>> "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom" is brought to you by the following... >> That flower feeling.

♪ At home.

♪ At work.

♪ Or anytime.

♪ CalFlowers is a proud sponsor of "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom," where flowers and wellness go hand in hand.

>> We have fresh in all our stores, from soups and steaks and all things flour to all things flowering.

Custom fresh arrangements designed by our in-store florists at Albertsons Companies.

>> With additional support from the following... Dollar Tree.

♪ ♪ >> Today, it's all about the color green.

And we think you'll find it's easy being green.

We'll look at foliage, as well as green flowers, including an unexpected dozen roses.

And I'll visit with children's book author Laurie Keller to learn how the green grass grows.

♪ ♪ ♪ I'm J Schwanke.

Welcome to "Life in Bloom."

The color green is said to be universal for flower arranging.

We're accustomed to foliage as a background for all colors of flowers.

Indeed, foliage is a great frame and structure for arranging colorful flowers.

While a familiar song states, "It's not easy being green," it's worth remembering the song also said, "Green is the color of spring and is beautiful."

As Pedro Calderón de la Barca said, "Green is the prime color of the world and that from which its loveliness arises."

Alongside foliage, green flowers are some of the most stunning and unexpected blooms.

Let's immerse ourselves in the color green.

♪ ♪ ♪ When I'm making arrangements, one of my secret tricks is always to use foliage first.

When I place the foliage into a vase, it creates structure.

And that structure makes it easier for me to arrange flowers.

Today, I'm gonna use several different types of foliage to create this structure first.

And then we'll add some beautiful flowers to it.

But it's the structure -- the foliage first -- that allows us to make a brilliant bouquet.

As a professional florist, we talk about "greening the base" before we put in flowers.

My first three placements were the pittosporum.

And they cross together inside the vase.

Another term that people use is "lacing," where I laced or placed the leatherleaf in between the pittosporum.

And then I added the ruscus on top, in the center.

So, now I have a network, or a structure, inside my vase that will hold the flowers.

♪ Even a big flower, like this banksia protea, is held in position by that structure.

♪ ♪ We also added carnations and this wonderful pine-cone leucadendron.

All of these continue to go into that structure to create room for more flowers.

We're gonna add a pendulous flower now.

This is called "hanging amaranthus."

And we're gonna let it dangle down.

Because it's heavier at one end, and the stems go back inside, it needs that structure support of the flowers and the greens to hold it in place.

♪ ♪ ♪ Now we can add more foliage.

I love to use an aspidistra leaf, like this.

I cut the stem at a point.

Then I can come back and poke it through the leaf and then stick it into the bouquet.

♪ I like this technique, because it makes it look like there's ribbon loops of greens inside the bouquet.

♪ ♪ ♪ Whenever I'm creating an arrangement, the last flower that I add are lilies.

Lilies are fragile, and so I add them last so that I'm careful not to break any of the petals.

It's always great when we use foliage first and lilies last.

♪ ♪ ♪ It's a simple technique for creating a beautiful bouquet.

When you've got your greens, remember -- foliage first.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ In staying with our green theme, I decided it would be fun for us to make an unexpected dozen roses.

Typically, when we see a dozen roses, we have red roses and green foliage.

But what would be fun is to make a dozen roses with red foliage and green roses.

So, we'll do that today using this fun foliage.

It's a foliage that's available from your florist.

It's been painted this color.

So, we'll use that as our structure to arrange our roses.

We'll be making two arrangements with our roses.

This is actually a natural color.

It's called "lemonade," and they're available just like this.

So, they haven't been dyed.

They grow this way.

We'll be making a classic dozen roses, long-stemmed, and then we'll make a more contemporary style, where the roses are shorter and gathered more together.

We'll start with our foliage first, placing them into our vases, and then we'll add the roses.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ That's really fun.

It's a great way to embrace an unexpected switch of colors.

If you can't get a hold of the red foliage, you can also use ones that you find in nature.

Red birch, ninebark are great substitutes and could work well with green flowers and red foliage.

It's an unexpected way for us to use the color green.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I could not be more excited today because I have my friend Laurie Keller here, who has written so many children's books.

First of all, you are probably the most famous for this book.

>> "Arnie the Doughnut."

