“Share Your Schwankies” Sweepstakes!
I’d like to Introduce one of my Favorite Flower Friends- Michael Furlong- who helped us launch- the “Share Your Schwankies Sweepstakes” at Life in Bloom- today we’re coming to you from the Gerbera Daisy Greenhouse at Ocean Breeze with Millions of Flowers! Watch Now!
In this week’s At Home with Flowers Free Video on uBloom- I’m on location with my Flower Friend Michael Furlong- and we’re coming to you inside one of the Gerbera Daisy Houses at Ocean Breeze Flower Farm in Carpinteria CA! We’re surrounded by Millions of American Grown Gerbera Daisies – it’s truly a sight to behold! Be sure to follow Ocean Breeze Flower Farm on Facebook - and Instagram! If you want to learn more about Ocean Breeze Flower Farms- They were featured in our CA Grown Experience- with a Visit to Ocean Breeze Farms- and it was one of the best days of my Life- touring the Farm with my Friend (and owner of Ocean Breeze) Rene VanWingerden… You can Watch my visit to Ocean Breeze with Rene here! Part of this video was used in an Episode of “J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom” in Season 3- Episode #309- Mum’s the Word - You can watch Mum’s the Word Episode here!
Gerbera Daisies are a speciality at Ocean Breeze Flower Farm- and here’s just a few Varieties of Gerandos and Gerspiders! Watch them in action in this week’s FREE uBloom Video- RIGHT HERE!
Several years ago- Kelly and I took note- that I was receiving so many emails, messages and letters from Fans and Viewers of J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom- that include Flowers they were inspired to create- after watching our Series on PBS and Create TV Stations Nationwide. These pictures actually inspired us to create the “Flowers from YOU- the Viewers” - that have been a part of “Life in Bloom” - since Season 5… and continues to this day… We love sharing the Photos that Viewers send in… and we get hundreds of them!
This is a Perfect Example- of just how many American Grown Flowers our Sweepstakes WINNERS get- when they randomly draw a Winner each week to receive a sample of Ocean Breeze Flowers… Every week is different… And it’s always BEAUTIFUL!!!! Watch Now!
We decided to share a Selection of those Viewer Photos at the CalFlowers Members Meeting- (CalFlowers is our Major Underwriter for “Life in Bloom”) I wanted to show the lovely arrangements viewers were sending in… and also highlight their love of the Series. After my presentation Michael approached me- and asked if I would be interested in sharing a box of Ocean Breeze American Grown Cut Flowers- to some of those wonderful viewers that were sharing their flower arrangements inspired by Life in Bloom? YES Please… and that is how the “Share Your Schwankies” Sweepstakes started. I would be remiss- if I didn’t thank our Florida Flower Fans- Brad and Kelly Gomez- who helped us coin the phrase- “Schwankies”… as they shared with me- that they call the arrangements they create in their Home for Finer Things Sundays… “Schwankies”… Kelly often asks Brad- if he added water to the “Schwankies”… hehehe! You can see their “Schwankies” and learn more about Brad and Kelly in Episode #501- where we premiered the “Flowers From YOU” segment- Watch Episode #501 Here! You can see for yourself- there are lots of moving parts- and so many friends that help us along the way and we are so thankful!
There’s NO Comparison to arranging Ocean Breeze Flowers- in the Greenhouse where they are grown… What a Treat! - Watch NOW!
Here’s the Rules- and How to Enter a Picture of your Flowers Inspired by “J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom”:
The concept is simply… You Email me pictures of arrangements your create Inspired by Life in Bloom….
With the following information:
1. Your Full Name
2. Your Physical Address (NO PO BOX) – so that we can deliver the flowers if you are chosen in the weekly drawing!
3. Your Email Address- and Phone Number- these are needed to expedite the Fresh Flower shipment through FedEx…
we never ever share this information.
4. Where you Watch “Life in Bloom” Local PBS Station- Call Letters, On Line, Create TV …
5. Your Permission to allow me to share your photo(s)- on Social Media or even on a Future Life in Bloom Episode
in our “Flowers from YOU- the Viewers” Segment we have in each show of Life in Bloom!
