>> "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom" is brought to you by the following... ♪♪ 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.

♪♪ >> On today's show, we're taking time to enjoy the simple pleasures of being outdoors in nature, including a visit with a certified forest therapy guide, flowers of course, and an old-fashioned picnic break.

♪♪ ♪♪ I'm J Schwanke.

Welcome to "Life in Bloom."

Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.

How often do we make the time to get outdoors?

Outside time in nature is one of those simple pleasures that is often overlooked.

Enjoying the quiet.

Enjoying the sounds of nature.

Observing the birds, the bees, the flowers, and the trees.

Feeling the breeze or the warmth of the sun, or even the drops of rain.

Time spent outdoors is an investment in well-being.

Doubly so when flowers are involved.

Let's enjoy the simple pleasures of being outside.

♪♪ Forest bathing is a topic that we've scratched the surface of on "Life in Bloom."

Taking some time to spend a few moments in nature offers rewards that are both tangible and otherwise.

My guest, Mo Stine, contacted me and offered to guide us all further into the natural world and discover how forest bathing can have a significant impact on well-being.

Mo, I am so excited that you're here.

You are the author of "Grass Left Standing."

This is amazing.

I love it already.

I've been reading it.

Mo, can you tell everyone what you do and what you are.

>> Absolutely.

Well, I'm a certified forest therapy guide, and I was trained by ANFT, which is an acronym for the Association of Forest Therapy Guides and Nature Programs.

>> Shall we start with shinrin yoku?

Alright.

Okay.

Alright.

So this is your little -- >> This is my sign.

>> This is your teaching tool.

>> Yeah, absolutely.

So yeah, forest therapy has a long, rich history.

made its way over here to the United States.

And forest therapy is also known as shinrin yoku, which is the way you say it in Japanese.

And this is the kanji script, the way you write it.

So there's three characters.

The first character that looks like three short, fat, little trees represents the word forest.

The second character with two elongated-looking trees represents our interconnectedness with the forest.

And then finally, the third symbol kind of looks like a roofed structure with water splashing over it.

And that means bath.

So shinrin yoku, forest bathing, to bathe in the forest atmosphere.

>> And is it usually like at a national park or is it at a... >> Yeah, it's really any outdoor setting.

So typically it's on a trail, hopefully forested.

But you can forest bathe anywhere, any time, any place.

It's just something that comes from within.

>> And so tell us what you do with the blind forest bathers.

>> Sure.

For about 15 years I've been involved with Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind, which are headquartered out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Kids come from all over the state of Michigan to enjoy canoe trips and outdoor recreation and learn life skills.

And so I decided to kind of combine forest bathing with blind and low-vision audiences.

Well, and often they're teaching me.

>> Okay.

>> They're teaching me how to tune in on all available senses outside of sight.

So the smells of the forest, the sounds, the tastes in the air.

And so we kind of go through that.

Forest bathing is a somatic practice that basically engages all of our available senses and just gets us out into nature, you know, away from screen time, um, gets us away from our cellphones for a little while, and just... >> Perfect.

>> ...mindfulness and nature.

>> Yeah.

>> Forest bathing is the ultimate "be here now."

You know, it's a way to get out of our heads and back into our bodies and just do something really healthy for our bodies.

So forest bathing is both healthy for our mental health and as well as our physical health.

>> You talk about practices and you said you could demonstrate some of those for us today.

So can you kind of take us through that process?

>> Yeah, absolutely.

Forest bathing, the way I was taught, has a standard sequence, basically a guideline of steps one through seven, for example.

So it begins with hospitality, which you just meet and greet your group at the trailhead.

You're talking about where the bathrooms are, how long you're going to be gone for the day, and then awarenesses along the trail like insects or exposed tree roots along the trail route or other people that are not with our group that might show up.

And so how to kind of deal with all of those things, and you do that so that you let your group know you've got them covered and you're accommodating them.

Then it moves into introductions with the group.

I typically use a giant pine cone.

We pass it around.

So for example, I would pass this to you and say tell me your name and what your favorite tree is.

>> J and it's a peach-barked Japanese maple that's in the front yard, front and center.

That's my favorite.

Oh, it's this one right here.

It's this little guy.

Alright.

>> And then I would take it and I'd say, well, I'm Mo and my favorite tree is the eastern redbud.

