J Schwanke's Life in Bloom

Inspired ideas for flowers, crafts, recipes and entertaining for the holiday season; sugar cookie and glühwein recipes.

The Michigan Farm Garden at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park; Idlewild Farm, a family flower farm in West Michigan; making a flower sculpture with classic farm tools.

Getting the most out of time in nature; tips on birdwatching in the garden; arranging flowers outside; an old-fashioned picnic break.

Arranging orange flowers in orange containers with orange vegetables; collectible Czech vases; cauliflower au gratin.

Visiting an orchard with Crystal Palesek; entertaining with roses; finding inspiration in wine varietals; Grace Boersma's cheese puff perfection.

Arranging orange flowers in orange containers with orange vegetables; collectible Czech vases; cauliflower au gratin.

Visiting an orchard with Crystal Palesek; entertaining with roses; finding inspiration in wine varietals; Grace Boersma's cheese puff perfection.

Ocean Breeze Flower Farms; gerbera daisies in the greenhouse; simple pasta preparation inspired by flowers.

Touring the San Francisco Flower Market; arranging flowers with Aaron Peskin; what it takes to be a flower buyer on a grand scale.

Exploring the flowers of Hawaii at Green Point Nurseries and a flower farm; the flower breeding program at the University of Hawaii; anthurium; arranging; a flower cocktail hour with author Jenny Fiedler.

Visiting a garden with large scale butterfly and flower forms; techniques to create personal topiaries to enjoy at home.

Hope Dahlias shows the positive effect that flowers have on people; using sage three ways -- as an appetizer, spiritual cleanser and flower accent.

A visit to Crane Dance Farm reveals the value of pasture-raised food; local flowers are made into bouquets; roses from the farmers market.

Incorporating blooms and branches from the garden into arrangements for the home, including a framed craft, rose cake and a garden gimlet cocktail.

Using flowers for everyday romance; using flowers in arrangements and recipes; using flowers for relaxation.

A visit to a protea farm; incorporating protea, one of the oldest flowers in the world, into crafts, cocktails and entertaining.

Celebrating and embracing the joy of flowers; adding flowers to the home; cooking.

Ocean Breeze Flower Farms; gerbera daisies in the greenhouse; simple pasta preparation inspired by flowers.