>> "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom"
is brought to you by
Albertsons Companies...
with additional support
from the following companies...
CalFlowers...
Design Master Color Tool...
Smithers-Oasis...
Sunshine Bouquet.
♪
>> Today on "Life in Bloom,"
we're getting outside to the
forest and sharing ways to
experience a bit of its magic
every day.
We'll learn about the health and
wellness trend of forest bathing
and create arrangements,
including versatile moss, and
we'll discover the magical
hellebores.
♪
♪
I'm J Schwanke.
Welcome to "Life in Bloom."
There's something about the
forest that evokes a bit of
wonder and awe.
Perhaps it's the unexpected
things we find there.
Moss is tenacious.
Mushrooms, branches, bark, and
stones.
A variety of textures.
The proper conditions
encouraging life and growth on
every kind of surface.
Perhaps it's that unexpected pop
of green or a delightful texture
or the way the forest provides
all different kinds of
discoveries.
Today on "Life in Bloom," we'll
explore the gifts of the forest
and how to bring nature into
your home so you can experience
a bit of its magic every day.
♪
Have you heard of the concept of
forest bathing?
It's something people in Japan
have been doing for years.
They call it shinrin-yoku.
And when I heard about it, I
couldn't wait to give it a try.
"Shinrin" in Japanese means
"forest," and "yoku" means
"bath."
So shinrin-yoku means "bathing
in the forest's atmosphere," or
"taking in the forest through
your senses."
Forest bathing is simply being
in nature and making that
connection with all of our
senses -- sights, sounds,
smells, touch, and even taste.
Take time to observe and enjoy
your surroundings.
Leave your devices at home.
Unplugging from the modern world
lets you de-stress and totally
relax.
Feel the leaves crunching
underfoot.
Listen to the songs of the
birds.
Taste the fresh air.
Watch the sunlight dance.
Even a short time in nature can
help you relax, rejuvenate,
think more clearly, and restore
energy.
Now I'm inspired to create an
arrangement reminiscent of the
forest.
Let's look at some of the
elements we can utilize.
I love this container because
it's a raw, concrete container.
I've lined it with flower foam
so that we can insert our
different items into it.
I've soaked that foam with
water.
I've got a wasp nest I found in
my own backyard once winter came
last year.
There was the nest hanging in
the tree.
So, I've got it attached to a
branch we'll use in this
arrangement.
We've also got different types
of mosses.
There's reindeer moss and
regular flat moss, even some
lichen.
I picked up a few pine cones
while I was there and a piece
of bark.
We'll utilize those, as well.
This bird nest got blown out of
a tree by a storm, so I picked
it up and kept it so I can use
it in something like this.
'Course, we'll use ferns and
other things that look like the
foliages we saw in the forest.
Maybe we'll even slip a tree
into this, too.
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Using live moss in arrangements
is fun, but you can also mimic
the look of moss in today's
project.
Textured paint comes in many
colors, and this one looks like
moss.
Spraying it on baskets or
containers in random patterns
creates a moss-like effect.
Once dry, containers could be
lined and filled with water or
flower foam.
Then, the flower fun begins.
Blooming branches from a
snowball bush set the stage for
fresh flowers as well as dried
flowers in white and green
tones.
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I love arranging flowers on a
turntable.
This gives me easy access to all
sides of the bouquet.
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Arranging flowers is similar to
planting garden pots.
I love to include spillers --
flowers that reach out of the
arrangement and spill out.
Thrillers are unique or exotic
flowers that cause excitement in
the bouquet.
And don't forget the fillers --
accent flowers like fairy grass,
fern fronds, and delicate
blossoms that add texture in
between the other flowers.
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It's fun to accent a large
arrangement with smaller vases
that match and coordinate.
Together, they can be used to
create a tablescape, or
separated, you can share the
theme around the house.
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Candlelight creates ambiance,
and these floating candles
inside clear bubble bowls are
safely nestled into moss-filled
pots decorated with the textured
paint.
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The moss decoration on this cake
is a beautiful special effect,
but it's also delicious.
The secret?
Sugar cookies.
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Yes, you can drink your moss,
too.
Dried sea moss is the ingredient
to this tasty non-alcoholic
beverage.
We start with dried moss.
This is typically available at a
Caribbean market.
And what you do is, you soak it
overnight.
You soak it in 2 cups of water
and lime juice.
