>> "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... PassionRoses... Suntory Flowers.

>> Today on "Life in Bloom," my good friend Ms. Margo joins me as we listen to and explore the garden, including trees, herbs, and of course, flowers.

Ms. Margo also joins me for a mocktail and provides insight on my garden's newest denizen, Georgy Girl.

♪♪ ♪♪ I'm J Schwanke.

"The Earth has music for those who listen."

How often do you have the chance or take the opportunity to listen to nature?

Take a moment.

Pause and listen.

Can you hear the wind?

Hear the water?

Hear the leaves?

More than that, though, do you listen?

That was the question my friend Ms. Margo asked me a few years ago.

What does it mean to listen to nature?

I was a bit perplexed and still am to some degree.

One thing I realized, though, is pausing to listen to nature causes me to stop and be calm.

It can be meditative, but it doesn't have to be.

Pausing your world to take in what nature has to offer is beneficial in many ways.

Maybe we have questions or are looking for answers.

Calming the mind and soul in nature allows us to absorb the sounds, even if it's actually silence.

Listening to nature can help you turn down the noise inside our heads, and maybe that's where the answers can be revealed.

♪♪ I'm happy to welcome again my good friend Ms. Margo, a Native American advisor and seer of her clan.

I am especially honored to greet Ms. Margo in my garden, to experience my sanctuary with me.

So, for our friends who have not seen you before, tell us a little bit about you and what you do.

>> So, I'm known as a seer for my clan.

There's only four of us out of 100 years that are chosen.

So I am a chosen one.

It was between me and my twin sister.

>> Okay.

>> So, as a chosen one, I have read -- Well, a lot of people will say psychic or medium, but as a seer, it's a high priestess, an oracle that's above all that.

So I can see, feel, hear, taste, use all my senses, 32 dimensions to pick up on other people's energy.

>> We had a tornado here about a year ago, and not from anywhere you can see -- because we have beautiful trees back here and everything -- just on the other side of these trees, just about 40 yards, is a golf course.

And it was decimated.

And when I saw you, you said, "Kelly's dad and your grandpa were holding back the trees."

And you have always told us that Kelly's dad and my grandpa watch over the property.

>> They love the property.

>> Right, right.

And, so, a thing that you said to me that day was you said...

I said, "You know, I hear the I hear the trees in the backyard all the time."

And in famous Ms. Margo fashion, you said, "But do you listen to them?"

And that's -- that caused wonder and awe for me.

And at the same time, I wanted to talk to you today.

How do I better listen?

I hear, but how do I better listen?

>> Sure.

Well, one of the things that I had done for myself and that I needed to do, I felt compelled, was I spent four days out in my backyard, and I pitched up a tent.

There was nobody to be around.

No contact, no nothing besides a book, being this book.

And I was like, what am I going to do?

You know, I need to do this for myself for some odd reason.

And I sat there, and all of a sudden I heard a leaf fall, and I actually heard it clunk all the way down through the sky through hidden -- and other trees and stuff.

And it was such a beautiful, impacting sound that I never took that appreciation.

You know, of the sounds or of the whispers or the trees branching and how they lean out to us for energy and how we lean to them for energy.

And it was so moving that I was just -- I started crying also myself, because I was just like, thank you for the simplest thing that I have, hearing, and that I could feel the energy touching me.

And it was amazing.

>> Sitting in your garden and being quiet and listening to what you hear, that could be helpful.

>> Definitely helpful.

And being barefoot, grounding yourself to Mother Earth, is so rejuvenating for our soul, our spirit, connection, our healing process, releasing.

So being even barefoot in dirt, soil, water, or anything like that, especially when you're outside, it's part of listening, learning, experience, and releasing through that whole part of nature.

Because Mother Earth is very healing and that's what she's there for.

So she wants to take anything that you're carrying as a burden.

And then we have these beautiful trees that are helping us to heal and breathe and see things in a different light.

Like I said, that one leaf that fell, it was such an odd time, too, that I could actually hear it from the top like 20 times before it hit the ground.

And I was just like, wow, I never heard anything like that before.

>> You said another thing that is very meaningful to me, that you're thankful that we can hear.

>> Mm-hmm.

>> We have godchildren that are deaf, and I've been practicing sign language for a couple of years now because I want to be able to -- I want to be able to do that.

But just being thankful and grateful for those things.

>> Yes.