So, it kind of gets to know everybody and gets passed around, and then after that we begin with the steps.

And so one of the first steps is to wander and look for what's in motion.

It's sort of a chance to be alone together.

We wander along the trail, single file, and just walk really, really slowly and then just notice what's moving around us, what's making it move.

Sort of gets us to shake off the road dust and fully arrive in the forest.

That's followed by pleasures of presence, where we all sit or stand in an area nearby each other.

And I just take people through a sensory exercise where I mention to people, you know, close your eyes if you care to or just relax your eye muscles.

Let's listen to the sounds in the forest, which sounds are far away, which are close, which are natural, which are man-made.

And then what does the breeze feel like or the forest air feel like on our skin?

Breathe in through your nose.

What are you smelling in the forest today?

Breathe slowly through your mouth like you're sucking through a straw.

And what tastes are in the air today.

And perhaps it's simply the last thing we ate or drank.

But noticing what it's like to have a sense of taste.

And then from there, we just kind of go through these motions, and I remind people that they are a part of the symphony of this place we're in.

And then from there we do invitations, which I offer, and there are several invitations.

I've brought one invitation to share with you today.

>> Awesome.

>> So this invitation is called Find Your Spot.

>> Okay.

>> And it starts with us gathering sticks and putting sticks at the base of our feet until the sticks resemble a circle.

I put my sound bowl in the middle of the sticks, and then in the sound bowl are various scrolls that folks will take.

So we basically, one at a time, step into the threshold of the stick circle we made.

I'll ask folks to take one scroll and then chime the sound bow.

And then after that, they walk and wander to a place that calls to them, get settled in or nested in their spot, and open their scroll, and then stay there for a little while until I call them back, using the sound bowl or another musical instrument.

>> I want to do this so bad, Mo.

This is -- I mean, it's amazing.

Alright, Mo.

So you know we have a tradition on "Life in Bloom."

And I think it's important because I think you talk about giving people permission.

I always ask people.

>> Sure.

>> What they -- If they want a flower crown and they can say yes or no.

It doesn't matter.

I don't care either way.

But then I also ask them what their favorite flower is.

And so you told me your favorite flower is sunflowers.

So we have a sunflower flower crown for you.

>> Oh, yes.

Thank you.

>> Let's see.

>> Oh, my goodness.

Ah!

>> It fits well too.

That's awesome.

That's awesome.

>> And I love this.

And you have permission to give me a flower crown anytime you want.

And I'll be wearing this for the rest of the week.

>> I know, right?

So I had one lady one time who sent me pictures of her walking the dogs, doing the dishes in her house, and riding her lawnmower.

>> [ Laughs ] That's great.

>> But thank you.

>> Yes.

Thank you so much.

>> Thank you so much.

I mean, it's a wonderful book.

Your spirit matches your book and matches all of the things that you sent me.

I can't wait.

I think we should -- I think we should think about, you know, coming and seeing you in Sheboygan.

>> Anytime you'd like.

>> And going on a forest-bathing adventure.

>> So much fun.

Absolutely.

>> It's wonderful.

>> Thanks for giving voice to this important topic.

At this time, everybody needs a little self-healing, wellness in nature.

And so it's important to get the word out.

>> Thanks for leading us.

That's the other thing in helping us do it.

>> Thank you.

>> I appreciate it.

>> Awesome.

♪♪ >> Certainly, arranging a few flowers qualifies as a simple pleasure in life.

From the time we were little children, many of us were encouraged to pick a few flowers, like dandelions, and place them in a cup to give or enjoy.

Harvesting what is growing in your garden and going another step further by arranging in the garden is satisfying, without a doubt.

If your garden is in between blooms, I encourage you to bring any bouquet outside with you to arrange.

Nature has a way of adding more dimension to the experience.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Since we're talking about getting outside, I thought it would be fun as our featured flower to talk about something different.

We're going to talk about deadheading, pruning, and getting out in the garden.

My office is right over here and so I'm looking out on this every day as I'm working.

But the dogs are great because the dogs come up and remind me and touch my leg, or lick my leg and tell me that it's time to go outside.

And so every hour or two, I try and get up and go outside and do a little something.

One of my favorite things in the garden is deadheading.

And what that means is going up to a plant and removing the flowers that are already spent.

