice is a Very Pleasing Green Color...

Then Add 2 parts Cucumber Juice to 1 part Tequila and 1 part Triple Sec.. and refrigerate overnight in a sealed container.

I Infused the Tequila with Cucumber as well- for a bit more Cucumber flavor... prior to making the Cucumber Infused JuiceTake a whole cucumber and peel it... cut up the cucumber and remove the seeds- chop up the Cucumber- and place it ina glass container with the cucumber peels and cover with tequila- allow to set at room temperature for 1 week- strain througha coffee filter- and place back into the tequila bottle - and mark - as Cucumber Infused Tequila.

To prepare the drink...

Salt the rim of glass- and chill glasses if desired

In a cocktail shaker over ice- add the following ingredients:(recipe is for 2 large drinks)

2 oz Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice

2 oz Organic Pure Cane Sugar Syrup

4 oz Cucumber infused Juice...

Shake and pour into a glass over ice- and top with Seltzer water- I prefer San Pelligrino...  and serve!

Featured Flower: Morning Glory

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_glory

https://www.almanac.com/plant/morning-glories

- Morning glories bloom from early summer to the first frost of fall.  It's yet another way- that flowers can provide a little "what goes around" for blooms that are incredibly durable- dependable- and downright colorful! 

- With slender, climbing, vine-like stems and heart-shaped leaves, their trumpet-shaped flowers come in colors of pink, purple-blue, magenta, or white. 

- These fragrant, colorful flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

- Most morning glory flowers unravel into full bloom in the early morning. 

- The flowers usually start to fade a few hours before the "petals" start showing visible curling. 

- They prefer full solar exposure throughout the day, 

- Surprisingly, some morning glories are night-blooming flowers.

- Some moonflowers, which flower at night, are also in the morning glory family.

- Many morning glories self-seed in the garden. They have a hard seed coat, which delays germination until late spring. Germination may be improved by soaking in warm water.

- Grow morning glories in a sunny spot. They need a lot of sun to bloom their best! 

- This climbing plant will thrive when supported with structures like trellises, pergolas, or arches. 

- Morning glories are one of September’s birth flowers.

Recipe: Quesadillas from Leftovers

Leftovers- are the ultimate- "What goes around- comes around again" story!  Let's take some leftovers and make a delicious meal- J makes quesadillas from various leftovers - could mention the different ingredients that could be used - Chicken, Steak, Pulled Pork. Add fresh or leftover vegetables, cilantro (or other seasonings) and cheese. 

The Quesadilla Concept is a great vehicle for using up leftovers… I simple warm up a few tortillas- and add just about anything- with some cheese- to the inside of the Tortilla- grill it on both sides... and voila- a left over- comes around again as a delicious entrée

Recycle an Arrangement

This is one of my favorite "what goes around" Stories! You know not all flowers are equal- and some last longer than others... so what do you do - when a part of your arrangement still looks good- but the other part needs to - "head to the compost pile (or Flowers Grave at my House)...J shows the fun of reworking an arrangement after just some of the flowers have expired.

We all want our flowers to last as long as possible. But some flowers have better lasting qualities than others. We can simply remove those as they expire - whether they are fading, wilting dropping petals... there are lots of reason... and then take the remaining flowers- recut them and place them into another arrangement- with New Flowers- be sure to change the water- add flower food- and of course give all the stems a fresh slanted cut before placing in our flower food water solution!

Hopefully this episode has provided a couple of ideas to extend your enjoyment  of flowers as well as using resources wisely.  For Life In Bloom, I’m J Schwanke.