I added a little bit of food
coloring so that we have a nice
mossy color.
Once you've soaked it overnight,
you drain it and then add 2 cups
of water and simmer it down
until you have a jelly-like
substance.
This is what we'll use to make
the beverage.
We'll add it to our blender...
along with cane sugar...
and evaporated milk.
♪
[ Blender motor whirring ]
♪
We've pureed everything in our
blender.
And then we'll serve it over
ice.
♪
We'll add a few drops of
bitters.
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I'm so excited today because I
have my niece Grace Boersma
here, and we are gonna play with
marimo balls.
>> Yay!
>> So, we share a fascination
for these marimo moss balls.
>> Very much so.
>> And the reason that we have
chemistry paraphernalia here is
because you are a chemistry
teacher.
>> That is very --
Yep, that is true.
>> And the kids love you.
>> [ Laughs ]
I think so, I think so.
>> Yeah, they do.
They do, because you make
chemistry fun.
>> Yes, yep.
>> It really is ideal that the
Erlenmeyers and --
What -- What's this called?
>> This is a flat round-bottom
flask.
>> These are the ones that I
have at my house.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> And this was actually --
This is actually the original
one.
Your grandma gave this to me for
Christmas probably five or six
years ago, and so he's done
well.
But if he doesn't roll -- if he
doesn't roll around a lot, he's
gets flat on one side.
>> So, just as a chemist's
advice here, I would actually
pour out some water, because the
nice thing about the
Erlenmeyers, we can swirl them
like this.
So if you have enough space at
the top, then we can have some
space to swirl so you can move
that ball around in there.
>> He's -- He's due.
Okay.
>> And then you can just add
some more after you are done
swirling.
>> So, now the other question
that you --
You made an observation that the
sand in here looks like it's
from where?
>> Yes, it looks like it's from
Iceland.
So, all of the sand in Iceland
is the ash from all the
volcanoes there.
And so it's all these black,
sandy beaches that you walk
through.
My husband and I just got back
from a trip there, which was
very, very incredible.
>> And they are native to
Iceland.
>> Yes! Yeah, which,
unfortunately, we didn't see
any.
>> And so, this is how I
experienced them.
This was the first one I got.
Then I got some more.
I have this container, and it's
a closed container.
So, every two weeks, we want to
change them, change their water.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> But they're --
So, they're little -- they're
little, tiny moss balls that
look like --
But they're not really moss,
okay?
They're algae.
>> Yeah, but they're so cute.
I mean, they look like moss
balls, yeah.
>> So, what I did was, I just a
put a little bit of gravel down
inside here.
>> And what does that do?
>> So, it's just pretty.
>> Oh, okay.
>> Right?
[ Both laugh ]
Thank you.
It's just pretty.
>> That's fine, that's fine.
>> Okay.
So, yeah.
But these are all washed stones,
too, so I ran them through the
dishwasher just to make sure
that they were completely clean
'cause I didn't want any
sediment or anything on them.
>> Fair enough.
>> And they're actually glass
stones.
So, they're sea glass.
>> I mean, you definitely get
the prettiness factor with those
sea stones.
>> Right, right.
>> And it does look very nice.
>> And you're very --
Well, that's too much water.
But you're, you know...
You're used to seeing them like
this, right?
>> Yeah.
>> So, let's see.
This guy -- well...
He'll fit in there.
These were first discovered in
Lake Zell in Austria in 1820.
>> Wow. Okay.
But the name marimo is from --
or "murimo."
Both are correct.
>> Okay.
>> ...is from Japan.
And "mari" means "bouncy play
ball," and "mo" is a generic
term for "plant."
>> Okay.
>> So "marimo" is "bouncy play
ball plant."
>> Yeah, and that's exactly what
these things are.
>> So, they do grow, so they'll
get bigger.
And they get their nutrients
from the water.
So, that's -- So, it's just the
algae is growing, and I guess
just --
'Cause they really, truly are an
algae, not a moss.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> And so, they will get bigger.
>> I do love having these in our
home, because it is a living
plant that, if I do forget to
change the water every two
weeks, they're pretty durable.
>> They're pretty forgiving.
>> Yeah, they continue to live,
they continue to do their thing,
and then, every once in a while,
we change their water, and they
still look great.
>> See if I can get one more.
>> That one might go in there.
>> That one's gonna go in there.
