>> "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... ♪♪ >> Let's explore what it means to be a neighbor in this episode of "Life in Bloom."

We'll visit a neighborhood grocer, share botanical treasures, express gratitude with flowers, and share a special recipe.

♪♪ ♪♪ I'm J Schwanke.

Welcome to "Life in Bloom."

♪♪ Today, I'd like to explore the idea of neighbors and how we can be a good neighbor and ways to encourage kindness.

In a larger sense, we're all neighbors, and it's so important to be mindful of this in everyday life.

How can you share with the person next door and also with your larger community?

Of course, for me, sharing flowers is a very natural way to create a connection and inspire friendly interactions.

I have done so all my life, and the very act of sharing flowers is its own reward.

Not only does the recipient feel good, so does the person giving the flowers.

Both will actually experience an endorphin release, a positive physical response, from the interaction.

Join me as I share some ideas on how flowers can promote a friendly, neighborly disposition.

♪♪ ♪♪ Today I'm sharing a very special place, one of my favorite places to visit on a weekly basis.

These wonderful planters are refreshed every season, even in winter, and are an indicator of the welcoming atmosphere inside.

It's one of the things that drew me to this iconic neighborhood store.

Kameel Chamelly, one of the kindest people I have ever met, is the owner of Martha's Vineyard.

Kameel is at the counter every day, along with a dedicated staff, including his daughter Ilana.

I wanted to learn more about how this place began, and Ilana had the story.

I love -- I love the flowers.

>> Thank you.

>> And that's just, like, not something you have to do.

It's something that you do for the neighborhood, and it's always changing.

>> It makes a really welcoming environment.

>> Yeah, it does.

And it's really -- it's really beautiful.

And I just -- I always take pictures.

Whenever I come, I take pictures.

>> I'm so happy to hear that.

We have a lot of customers that come in and make comments about them.

>> Yeah.

>> But it's the first thing that you experience before coming into the store... >> Oh, wow.

>> ...is the flowers.

>> Yeah.

It's wonderful.

>> The sidewalk, yeah.

>> The ambiance.

>> The ambiance.

>> The flower ambiance... >> Yeah.

>> ...which is amazing.

>> Yeah.

>> That's amazing.

How did Martha's start?

>> So, Kameel, my father, purchased this building on land contract.

>> Okay.

>> So, that was back in 1982.

>> Wow.

Okay.

>> He had a little shop called "Eastown Deli" in Eastown, where he made sandwiches.

And he'd stop by the store, and he got to know the owner.

>> All right.

>> And after a few years of coming in, built a relationship, and the guy's like, "Hey, I don't want to run this place anymore."

>> Uh-huh.

"You should take it over."

>> Right.

>> And it was just, goodness, like, a quarter of the size that it is today.

>> Right.

I mean... >> We've had many iterations.

>> Yeah, you have so many different things.

You have a pizza parlor.

You have a bakery.

You have... >> But you have to go so much further back.

It was, like... >> Oh, wow.

>> ...maybe a 900-square-foot shop.

>> Okay.

>> Just all of these buildings here have been their own storefronts.

So, there were four along this main... >> Along this drag.

>> ...main drag.

>> Wow.

>> Yeah, and so, man, it's just a big rectangle is what it was.

>> Right.

>> Just walking straight in.

And he bought that store, small C-store.

>> Right.

>> Just stop-and-go liquor store.

You have your spirits, your cigarettes, your chips.

>> Right.

And now there's produce, and there's food, and it's part of the neighborhood.

>> It's evolved with the neighborhood.

>> Okay.

>> Yeah.

>> Well, that's wonderful.

Every time we come here, we feel like we're home.

It's like a toy store, okay?

>> Yes.

>> So, you know, when you were little, and you went in a toy store, and you were like, "Wow, look at..." >> All the wonderment, the amazement.

>> The wonderment and amazement every week.

And when I come in, and I'm looking for something, you or your dad will find it.

If I have something I've heard of, you or your dad will find out more about it.

If there's something new, he will tell me about it.

If I come in with no purpose, he will just visit with me and talk to me and be my friend.

>> That's awesome.

>> And that's -- there's something about it -- the kindest man I think I've ever met.

I just think that that's your dad.

>> Thank you.

That means a lot.

>> Yeah.

>> I see that in him... >> Uh-huh.

>> ...but I don't always expect others to see that, too.