Leaving old blossoms on a plant can create bacteria and create disease, or can have bug infestations.

So that's another great benefit to doing the deadheading process.

Looking around the garden and seeing what needs a little bit of attention helps us have that outdoor time and helps us detach from our screens.

Deadheading, pruning, and checking the garden is a great way to get outside.

♪♪ Bird watching is a pastime that seems to be of increasing interest.

Hummingbirds are especially popular, and flowers are often planted by enthusiasts to attract these fascinating fliers, who act as pollinators for many plants.

In addition, one quarter of all recognized bird families are thought to be pollinators as well.

I so enjoy the birds among the flowers in my garden.

Enter "Life in Bloom" fan RJ Pole, who happens to be the co-host and producer of the podcast "Birds of a Feather Talk Together."

We began discussing our shared interest in observing flying fauna, so I naturally asked RJ if he would pay the garden a visit and share what he has enjoyed and learned about birds that inspired him to start a podcast about them.

You are the bird-watching expert and thank you so much for coming.

You have a podcast?

>> I do.

Yes.

>> So your podcast name is... >> Is "Birds of a Feather Talk Together."

>> I love it.

>> Oh, thank you.

Thank you so much.

>> I've been listening to it.

You had one all about hummingbirds.

>> Yes, yes, we did.

>> Which was super valuable to me because we -- we are very fortunate.

I don't feed them, but I have -- I have flowers for them.

We have a lot of birds out here.

>> Yes.

Yeah, yeah.

>> Yeah.

So, I mean, and it's interesting.

Like, we have cardinals who make a nest in this tree every year.

Anything I should know about cardinals in particular?

>> Yeah.

So a fun thing about them -- So the color of their red, it has to do with their diet, so actually, the male cardinals convert different, like, fruit and berries into the red.

And so the more that they eat, the redder they get.

And so -- >> Interesting.

>> Yeah.

Yeah.

And so actually the female cardinals look for the deepest red because they know that that male is more capable of finding food.

So they think it's a good mate to be with.

So it's actually like a symbol that they're good at finding food if they're very, very bright red.

>> This is where you blew me away when I was listening to the hummingbird episode.

So if I see a hummingbird in my yard, how many does that mean are around?

>> So, there can be a ton.

And so a lot of times if you see a blue jay day after day, it's the same one.

With these ruby-throated hummingbirds, they might just be coming through, coming through.

Every half hour is another one.

They'll go all the way down to Central America.

So the bird that you saw yesterday in your yard was in Central America sometime within this past year, and has flown -- This little bitty bird has flown its way all the way up here just looking for food.

>> They're fascinating.

>> Yeah.

>> How did you get started with all this?

>> We have always been nature fans, my wife and I, and like to go hiking.

We lived in Colorado and did a ton of hiking, and when we moved to Illinois, we were trying to find something outdoorsy to do and met up with like an Audubon group and just got super into birding.

>> Okay, so if I'm going to go bird watching, what should I do?

What should I take?

Where should I go?

>> Binoculars.

I can't emphasize enough binoculars.

Funny story -- My wife and I went to the first Audubon meeting that we had ever been to without binoculars, and everyone stared at us like we came off of Mars.

Luckily, somebody had a pair in their trunk and they gave them to us.

>> Okay, wow.

>> But it's just the difference.

I mean, you can see a bird from far away, and then when you see it with binoculars, you're seeing all this detail and it's just a whole different world.

[ Birds chirping ] >> What else should we think about?

Like, should we feed birds?

Should we not feed birds?

>> So, you can feed them, like, with a feeder.

I wouldn't feed, like, ducks, bread or anything like that.

But if you're getting seed for a feeder, technically it's safe for them.

>> Okay.

>> Yeah.

So I think anything.

>> Is that a commitment?

If I'm going to do that, should I do that year-round?

Should I not do it year-round?

>> I think you should.

I would talk to, like, your local feed store and see what they recommend.

I think kind of different parts of the country, there's different birds that, you know, you kind of have to take that into account.

>> Alright, RJ, so, you know we have a tradition... >> I do, yes, my favorite.

>> ...on "Life in Bloom."

So I made a flower crown last night.

>> Oh!

Thank you.

>> It has little viburnum berries.

It has scented geranium in it.