>> You know, that we can hear, that we can see, that, you know, those are important.

>> Right.

And I have to remind myself to take that time out for myself because, you know, sometimes we get caught up in the busy world, and same as for you and everything.

You have a beautiful garden here, and I'm sure not every day you take advantage of it.

>> It's true, it's true.

>> You know, and we have to be mindful and say, okay, I had to sit still for a minute.

I hear her calling.

Let me just take ten minutes out, even an hour.

>> Right.

So we have the basil in the garden, we have the sage in the garden.

And I've learned about those from your soaps and your sprays that you make for us, because we don't all have time to sage.

>> Sure.

>> And with the burning smoke.

But we can use the leaves on our body?

>> On some of them.

Yes, on some of them.

Like, on the sage, you can.

>> Okay.

>> You know, crumple it up.

You can, you know, like I said, make it into a paste.

But just, like, lavender, lavender is so healing, not just by tea, but also by calming, relaxing you, the smell of it, the energy from the lavender, same as chamomile, helps you to relax, you know, and just the colors of certain flowers, too.

Like, a lot of purple represents your connection to greater spirit.

>> Sure.

>> Or, you know, let it be that you're trying to release something.

So the purple is giving you strength to release, you know.

Indigo blue, any blue flowers, anything blue is higher psychic powers or higher, as you would say, thoughtfulness and stuff.

>> Okay.

>> So a lot of colors play in the flowers, and even the green means personal growth and everything.

So it's what you're attracted to.

>> You know that we have a tradition.

>> Yes.

>> At "Life in Bloom."

And I made you -- I don't have the opportunity all the time to make a dahlia one.

>> Oh, and I love the colors.

>> And, so, I made a dahlia one.

>> It matches.

>> Right?

Last night, I guess -- >> Oh, and it fits perfect.

I remember one time it almost touched my shoulders.

This is perfect.

I have a small head.

>> You have a small head.

>> [ Chuckles ] >> There we go.

It looks great.

>> This is awesome.

>> Yeah.

I love -- And you know what?

Whenever you put flowers on someone's head, they smile.

They laugh.

>> Oh, yeah.

>> It's always good.

I also put sage in this, this one.

>> Oh, good.

Healing.

>> Because healing.

Yeah.

And thank you.

Thank you so much for coming.

>> Oh, thank you for inviting me, thank you.

>> You're welcome.

♪♪ It's late in summer as we're filming here in the garden, and I'm excited for the chance to make an arrangement with flowers from later in the season.

We filmed segments at different times, but not too often at this time of year.

As I toured the garden with Ms. Margo, I was also listening to the flowers.

Let's see what they have to say as I arrange.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ There's so many amazing foliages in the garden right now, and, so, using a stem from many different plants helps create the structure in the middle of our bouquet.

♪♪ Then we're able to go in with our focal flowers, our hydrangeas of different types and colors.

With our panicle hydrangeas and our mopheads, it's so interesting that, as the nights get cooler, the colors change.

That's one of my favorite times of the year.

♪♪ ♪♪ What would a late summer bouquet be without a couple of huge dinnerplate dahlias in this arrangement?

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Two of my favorite things in the garden are my Japanese maple.

It's a peach bark Japanese maple.

And also these grasses that have these long bunny tails.

And they almost have a lavender cast.

They're a wonderful finishing touch to this arrangement.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ The genus name Calendula is a modern Latin diminutive of calendae, meaning "little calendar," "little clock," or possibly "little weather glass."

Tea made from the calendula plant is often applied externally to wounds and burns, or taken internally to heal tissues of the mouth, throat, and digestive track.

Calendula is also known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant components, which might help to fight cancer, protect against heart disease, and ease muscle fatigue.

Calendulas have a mildly sweet taste that is slightly bitter, and as it dries, these flavors become more intense.

It can be used to add color to soups, stews, poultry dishes, custards, and liqueurs.

♪♪ Ms. Margo was originally on the show to communicate with our pets Eleanor and Ladybird.

Eleanor has passed on now, and we've been blessed with Georgy Girl who, like Eleanor, seems to enjoy spending time outdoors and in the garden.

We just want to learn more about her perspective, but also to see if there's any issues to be aware of.

So, Ms. Margo, this is Georgy Girl.

We got her as a puppy.

She came -- She was here a little while with Eleanor.

>> Okay.

>> For about a month, and then Elly passed away.