>> Okay.

>> So, that warms -- that warms my heart.

>> That's awesome.

That's awesome.

Should we grab a cup of coffee and talk a little more?

>> Let's go.

>> Okay.

>> We'll meet my sister.

>> All right.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Ilana, this is fabulous.

>> Oh, I'm so glad.

>> So, jasmine, there's blue tea flower.

>> Pea flower.

>> Pea flower.

>> Yes.

How is it?

>> Mm!

I love it.

>> Good, good.

>> It's delicious.

>> Good.

>> It's delicious.

So, and thank your sister for making it for me.

>> I will.

>> That's wonderful.

I know that a big functionality of this is not just you and your dad.

Nobody does this alone.

It takes... >> No one can do it alone.

>> Correct.

And so, your team members are very important to you.

>> Yes.

Very important.

>> What's it like to be a family business in this neighborhood?

What do you think is the key to success?

>> I don't know if it's family business, per se, but I think the biggest thing is listening to the customers.

I think that's who guides us.

>> Right.

>> Kind of like you, when you came in looking for caster sugar.

It really did ignite a fire under me that I need to get it back on the shelf.

But it can be made simply at home.

>> And you showed me how to make.

So, for those of you who want to know -- if you want to make caster sugar, you just simply grind regular sugar in a food processor, and you have caster sugar, which was amazing.

It was an amazing tip for me.

>> Which I'm glad you were able, you were open to making that.

>> Oh, I love that you're able to do that.

We have some pastries.

>> Yep.

So, we have a few pastries today, a couple of them.

>> Right.

>> We have our feature, which is the baklava croissants and with pistachio, rose flowers on the exterior.

But there's a beautiful rose glaze over the top with a pistachio-almond filling.

>> I love this one.

I get this one... >> Oh, you do?

>> I get this one on, like, a weekly -- when you have it.

When it's there, I will get it on a weekly basis.

So, yeah, I love it.

>> I'm glad that you like this one.

>> Okay.

>> Then we have this one, which is super unique, and our pastry team, bread and pastry team, work together, and they put together specials... >> Okay.

>> ...every month.

And so, this is our caramelized honey croissant with a caramelized honey cream on the interior.

And then we made a sea foam with honey, which is just beautiful.

You have that textural difference, the sweetness.

The caramelized notes give it kind of a warmth, so it's not too sweet.

And then we've garnished everything with flowers just to bring in the first day of summer.

>> Okay, so, I have to try this one.

>> This is going to be... ♪♪ >> It's wonderful.

>> Good.

>> It's so delicious.

The Chantilly cream.

Mmm!

And it's flowery.

>> Mm-hmm.

>> I love that.

>> Good.

>> I love, I love all the fun stuff that you do.

And it's an experience for me.

As I said, the toy store before -- I think that that's very true.

But the fact that when I get to come every week and just visit with your dad, and it's just...

I'm early Saturday mornings.

That's my shtick.

And he knows when I'm late.

He will say, "Oh, did you do something else?"

Or "Why are you late today?"

Or "Why are you here on Wednesday?"

But he knows when I come.

>> He knows most customers' schedules.

>> And we love coming here, and we think it's wonderful.

So, I have a tradition.

Now that you allowed me to have fabulous, tasty flower things... >> Okay.

>> ...I have a flower crown for you.

>> This is beautiful.

>> I know!

I made it last night for you.

>> Thank you.

>> You're welcome.

It looks pretty on you, as well.

>> Thank you.

>> So, thank you so much for allowing us to come here... >> Thank you for coming in, yes.

>> ...and telling us you know, about the story and about the flowers outside... >> Mm-hmm.

>> ...and all of the wonderful things that you do to make this a beautiful neighborhood and a beautiful place for the neighborhood.

>> Thank you.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> Have you ever had a neighbor bring by homemade specialties to share?

Whether it's a bottle of homemade wine, a tin filled with cookies, or a secret family recipe, it's always a thrill to receive a delicious surprise.

And the neighborly thing to do is reciprocate, when you're able, especially when returning the container the gift arrived in.

I usually return it filled with flowers, as you might suspect.

So, I thought today I would show you how we do that.

I have a wonderful container here that probably arrived with some wonderful goodies in it, and I need to get that container back to that person.

I've got a piece of soaked flower foam inside, and I'm going to bevel the edge, like we always do.