6. EMAIL Your Entry(s) – with your Photos and Information to J@uBloom.com
We need this information to enter you in the contest and make it possible for you to receive the box of Beautiful Ocean Breeze American Grown Flowers- if your name is chosen.
I Like to note- that is Sweepstakes- not a contest… We do a random drawing each week… from the ENTIRE Lot of Entries… so entries from every season all remain in the drawing! Also if you send in multiple pictures- at different times… EACH Entry- Each Photo – needs the above information… THANK YOU! You can increase your chances by entering often- with NEW Arrangements and don’t forget to include the information above!
Michael brought a box- like he ships every week for our Sweepstakes Winner… Watch us Unpack it in Real Time in this Video!
Each Week- we draw a NEW Winner… and the box goes out VIA FedEx from Ocean Breeze Flower Farm in California to the lucky *Winner. The boxes are seasonal- and each box is fully packed and includes the most beautiful flowers for that week- all boxes are different and filled with the best American Grown Flowers for that week! *Winners boxes are shipped the week they are drawn- they cannot be delayed or deferred to another time- thank you!
Millions of American Grown Gerberas- and a Vase full of Ocean Breeze Flowers- I’m on Top of the World- Watch the FREE Video!
In the video – I use a selection of the flowers from a box to create a beautiful arrangement… I like to remind everyone about the health and wellness benefits of flowers- and remember to take time creating and arranging your flowers- for the full impact of the endorphins it releases – that make us feel less stressed… also remember – you can share the flowers- with others- that allows helps share the health and wellness benefits of flowers with OTHERS… and makes you both feel happier!
Michael is One of my Favorite Friends… and I love the VanWingerden Family- one and All- and their Flowers are Magnificent… I’m so Thankful and Grateful to share their Passion for Flowers- in this week’s FREE uBloom Video- Watch for Rene and Ivor to appear in Season 8 of “Life in Bloom” Episode #809- Flowers by the Ocean… I can’t wait… Until then… Check out this Free Video for a Sneak Peak!
I wanted to share my Flower Friend Michael with you today- and also the Beautiful American Grown Flowers- they grow at Ocean Breeze Flower Farms… for more Information about the Share Your Schwankie’s Sweepstakes- visit my Blog on uBloom! I hope you enjoy this video- and I look forward to seeing what flowers you create inspired by Life in Bloom!
Episode 28- is filled with Flower Family History- and some Birthday Stories… Listen and Watch on uBloom HERE - or Youtube HERE- or wherever you listen to your favorite Podcasts!
This week on the Behind the Bloom Podcast- with myself and RJ Pole - it’s a Special Birthday Episode- for Me… I turn 66 on March 7, 2026- and RJ and I thought it would be fun- to relate the story of me being born at Flower Convention… on my Grandma Lil’s Birthday- and other fun stories… and bit more of the History of my Flower Family- and growing up in Fremont, Nebraska! You can watch the Video of Episode #28 - on uBloom - Here - or on Youtube Here. You can also listen to the podcast- on any service where you listen to your favorite podcasts. We’re proud to have CalFlowers- and Chrysal Flower Food- as our Sponsors of our Podcast… I hope you tune it…
What are you waiting for??? Sign up for J’s FREE Newsletter- It comes out every week- with FREE links to Loads of Videos- and National TV Schedules… and more… It’s FREE….. Sign up here!
Finally- Just a quick reminder to sign up for my Free Newsletter- You can Sign up Here! It’s delivered to your email box every Monday- and includes LINKS to our FREE Video each week on uBloom.com - plus Free Links to the weekly Podcast… and also links to the Life in Bloom Episodes that will air in the coming week on PBS, Create TV and Public Television Stations Nationwide… and Links to last week’s episode in case you missed it… it also has Free Links to all the #FlowerCocktailHour Recipes and #RecipesinBloom Featured on the show…
It’s a quick rundown- of All the Flower Power we have in store for you for the Week to come… and again- it’s FREE- and full of convenient Free Links… it’s a great way to start your week with Flowers. Thanks for tuning in… Have a Flower Filled Week!