Episode 709- Flowers for Now and Later
Did you know that Permanent Flowers- can provide the same Health and Wellness Benefits as Fresh Cut Flowers? It’s True- today on Episode #709- Flowers for Now and Later- Let’s learn more about different types of Faux Flowers- or Permanent Botanicals… as J loves to call them!
Episode #709- Flowers for Now and Later Watch this Episode NOW! … or see it anytime on PBS.org
Today’s Episode of J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom is dedicated to many types of Faux Flowers-or Permanent Botanicals, Silk Flowers, even the old fashioned terms Artificial Flowers or Fake Flowers. I prefer the term “Permanent Botanicals”… as it’s respectful and certainly describes today’s hyper-realistic Permanent Flowers- that are styled directly from Botanical Samples of Fresh Flowers- then hand crafted, painted or dyed with extreme attention to detail.
I love it when someone says… “Those Flowers are So Beautiful - they don’t Look Real”… meaning that those Fresh Flowers have achieved a sense of perfection- that many lay people feel could only be created in a the faux craftsmanship. It’s a compliment- but at the same time… it’s also a little back-handed… because the Flowers - are themselves - the sample or example of the Perfect Flower- that is used to create this faux flower stand-ins.
Permanent flowers provide many of the same benefits as fresh flowers. It’s true- Fresh Flowers- can give us a feeling of Zen- they can reduce stress- cause us to have happier thoughts, help us feel better when we are ill, and homes with Flowers in them - indeed have less arguments- You can read all about the Health and Wellness Studies of Flowers- in my blog- at this link- www.uBloom.com/Research where I have compiled many of the most popular research studies- that share the health and wellness benefits of flowers.
J creates this Sun shine Filled Arrangement of Permanent Sunflowers- in this Episode of “J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom”- Flowers for Now and Later!
In today’s Episode- I creates permanent arrangements, showing the best techniques for assembly. I assembled a group of Exceptional Permanent Flowers- at the craft store- and share some of the Arranging Benefits- (those exist too)… you can gain from working with Permanent Botanicals. I share some of my favorite tips and tricks. I do think that arranging with Permanent Flowers is easier- as it allows us much more control over the flowers- that allow us the ability to form, change direction- craft and ‘sculpt’ if you will- a more stylized arrangement. In this segment- I demonstrate the a simple Crescent shaped arrangement that is easy to create using Faux Flowers!
Then I share how to create a decorative arrangement that is perfect for those that Love a Sunflower- or flowers that mimic the Sunflower form. This is created in a wooden box- and I use Ultra-realistic SunFlowers- and Sun Flower inspired Rudbeckia and Black Eyed Susans… along with other Permanent Botanical Foliage and a few dried flowers (that are also Long Lasting substitutes for Fresh Flowers) - I love a permanent arrangement- and it’s ideal for 2nd homes or locations where Fresh Flowers may not be ideal… I’m not really sure - if that is true… But It’s nice to walk into a room - and see flowers- no matter if they are faux or real… it’s a wonderful welcome. Thanks to Matt Moma- for providing these Sunflowers and other Flowers for this project!
This lovely- beige Magnolia bloom- looks real… but it’s a permanent Botanical- created by my Friends at Winward Silks… See me put together an entire arrangement using these Authentic looking Permanent Flowers on this week’s episode- “Flowers for Now and Later” on Life in Bloom!
Our Featured Flower- is the Magnolia- and I’m proud to share these Permanent Magnolia- from our Friends at Winward Silks. We’ve been Flower Friends for many years… and my Friend Raymond- reached out to see if he could provide a few flowers for this episode… indeed- their Magnolias were created with such attention to detail… there are Buds, Blooms, Blooms that are browning, Cones- and so many versions of the Magnolia- having these different shapes, sizes, ages, and maturities of blooms- adds to the realism… and it’s true that No One Does Permanent Flowers or Foliage- quite like Winward Intenational! Visit their website- for more information or look them up at your Local Permanent Flower Seller- or Wholesale Florist!