>> Amazing.

>> So let's see if it fits your noggin.

>> Alright.

>> Oh, it looks good.

>> Alright.

Thanks.

>> Yeah.

I'm glad that you appreciate it, >> It's a dream come true, J. Thank you.

>> Well, awesome.

I love your podcast and I can't wait to work with you more.

>> Thank you so much for having me on, J. I'm so excited.

>> I appreciate it.

[ Birds chirping ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Bees buzzing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ When was the last time you enjoyed a picnic?

It's a fun experience to enjoy snacks or lunch in the great or humble outdoors.

Dining spots by the score have added outdoor seating whenever feasible, and enjoying outdoor rooms is a staple of home improvement and real-estate programs.

However, it's a simple task to prepare food for lunch or a snack to enjoy in your backyard or a nearby park.

The act of unpacking the basket takes me back to childhood.

How about you?

Bygone days of family trips and stopping at a rest area for lunch also come to mind.

Let's make and enjoy a tomato sandwich today, and I'll have a small bouquet to go along with me too.

This is my favorite summer dish and it's something that I have every day.

It's actually breakfast for me sometimes too.

I love a tomato sandwich, and so I wanted to show you how great it is.

I'm not a good gardener, so I go to the farmer's market all the time, and I get tomatoes, and I let them sit on the counter so that they ripen up perfectly.

And that's what we're going to do today.

So I've got this.

We're going to trim away a little bit here.

♪♪ Alright.

♪♪ ♪♪ Oh, see that's going to be perfect.

So this recipe is simple.

I take my favorite bread and I use mayonnaise.

This is avocado mayonnaise.

It's my favorite.

And I like mayonnaise.

So I'm that guy.

And then... That's perfect, right?

Look at that.

It just fits perfectly on there.

And you can have one or two pieces, whatever you want.

I have a tendency to have two because it makes it extra messy and extra fun.

And now it's time for my favorite part of the show, flowers from you, the viewers.

Today I have arrangements from two different viewers.

First, Jeanne Shipp of Huntington Beach, California, who watches on KLCS who writes, "I love your show.

These arrangements were made from flowers given to me by my next-door neighbor.

She has a beautiful garden."

I love that.

Your neighbor is sharing her flowers and that you are creating such gorgeous bouquets.

Talk about neighbors with benefits.

Next we have Joan Werner of Corona, California, who watches the show on KCET.

She writes, "When I finished watching your show today, I was immediately inspired to cut some flowers for my tiny California garden.

Your show is a welcome place of peace and beauty."

Thank you, Joan, for your kind comments.

I'm so happy the show is inspiring you to include more flowers in your life.

Thank you.

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

We call them Schwankies after a viewer's nickname.

Send them to j@ubloom.com.

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

I hope you're inspired by this episode of "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom."

Time spent outside in nature is always rewarding, even in the simplest of ways.

I encourage everyone to get outside.

Even a few moments can make a difference.

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

We have mourning doves.

>> Yes.

>> And so there's -- We call them Andy and Ollie.

I just -- That's our name.

But they are always building nests, and they build nests up in the Wisteria.

>> Oh, yeah.

So it's kind of funny you mentioned their nest because they're actually famous for having kind of a half -- not very good nest.

They don't -- They don't put a ton of effort into their nest.

You think of some birds like a bald eagle that has a nest as big as like a studio apartment, and then a mourning dove just puts a couple twigs together.

And a lot of times you can actually look up and see the eggs through it, just because they didn't really put any effort into it.

>> Because it does kind of look just like hair.

>> Yeah.

>> It's just kind of like, okay.

You'll see them.

The little babies are even, like, looking out the side and seeing what's going on.

>> It works for them though.

>> I love that.

Okay.

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

>> J's flower-arranging tips, helpful hints, and arrangement recipes are available in J's two books, "Fun with Flowers" for $25 and "Bloom 365" for $20 plus shipping.

To purchase these books and any of our additional products, visit ubloom.com/store.

♪♪ To learn more about flower arranging and J, access to videos, and to get recipes, tips, techniques, and much more, visit us online at ubloom.com, follow J on Facebook and Instagram @jschwankeslifeinbloom.

"J Schwanke's Life in Bloom" is brought to you by the following... ♪♪ 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.

♪♪