♪♪ She has definitely, been a really good addition to our life.

♪♪ And, so, Georgy Girl, we decided on that name because she's really named after Kelly's dad, George.

And, so, Georgy Girl is that.

>> Oh, it's perfect.

>> And we call her George all the time.

So she is -- we call her George, and she likes it.

>> She's got awesome eyelashes, I've seen.

>> [ Laughs ] She does.

>> That's what, and styles those eyelashes.

>> Yeah.

Big Eyelashes, yes.

>> Okay.

>> All right.

>> So we're going to do this and you got to -- I'm going to mix it up.

And then, with your right hand, you're going to reach in and grab three items.

>> Okay.

For her.

>> Yeah.

And I'll tell you to go ahead and close your eyes.

I'm gonna mix it up.

>> I'm gonna get three items for you.

>> Okay.

Go ahead and pick out any three.

>> Okay.

All right.

>> Okay.

Well, the first one that we have, this is actually an alligator tooth.

>> Oh, my goodness.

>> So this means that she's fierce when it's needed and necessary, she'll speak her truth.

She's not afraid to fight or anything.

Would need it for herself.

Also, with the alligator tooth, that means a lot of protections around her, even from ancestors watching over her.

Let it be your family, or even her family or Kelly's family is watching over her.

>> Okay.

>> Then you have the turtle claw.

The turtle claw, this is about her.

Sometimes she needs to slow down and take her time.

This actually represents the circle of life.

So it all depends on where it's laid out, how you pull it out and everything, because it represents different ways, if it was face up or down.

It also represents that there's a beautiful shield of love around her.

Even when she was born, it shows me that people were unsure where she was going to be placed at, and she always was scared of that, being placed or the insecurity at times.

Then you have a wolf bone.

>> Oh, my goodness.

>> Look at that.

I know, it's a wolf bone.

So a wolf bone will set the boundaries.

A wolf always might be a little stubborn, but will speak their truth, will honor their self.

Well, also, with the wolf bone, it means shining light on others, so making other people happy.

Acting silly, stupid, entertainment, music, loves -- probably loves dancing with those long eyelashes.

Yes.

>> Awesome.

So she gets worried when -- when things are new.

Like yesterday, when we were setting up all the film equipment and stuff, she was concerned about the whole thing.

She wanted to know.

And we still talk to her the same way that we talked to Ellie, but I just didn't know if there was anything else we could do that would help her.

>> Well, she might always have stomach or digestive tracks... >> Okay.

>> ...problems or issues.

But, again, that's her way of protection.

She wants to know everything.

She feels like she's not in control.

So that's when the wolf is coming out.

>> Okay.

>> "Hey, let me let me fix the situation.

Okay, I can't fix it because I don't have hands or I don't know what's going on."

Even though that you're communicating, she's in her own world.

>> When you did her first reading for her, she was not present.

But I came to see you when we had just had her as a puppy.

It was just like it was she was a new pup.

And she still struggles with her leash.

And I remember this.

You were using your cards, and I asked the question about the leash, and I turned it over.

And it's the guy with the piercings through his -- >> Okay.

Sun ritual.

>> Yeah.

And she said, "She doesn't like the leash.

She never will."

[ Laughter ] And is that still kind of the case with her?

Is she getting used to the leash?

Is she... >> She's tolerating the leash.

She's understanding.

But, again, that's her wanting that control, her not being able to fit in before or feel unwanted.

That she's afraid that she's going to be dragged off to a house-to-house, or it's just bringing back, you know, past hurt and pain at times.

>> Interesting.

>> So a little anxiety will come up.

>> The people who had her as a puppy, all the other puppies left, and she was still there for two weeks because we were on trips.

>> Okay.

>> And we didn't want to get her and then leave her with pet sitters, you know?

And, so, she was a little bit longer by herself there, so I can see the point about -- >> Yeah.

She does not like.

>> Yeah.

Being alone, yeah.

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah, yeah.

She wants to be part of the whole thing.

>> Now, how old is George?

>> George is -- she's 2.

>> Oh, my gosh.

>> She's 2, 2 years old.

>> Just a baby.

>> You're just a little baby, aren't you?

Yeah.

Well, thank you, Ms. Margo.

I appreciate that.

So how about you and I make a little mocktail here in the garden?

Would that be fun?

>> That sounds awesome.

>> Okay, good, good good, good.