>> "Arnie the Doughnut."

>> Yeah.

>> So, does everybody bring doughnuts when... >> They do.

>> [ Laughs ] >> And I almost wrote about broccoli.

So, I'm glad I didn't.

[ Both laugh ] >> I like broccoli.

>> Yeah, broccoli is good, but doughnuts are more fun to receive.

>> It's true.

It's true.

>> So... >> For today's show is about being green, and it's about the color green.

>> I like that.

>> And it's about those things.

So, that's where I got inspired from this one, "We Are Growing."

>> Yeah, it's very green.

>> And -- yeah, it's wonderful.

And it won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award.

>> It did.

That was really exciting.

>> So, this book is about different blades of grass.

>> Mm-hmm.

>> And they're trying to figure out what they are.

>> Right.

>> And I -- so, I am very in tune with the dandelion.

I was very excited about the dandelion.

>> [ Laughs ] >> The dandelion is, you know -- 'cause there's a flower.

>> Yeah.

>> So, I'm, you know... >> Yeah, he was one of my favorites to make.

>> I love the book about "Birdy's Smile" book because I would sit in the mirror and practice my smile.

>> I love that.

>> My smile for TV -- oh, how does it look?

Okay.

>> [ Laughs ] >> Yeah.

Yeah.

>> Yeah, I wanted to make a book about smiling just to show how important it is, and people don't realize how it affects other people, I think.

>> So, then, manners.

>> Manners.

>> "Do Unto Otters."

>> Mm-hmm.

>> I love that one, too, 'cause it's just about being a good person.

>> Right.

>> I have a question for you.

>> Mm-hmm.

>> Have you ever thought about flowers as an inspiration for -- I'm just asking for a friend.

>> For a book?

For a friend.

>> [ Laughs ] >> Actually, I would love that.

I have -- I honestly have thought about it, because I think it would be fun to work in lots of bugs and mushrooms... >> Right.

>> ...and all sorts of things, so... >> Right, right.

Would you indulge me and arrange flowers with me?

>> I would love to.

>> Okay.

Alright.

Hey, we also have one other fun thing that I always do, and so, this morning I whipped up a flower crown for you... >> Wow!

>> ...that's green, and it has viburnum in it.

It has mint in it.

>> Oh, my gosh!

>> It has bunny tails in it.

It has sweet pea and tulips and carnations, of course.

>> Okay.

>> Alright, let's see how I did on your head.

>> How's that?

>> I think that's good.

>> Is it okay?

>> Yeah, uh-huh.

>> You can arrange it.

>> I got a little carnation right here that's hanging up.

>> You can flower-crown arrange it, if you wish.

>> There we go.

>> Well, alright.

>> Let's -- I'll drag out some flowers, and let's arrange them.

>> Let's do it.

>> Okay.

>> Laurie, you and I were talking by email, and you said, "Can I make some flower doodles for you?"

>> Oh, well, I thought that might be kind of an appropriate thing to do.

>> They're wonderful, and you sent them to me.

So, Kelly had them output for us.

>> Oh, that was so nice.

>> But aren't they cute?

>> Well, thanks.

>> And that -- that's what inspired me.

I thought, "We need to arrange flowers together."

So, we will make some flower arrangements.

>> Now, it's easier for me to draw them than to arrange them, J.

You'll have to show me what to do.

>> And so, what I do is, I make people comfortable with it.

Maybe -- do you feel a little intimidated right now?

>> A little.

>> Okay.

We're just gonna take that all away... >> Okay, good.

>> ...because it's gonna be comfortable.

First thing I want you to know about is that the person that you need to please is you.

You don't need to please anyone else.

>> Alright.

>> Okay?

We're gonna use tools today.

So, I gave you a bypass cutter, and I gave you a pruner.

The little pruner is real sharp.

>> Okay.

>> Bypass cutter is your friend because it's not like a knife.

And when you cut a flower, you cut it at an angle... >> Okay.

>> ...so that when it goes into a vase, there's still room for water to come up.

If you cut it flat... >> Yes.

>> ...sits on the bottom, and it's harder for the water to get up there.

>> Okay, I've always heard, and I wasn't quite sure why.

>> Yeah.

So, that's why we do that.