It's easier to make a pretty arrangement when we've beveled the edge.

This is also a biodegradable foam, so I'm excited about that, as well.

And the foam is going to help me return the lid, as well.

So, what I'm going to do is I'm going to take this lid, and I'm going to put it right into the flower foam.

So, now it stands up.

So, it's a great way for us to arrange around that and create a beautiful bouquet.

Now, here's my Bloom 365 tip.

If you don't have a container like this, or, say, someone brought you a pizza, or they brought you something fun that wasn't in a container, you could use containers you've reclaimed.

I've got a can or a jar or a bottle that I've cleaned up, and I can use that as a vase to thank someone for something nice they did.

So, I learned about this a long time ago.

I lived in Fremont, Nebraska, for about 30 years, and then I moved to Atlanta, and I loved Atlanta because there was so much Southern charm and lots of wonderful people that I met.

And the place that I worked at had a wonderful lady named Miss Betty.

And Miss Betty kind of took care of all of us, and she made sure that all of the designers who worked there, all of the people who worked in shipping, all those people got good attention and got taken care of.

And she knew I was a single guy, and I was living in Atlanta and that I needed maybe a little bit of extra care and attention.

And she was worried that I was getting too skinny, and I wasn't getting good things to eat.

And so, one day she brought me this container that was full of the most amazing fried chicken I'd ever eaten, and it was just wonderful.

And I savored it, and I extended it, and I made it last for a long time.

And then finally I brought the container back to Miss Betty, and I brought it into her office, and I dropped it on her desk, and she said, "What's that?"

And I said, "That's the container that you brought chicken in."

And she said, "Mnh-mnh."

She said, "You live in Atlanta now, and you bring back that dish with something else in it."

And that's when I learned that that was the wonderful, respectful, thankful, and grateful way to return a dish.

So, I always started making arrangements for her and putting arrangements in the dishes that she would bring me, and she loved that, too.

So, it's always good to return a favor with flowers.

And these can be flowers from your garden.

They could be flowers you pick up at the flower seller.

You've got a lot of different opportunities.

Maybe it's something you pick up at the farmers' market.

I love the fact that you create it.

And, again, by using our flower foam, it's going to be an easy way for us to place these strategically in the container because sometimes you don't have the most conducive container for returning flowers, and that's where our cans or bottles would come in.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ So, now I have a beautiful dish that's ready to be returned.

I'm sure it'd make Miss Betty proud.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Fancy tulips are unique tulip varieties, like double-blooming tulips, peony-flowering tulips -- so named because they resemble peonies with layers of petals -- parrot tulips, and lily-flowering tulips, so named because the elongated tulip petals curl back and resemble lily-trumpet-shaped blooms.

Fringe tulips, once called "fancy frills," have impressive serrated edges that add a marvelous element of texture to the normally smooth-shaped blooms.

Their exotic, lacy petals come in a variety of artistic forms, colors, and crystalline fringes.

Fancy tulips are tulips that have features not present in standard tulips.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ We love that we can share much of our garden with our pets, mainly the areas that are fenced in for their safety.

All of our cocker spaniels have enjoyed the delights of the garden over the years, including flowers, foliage and pollinators and the occasional wildlife that sneaks in, causing much excitement.

Ladybird patrols regularly to ward off rabbits.

Our newest companion -- this is Georgy Girl -- was lucky enough to have some training as a puppy from Ellie before she departed.

Georgy Girl seems to have picked up Ellie's affinity for simply wandering and enjoying the garden -- an outdoor soul, for sure.

As I said, we love that we can share the gardens with our canine companions.

Speaking of sharing, the gardens provide a couple of ways to share beyond the casual stroll by them.

Once they are established, after a couple of seasons, it's relatively simple to share plants or seeds with a neighbor or a friend to help expand their garden.

Many neighborhoods even have annual exchanges, where plants are either exchanged or just available for free.

Sharing plants and seedlings doesn't take that much time, but the reward is big, as anyone who's inside of the newly grown flowers or plants benefits for the experience of just observing them.

Merely looking at flowers and plants is proven to help relieve the beholder of stress.

Many landscape plants are simple to divide and share with a shovel and a bit of muscle power.

Hostas and daylilies are both great examples, and dividing them after a few years even assists in maintaining the health of the plants.

A hosta is a great example.

I've planted this one, and it's been in its space for several years, but now you can see that there's three distinct plants here.