♪♪ So this is really fun because it incorporates so many things that I showed you in the garden.

We have the lavender.

We have the basil, it has lemons.

It has blueberries.

And I love -- I think it's fun to do a mocktail.

And I think that that's really fun.

So this is a little craft elixir that is from -- it is made here locally.

And it's an elixir made with blueberry and lavender.

And, so, we're going to use that as our base.

We'll use a little bit of soda water, and then we're going to muddle in these other elements into it.

>> Oh, my gosh.

>> So, right?

So we'll start with that.

>> Show me how to muddle.

I don't know.

>> All right.

So, muddle, we're just going to take this piece of -- this is the blue African basil.

>> Okay.

>> I'm gonna throw him in there.

I am going to take a couple pieces of lavender.

>> Mm!

We were just at a lavender festival for a couple of weekends.

>> How fun.

>> Yes, lavender was everywhere.

They had cookies, they had... >> Oh, okay.

>> ...ice cream.

They had it all.

>> Wow.

And, so, then I'm going to take a little bit of lemon, squeeze that in there.

We're going to take a few blueberries.

We're going to drop those down in there.

So this is a muddler.

And, so, it's just like a little press.

>> Okay.

>> And, so, I'm down inside there and I'm just mushing everything together.

All right?

So it gets everybody all aromatic and gets them all down inside there.

>> Releases all the oils, the natural oils.

>> Mashed up in there.

We will take our blueberry and lavender syrup.

Then I'm going to add a little bit of ice.

So we'll cool it off.

>> What a nice summer drink, and especially out in the garden.

>> I know, right?

>> So colorful.

>> So then we're going to close it up, and we're going to shake it.

So we've muddled.

♪♪ ♪♪ So, see, there's all sorts of little bits and pieces down inside there from all the things that we muddled together.

And then, you know, I think the thing that I'm attached to the most about having a mocktail is that I want it to be fizzy or bubbly.

I want there to be ice that dingles around inside the glass.

You know, I think that that's the important thing.

>> It looks beautiful.

>> Then, look at this.

>> Oh, you are totally jazzing it up.

>> Hang on, I need to -- >> Okay.

>> I need to mix these guys a little bit.

♪♪ And then, we should have just a little bit of basil and lavender.

>> Look at that.

>> A couple little blueberries.

>> Good for detoxing.

>> Right.

>> Well, this whole drink, I'm sure, is detoxing.

>> Lemon wedge.

Lemon wedge.

So they look like that.

Pretty fun, right?

>> Yes.

>> Okay, so here's one for you.

>> Okay.

>> Cheers.

>> Cheers.

>> Thank you so much for coming.

I appreciate it.

>> I love you, I love you.

Thank you.

This is delicious.

Good summer drink.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> And now it's time for my favorite part of the show.

"Flowers from You," the viewers.

Today I have a lovely arrangement with hydrangea, allium, and wisteria made by Rebecca Valicoff of St. Louis, Missouri.

I love that these flowers are from her garden.

The bouquet is so soft-looking and romantic.

Please send me your pictures of flower arrangements inspired by "Life in Bloom."

We call them "Schwankes" after a viewer's nickname.

Send them to me, J@uBloom.com.

That's the letter "J" at the letter "U," bloom.com, and watch for more "Schwankes" on upcoming shows.

I've enjoyed taking the time to commune in this show with friends, nature, and as always, flowers.

I hope you have a chance soon to slow down and truly experience and listen to nature, to flowers, and to the world inside of your being.

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

>> The bee's back on the... >> Oh, okay.

Good.

>> Oh, I like that.

>> It's a bumblebee.

>> He's a big bumblebee.

>> Leave him there.

That's a great shot.

>> Look at his little pockets are all full.

>> He knows that it's good.

>> His pockets are all full.

On his little legs.

Look.

>> Okay.

We're ready.

>> Okay.

There we go.

All right, so, then, we're going to close it up, and we're going to shake it.

So... ♪♪ >> You really focus when you're shaking.

[ Laughs ] >> Yes.

>> Okay.

Yes.

It's done.

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

>> Visit uBloom.com to access all episodes of "Life in Bloom," plus exclusive flower videos, J's newsletter and blog, find recipes, flower tips, techniques, and much more.

Be sure to follow "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom" on social media.

"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... PassionRoses... Suntory Flowers.

♪♪ Closed caption funding provided by fabulousflorals.com.