So, I just started.

I gave you a monstera leaf over there.

>> What kind is it again?

>> A monstera leaf.

>> Because, like, a monster, "monstera"?

>> Monstera, like a monster, yeah.

>> 'Cause it's big?

>> It's big.

If we take our monstera leaf, and we cut it and drop it down in the vase... >> On an angle, like this?

>> Sure.

♪ Now, I also grabbed some hosta leaves from the backyard.

>> Okay.

>> You have three of those.

So, with the hosta leaves, I also cut those and drop them down.

And you'll notice that I'm making kind of a collar around my base.

>> Are you making them kind of, cutting quite a bit off?

>> I am.

I cut off about, yeah, what is that, 4 inches, maybe?

And I just drop them down in there.

>> Let them do what they want to do?

>> Mm-hmm.

'Cause now I've created a structure that's gonna help hold my other flowers in place.

>> Alright, I like that.

>> So, one of your friends in flower arranging is a short cut, because once it's shorter, it can sit on the edge of the container.

So, again.

And that short cut works really well because then you see how it starts to collect those heads around together?

♪ Grab whichever flower you want.

I mean, whatever one you want to use.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Are you happy?

>> I'm really happy.

>> Okay, good.

>> Can't you tell?

>> I think you did a great job.

I think it's beautiful.

>> Thanks for coaching me.

>> Do you want to come back in a few minutes and make a cocktail with me, and we'll have "Flower Cocktail Hour"?

>> This is just getting better by the minute.

>> Alright, we'll do it.

♪ ♪ Let's start with a crate filled with soaked flower foam.

I'll layer in three large monstera leaves, overlapping each one.

♪ ♪ I'll add two sago palm leaves.

I'll place them standing straight up so that their curve stems match.

♪ I'll place large philodendron leaves underneath the monstera leaves to conceal the flower foam.

♪ One stem of ming fern will provide an additional texture.

I'll fill in the last spaces with robellini palm for a tropical feel.

♪ ♪ If you like your foliage shiny, give your arrangement a coat of leaf shine.

Enjoy!

♪ ♪ Bells of Ireland are also known as "molucca bells" or "shellflowers."

The plant is characterized by its aromatic scent and enlarged calyxes and bell shapes, as the name suggests.

It's also complemented by cool flowers that grow in the calyxes.

The flowers have small features and whitish-colored shades.

Be careful when handling bells of Ireland.

They have small spines and thorns that grow along the stems.

Contrary to its name, it is a native garden plant of Turkey that has been cultivated since the 16th century.

The plant is named after one of the islands in the British Isles, as its shape and color resembles a good-luck charm of Irish people.

A bells of Ireland bouquet is usually given to someone who graduates or gets a new job, meaning that you wish the best of luck will follow them on their new journey.

♪ ♪ So, it's "Flower Cocktail Hour" is what we call this.

>> It's my favorite hour.

>> [ Laughing ] Right?

And so, every day I try and make a flower arrangement, and then we have a flower cocktail, and we talk about our day.

This cocktail is called the Verdant Lady, which translates to the green lady.

>> Okay.

>> And you authored "We Are Growing," which is very green.

>> I see where you're going with this.

>> So, how about that, okay?

>> I like it.

>> Alright!

What we're gonna do is, we need fresh lime juice.

So, I am really -- you know, I insist on the fresh lime juice.

>> Look at that.

♪ >> And we need some fresh mint leaves in here.

We have ice in our shaker.

Add our fresh lime juice.

We will add a little bit of simple syrup.

This is pure cane, organic simple syrup.

So, that's what I want to have.

>> Smells so good.

>> So, this is a special gin that's infused with flowers.

And this is chartreuse.

So, chartreuse is a liqueur that is made with 16 different herbs.

It is made by Benedictine monks.

And it is a secret process.

They cannot tell.

There are only, like, seven people in the world who know how to make it.

And it is -- it's very fragrant.

>> It sure is.

>> And a little bit of chartreuse goes a long way.

♪ And in a coupe glass... ♪ ♪ Ta-da!

That's for you.

>> That is lovely.

>> Look -- there's little pieces of mint floating around in it.

>> I saw that.

>> Right?

>> Cheers.

♪ That's delicious.