This is a Great Little Flower Craft- a Perimeter Basket- created with a Permanent Flower Bush- and a low temp glue gun… it’s easy- and super functional… because you can still use the basket- to hold just about anything you wish! Watch this project step by step in Episode 709- Flowers for Now and Later!
The next project-is a Fun #FlowerCraft- it’s a simple basket that I craft with a perimeter of faux flowers! This is a fun way to upscale any basket- and it’s simple to create- you just need a hot glue gun- I prefer the LOW TEMP Glue Guns- for safety sake. I picked up a Silk Flower Bush at the local craft store- and then clipped, cut, crafted and glued the flowers- all around the perimeter of the basket. I love this #FlowerCraft- because it’s an easy way to dress up a basket- and still allow the basket to be a vessel for carrying and toting… I love that the Original use of the basket- to carry or tote… is still available and usable- while the flowers make it more decorative and pretty!
Then we take “Permanent Flowers” a step further- with a modern day iteration of Artificial Flowers- The Toy Building Block Flowers- You know- the Lego Botanical Flower Selections that have become so popular at Lego Stores, on Line- and at Costco… I see these Lego Flowers just about everywhere- my local car dealership- has a huge display in the customer service department… I see them at my Chiropractor- they are literally Everywhere… So I thought rather than having these unique and creative Flower Imitation- just placed in a vase- I thought it would be fun to arrange them- in dry flower foam -in a ceramic container- like I would with any other Faux Flower… I have to admit that many of my hard core Lego Fans… (like my Nephew Nic - of Garlic Roll Recipe Fame)… were a little bit taken back- that I would cut the stems- and arrange them in this manner… and that was INVITATION Enough for me to give it a try… I love the results. I had Several Sets Lego Flowers given to my Brother-in-law- and they were setting in vases… and they looked like the picture on the box- but that wasn’t doing it for me… Now I have them in an arrangement in the living room- and I love that even more!
I create an arrangement in Dry Flower foam- in a ceramic container- using Lego Flower Botanical stems… it’s a fun way to use these Popular Flower Imitations… watch this project come together- in this week’s Episode #709- Flowers for Now and Later!
That being said- this episode includes a Tribute to our show’s biggest fan… My Brother-In-Law- Paul Blank… Paul Loved “Life in Bloom” he would watch every episode and we would talk about them all - when I would go for my Dentist Appts- Paul was MY Dentist- and a Dentist in a nearby city… He loved seeing my different guests- which included his Daughter Grace- and Son-in-Law Nic… (See above)… he loved it when Kel and I would add “Easter Eggs”- a term for hidden gems snuck into episodes that might evoke fun thoughts or be a source of trivia… many times it was a memorable keepsake from Kel and Paul’s Childhood… or a Family relic- that we used in the show- just for Paul to find… Paul would watch every episode- over and over again- and alert the family to watch the latest episode and list the items they needed to look for. That is what gave me the pleasure of calling him our Biggest FAN… Paul passed in 2024- at the age of 62 from an unexpected heart event… We were all heart-broken… it was far too soon!
I felt it was important to recognize Paul- as our biggest fan- but also to share a little bit about him…what he liked to do- what he enjoyed doing… and how his avid fandom for “Life in Bloom” touched our hearts! I’ve also included the flowers that I created for his celebration of life… I know how important flowers are- and how they have a magical way of expressing what we feel… Flowers have a way of saying what we can’t… and I’m honored to be talented in ‘turning people’s feelings into flowers’… So I hope you’ll join me remembering Paul- and also allowing me to turn my feelings into flowers- for our Biggest Fan… as they say in Hawaii… “a hui hoa”… Until we meet again…
I hope you enjoy this show dedicated to Flowers for NOW and Later… Permanent Botanicals… Faux Flowers, Artificial or Fake Flowers- whatever the name you choose to use- Remember that Flowers- in any iteration provide amazing Health and Wellness Benefits to Everyone…
Watch this Episode #709- Flowers for Now and Later- at this Link- or on PBS.org… anytime!