Episode 706- Flowers Magic
Flowers Magic- is the Theme of this Newest Episode Premiere of Season 7… this episode is filmed (mostly) on Location in Southern California- featuring Mellano & Company, The Original LA Flower Market, FBI Flowers- and more Magical Moments!
The Magic of Flowers is the theme for this Episode #706 of J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom- “Flowers Magic! Watch NOW!
I’ve always know that Flowers are Magical- and it’s not just the way that I think about them… but also the way they are perceived by anyone that likes or loves flowers. Flowers have a special Power all their own… and I’m confident that’s where the term FLOWER POWER - in the late 1960’s and Early 1970’s came from…
J and Life Long Flower Friend Bob Mellano- at Mellano & Company in the Original LA Flower Market- in this week’s episode of J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom- Flowers Magic!
It was High Time that I created a show all about Flowers Magic. This show was created mostly on Location in California- which is the state where the largest amount of American Grown Flowers come from… It’s the perfect Setting for an Episode based on Flowers Magic.
Our First Stop is with one of My Favorite Flower Guys- Bob Mellano - at Mellano & Company in the Original LA Flower Market… Mellano & Company is Celebrating it’s 100th Anniversary- in our Great Flower Industry…(Be Sure and Visit their Website- and watch the Documentary they’ve created with ALL the Wonderful Family Members of this Amazing Flower Family!) and that’s REALLY it’s own Special Kind of Flower Magic.
I’ve known Bob- for most of my Life-and his Cousin Michelle Castellano - and I have been life long Flower Friends- (You can see Michelle in our visit to the Carlsbad Flower Fields that Mellano & Company cares for in Episode #301 Fields of Flowers- Watch it here!) we grew up together in our Flower Industry… and my Family was buying Mellano & Company Myrtle, and other Foliage and Flowers for as long as I can remember.
If you want learn more about Mellano & Company- watch our CA Grown Experience Documentary- CA Grown Experience Visits Mellano & Company - Watch NOW!
My Flower Friend Bob Mellano- shares some great stories about his family and their unique and interesting history in the Flower Industry and beyond- as Mellano & Company observe their Monumental 100th Anniversary in the World of Flowers! Congratulations to my Mellano and Castellano Friends!
It’s always great to catch up with Bob- and today we’re learning more about his Family- and their Unique History as Italian Foliage and Flower Growers- in Southern California… Bob shares some great stories- and even an interesting connection - where his Grandfather was a Chef on the Cross Country Railroad- serving Al Capone - when he was heading to prison… The Flower Industry is filled with Great Stories like this… and it’s always an Honor and So Much Fun to visit with Bob Mellano.
I made a gorgeous Arrangement at Mellano & Co on location during this visit- that didn’t make it into this show- but you can watch that video here… At Home with Flowers- All American Grown Arrangement Featuring Foliage First! Watch Now!
J is joined by Flower Friend- and former Makeup and Wardrobe Stylist Aimie Vredevoogd - Now Accomplished Photo Stylist in the LA area working for many National Brands! Learn more about Aimie V- here!
While we’re at the Original LA Flower Market… I meet up with my Photo Stylist Aimie Vredevoogd- formerly of Michigan… who used to me my Makeup Artist- and Wardrobe Stylist- for Life in Bloom. Today Aimie is an accomplished Photo Stylist- that incorporates flowers into many of her clients photo sessions- Aimie and I talk in depth about how flowers lend their magic to everything. I even show examples of Aimie’s Photographic Styling- thanks to many of her Clients that allowed us to share their work… I’m of course hopeful that her time with us at “Life in Bloom” helped inspire the Flower Magic in her new career! Learn more about Aimie V here!
Alstroemeria “Fashionista” - this Multi-Petalled variety of Alstroemeria- is the Featured Flower this week- and available through Flower Seller- Gardens of America- Learn more Here!
Our Featured Flower is Alstroemeria- also known fondly as the “Restaurant Flower” mostly because this magical flower lasts and lasts- and it’s become a staple for many food eateries- that like to include fresh flowers- because the flower is so Durable and Long Lasting. Also known as the Peruvian Lily… today’s Alstromeria Variety is doubly Magical… It’s called “Fashionista” - a unique Multi-Petalled Alstromeria- (Learn More Here!) that looks like a composite flower… it’s full and lush- and was provided for today’s show- by Kristin Gilliand- at Gardens of America. You can see this Flower in Action in an At Home with Flowers Episode on UBloom.com- Fashionista Arrangement -Watch it here! Special Thanks to Kristin and Gardens of America for this Amazing Flower Feature!
J visits Frank Biddle International - FBI Flowers in Vista California- to learn more about this Great Family Operation- with Frank Biddle, Jennifer Biddle- yours truly- and George Biddle… Flowers Magic for Sure!
Then we head to Vista California… to visit one of My Favorite Flower Family Friends- in the Whole World… Frank Biddle- and his Wife Jennifer and Son George- and their Amazing Dogs- on one of the Most Beautiful Flower Farm Vistas I’ve ever experienced. Let’s go site-seeing and see Flower farming at FBI Flowers in the Mountains of Southern California. We were there at Golden Hour- and this visit was just incredible. We have two other shows- we filmed here… that will share lots more information about FBI Flowers- in our uBloom Flower Event Show- “A Visit to FBI Flowers” - Watch it Here!
And then- I had the incredible pleasure to Arrange some of the most beautiful flowers- grown by FBI Flowers- with my Flower Friend Jennifer Biddle- on top of a Mountain in Southern California… it truly doesn’t get any better than this…in an At Home with Flowers Episode- Arranging Flowers with Jennifer Biddle- Watch it Here!
This segment is one of the most beautiful my amazing crew has filmed- and I will remember this experience forever.
The Amazing Spectacular Views from FBI Flowers- in Vista California- one of the Most Beautiful Flower Farms I’ve seen in my Flower Farm Visits… You have to see this!
Finally… It’s time to make a little Flower Magic- in the garden- where I arrange a selection of flowers- cut right out of the garden into one of my favorite vases- from our Friends at Accent Decor! I think that many of us- have a “GO TO” arrangement- and while this container/vase is no longer available from Accent Decor… it’s one that I always feel so comfortable with- when I’m arranging flowers.
This arrangement is created with a bounty from the garden: Hydrangea, SunFlowers, Zinnias, Dahlias, and Fun Foliage - including Hosta, Scented Geranium and more!
A Little bit of Flower Magic- directly from the Garden featuring local grown Flowers- from my own garden… It’s a great way to bring the Flowers Magic into our Life in Bloom!
Last stop is our Flowers From YOU segment- one of my favorite parts of the show- where I show off Pictures of Arrangements- that YOU- the Viewers have sent in… It’s always the perfect ending to our Life in Bloom Episodes. I hope you enjoy this Special Episode #706 about Flowers Magic… You can watch it here!