>> Right?

>> Oh, my gosh, it's so fragrant.

♪ Mm.

>> Oh, I like it a lot.

>> Is this the first time you've ever had it?

>> I have.

It was special for you.

>> Seriously?

I love it.

>> Yeah.

Yeah.

>> I love it a little bit too much, I think.

[ Both laugh ] >> Well, Laurie, thank you so much for coming.

I appreciate it so much.

It's been a treat.

It's been the highlight of my day.

>> Well, it's been the highlight of my day.

>> Yeah!

>> Thank you for inviting me.

>> Cheers.

>> Cheers, J.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> We're going to visit the time-honored technique of using chicken wire as a mechanic in the container.

So, if we go back a long ways, before there was flower foam, things like that, people even used to design in wet sand.

That was a Victorian method for creating beautiful flower arrangements.

Then, we started to create flower frogs.

And these flower frogs are basically what inspired chicken wire because these would sit down inside a container or be wedged into the mouth of a container, and then you would place your stems into that, and it would hold them in place.

When I started out flower designing, I used to create in chicken wire.

You would cut a specific length, like this, and then bind it down into the container.

That's what we're gonna do today.

You have to cut it with a wire cutters, and the ends can be sharp.

So, you have to be careful when you work with chicken wire.

But we're gonna use that technique today.

And I think the thing that people love about chicken wire is the fact that chicken wire makes the arrangement look different because the flowers layer on top of each other as we place them in there.

So, what I'm gonna do is, our form needs to be about that big.

And we're just gonna bend down those sharp edges and create a dome shape inside the bowl.

Now, you can see why this could be a little bit dangerous with the sharp edges.

So, I'm going to use my quarter-inch clear tape, and we're just gonna stretch it across.

And I'm gonna bind it in a couple of places 'cause I don't want the chicken wire to pop out when I'm making the arrangement.

We'll add our water.

You'll notice how the stem goes into the chicken wire.

So, when it comes in like this, we're gonna layer our foliages all the way out from the center.

Our placement can't be as specific as it would be when we use foam.

So, we're guided by where the holes are in the chicken wire.

So, that's gonna give our arrangement a completely different look.

You'll notice that I'm creating a collar of foliage all around the perimeter of the container.

I'm placing my draping foliages first.

We'll be building up into the center of the arrangement, opposite of what we do when we're arranging in foam.

♪ ♪ ♪ I love an all-foliage arrangement.

But remember -- you can create an arrangement like this and add flowers to it, as well.

The same methodology works for flowers or foliage when you're working with chicken wire.

It's an age-old technique, and I'm glad we were able to revisit it today.

You may find this mechanic enchanting or an easier way for you to design.

Whatever you think, chicken wire is something old that's new again.

♪ I hope you've enjoyed exploring the magic of green as much as I have.

It's one of my very favorite colors.

♪ For "Life in Bloom," I'm J Schwanke.

People talk about what they are in the book.

And I think I'm the "floweri-est."

>> Well, that makes sense.

>> Yeah.

What are you?

>> It sounds kind of weird, but I guess I would call myself the "inanimate-objecti-est" because I've always been obsessed with inanimate objects, thinking that they had feelings.

And I figured I would grow out of that, but I basically just turned it into a career.

>> Isn't that cool, though, that that's your thing, and you made it your career?

>> I mean, I like writing about animals and people, too, and I'm sure I will do more of that, but... >> Mm-hmm.

>> ...it's just kind of fun to take these objects and create a whole, new world and make it all up.

Imagine what they're thinking and feeling.

>> "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom" is filmed in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

>> Visit J's website, ubloom.com, for flower projects and crafts, complete recipes, behind-the-scenes videos, J's blog, flower cocktails, and more.

♪ "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom" is brought to you by the following... >> That flower feeling.

♪ At home.

♪ At work.

♪ Or anytime.

♪ CalFlowers is a proud sponsor of "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom," where flowers and wellness go hand in hand.

>> We have fresh in all our stores, from soups and steaks and all things flour to all things flowering.

Custom fresh arrangements designed by our in-store florists at Albertsons Companies.

>> With additional support from the following... Dollar Tree.

♪ Closed-caption funding provided by Holland America Flowers.

♪ ♪