But then, you can put a
tillandsia on top.
>> Oh!
>> And then that you just mist.
>> Okay.
So it's another easy thing I can
do.
>> Yeah, it's a cute little --
It's a cute --
Yes, it's a very decorative
display.
So, yeah, it's cute, though.
I love it.
I have a tradition with
"Life in Bloom."
>> Okay.
>> We do flower crowns.
>> Oh, yeah!
>> But today, I have a foliage
crown with a moss ball in it for
you.
>> Perfect!
>> Right?
>> Yes!
>> So, this is for you for
coming and playing marimos with
me.
>> Thank you.
>> And I'm gonna send some home
with you.
>> Oh, yay!
Thank you!
I'm really excited to bring
these to my students in my
classroom just for them to kind
of look and play with.
>> I think that's a wonderful
idea.
♪
We can use fresh moss to create
decorative objects for our home.
Here's some simple tips to show
you how to make these fun,
decorative accessories.
We'll start with moss.
The moss is typically dry, so
what I do is, I wet it, and I
squeeze it out.
That makes it much more pliable.
Then, we can take styrofoam
objects, like eggs or spheres,
and cover them with moss.
Yesterday, I built a little
sculpture using my spheres and
my eggs to create a little
rabbit.
I stuck the pieces together with
toothpicks, and then I used this
same technique to create our
little moss bunny.
We use the wet moss, and we find
a piece that's gonna be about
the right size to cover up the
whole sphere.
Just kind of mold it into shape
to make sure it's gonna cover
everything.
Then, we use our craft-covered
wire, and we'll bring it around
and twist it into place.
That'll ensure that it's gonna
stay in place while we do the
rest of the wrapping.
So, then, we start to wrap it
around, making sure that it's
nice and tight and holding the
moss in place.
If we have an area like this
that's not completely covered,
we can grab a piece of moss,
place it on top, and keep
wrapping.
It's a very forgiving method.
It's a great way for us to
create fun decorations for our
home.
♪
To secure this in place, we'll
make a loop...
and then wrap it around...
and twist that together.
♪
Then, we can use our scissors to
trim it up.
This was especially important
for our little bunny rabbit
because it allowed us to give
him a specific shape and form.
♪
The great part about these
accessories is that they're foam
on the inside, so we can cut
permanent botanical flowers and
place them directly into the
objects.
It's great for our bunny and for
these eggs.
These also dry, and they're
long-lasting.
Be sure that you protect any
fine finishes, because right
now, they're still wet, but they
will dry.
♪
Sometimes moss will lose its
color as it dries out, but we
can make moss look fresh again
by using food coloring and
rubbing alcohol.
Fill a sprayer with rubbing
alcohol and put in eight drops
of yellow and one drop of green.
Then mist...
your moss to give it a fresh
look again.
♪
♪
Hellebore, also known as the
Christmas rose, was first
referenced in the 18th century
because of its resemblance to a
single-petal rose.
The botanical name is
hellebores.
Hellebores are not related to
the rose at all but are actually
a member of the buttercup
family.
The foliage of hellebores is
evergreen, and there is no need
to trim them back in the winter.
They may even bloom when covered
with snow when the temperatures
are right.
While the black roots are
considered poisonous, the
flowers and stems are safe to
handle.
Hellebores are tough,
low-maintenance flowers that
prefer dappled shade.
They're even deer- and
rabbit-resistant.
♪
We hope we've inspired you to
experience the gifts of the
forest in your everyday life.
For "Life in Bloom," I'm
J Schwanke.
See you next time.
♪
>> Kind of bring it up slowly.
>> All right.
>> [ Indistinct talking ]
[ Laughter ]
>> Ah.
♪
>> All right.
Everybody ready?
>> Ready.
>> Action.
♪
♪
>> It tastes like Christmas.
[ Laughter ]
I know that's weird, but it
tastes like Christmas.
>> Can we do that one more time?
>> "J Schwanke's Life In Bloom"
is filmed in Grand Rapids,
Michigan.
>> "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom"
is brought to you by...
Albertsons Companies...
with additional support from the
following companies...
CalFlowers...
Design Master Color Tool...
Smithers-Oasis...
Sunshine Bouquet.
♪
Closed-caption funding provided
by Ocean View Flowers.
♪
For everything flowers, recipes,
projects, and more information,
visit ubloom.com.
♪