So, I lifted it out by taking my shovel and cutting around the dirt all the way around.

So, now I can kind of start to get in here and see what's going on with the plant and pull our shovel out.

Notice how I've got one, two, three plants.

So, I'm just going to break away some of this dirt so I can get a good idea of where everything's at.

But a trowel itself will go in there and cut through.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ So, now we've got this one.

See how we just cut it away there?

But we've left this other root piece.

♪♪ ♪♪ We're going to go in between these other two.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ When I was a little kid, my grandpa would use a machete.

And while that's probably pretty efficient, I like to maybe go in there so I make a little duller cut, and it's not so dangerous for everybody.

Now I've got three hosta plants.

I can share two with someone else and plant this in a new space in the garden.

It's that simple to share and split a hosta.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Many years ago, I discovered the dish known as poutine in the French-Canadian province of Quebec.

It's not French in its origin.

However, this delicious combination is known to have originated in Quebec in the 1950s and has recently become well-known in the U.S. Poutine consists of three primary ingredients -- French fries, cheese curds, and gravy.

There are many variations.

Since I don't have a deep fryer, I'm going to bake the French fries using a recipe I learned from watching Jacques Pépin.

We're using a French fingerling potato.

I love these potatoes, and they're perfect for poutine.

We've washed them, and we're going to cut them up into poutine-size fries.

And we're going to leave the skin on.

You could take the skin off if you wish, but I like the skin on.

I feel like that's a little more interesting to look at, and I think it tastes better.

Once our potatoes are all cut, they have a starchiness about them, so we're going to rinse them several times and get rid of that cloudiness so that we've got them all washed off.

So, now we've got them all rinsed off.

We want to make sure that they're dry.

I use a paper towel, and I just go through here and make sure that I'm drying everybody off.

And what we're going to do is we're going to use just a little bit of peanut oil, just a couple tablespoons of peanut oil.

And we're going to coat everybody.

Then we can add our spices.

I like some pepper in there, fresh ground pepper.

I like a little of the paprika because I think it does give it some color.

But don't do the salt now.

Do the salt at the end.

Then, I just put them on parchment paper.

And just get them all spread out a little bit.

We'll bake these in our oven at 425 for about 45 minutes.

I'll jump in at about 20 minutes and pull them out and flip them with a tongs and then send them back in for the remainder of the time.

To create the gravy, I used a beef stock, and then I simply added flour, and I use it with a flour duster.

Just that little bit of flour on top -- I can slowly put it in and make sure that I don't get any lumps in my gravy.

We have our cheese curds out here.

They're at room temperature because that's what we want them to be, because that helps give them that squeaky consistency when we eat them.

We're going to take our French fries out.

We'll salt them, and then we can place them in a dish.

I like placing them in a dish rather than a plate, because it makes a nest with the cheese, and then it kind of holds the gravy and the heat together, although I'm making a plate today for myself to taste them.

We'll pour that gravy over the top of our fries and our cheese curds.

It's just a wonderful comfort food.

I think it's a great part of having a life in bloom.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ And now it's time for my favorite part of the show, "Flowers from You," the viewers.

Today's arrangement is from viewer Karen Strangfeld and her pup, Dixie Lou.

Karen writes, "Hello.

I just caught episode one of your latest season, and I was inspired to send you a picture of my latest floral arrangement.

My pup, Dixie Lou, and I regularly start our days watching 'Life in Bloom.'

Well, she snoozes while I watch and cross-stitch, but I'm sure she enjoys it, anyway."

Dixie Lou?

Aw, I'm so glad you included her, Karen.

You know how much I love seeing your furry family members.

It looks like Dixie Lou reacts the same way to my show as Ladybird and Georgy Girl.

I'm delighted they find it relaxing.

Karen also adds, "I came across some stock, freesia, and globe yarrow while grocery shopping this weekend, and after watching the episode on flower fragrances, I just had to know what stock smelled like.

I wasn't disappointed, and I must say globe yarrow has become a whimsical must-have in my arrangements.

Your show is that wonderful combination of relaxing and inspiring.

Thank you for sharing your flower knowledge with the rest of us."

I love this bouquet.

One of my favorite combinations, purple and yellow, that exciting complementary color combination.

And I do love some globe yarrow bouncing around a bouquet.

Thanks again, Karen.

Please send me your pictures of flower arrangements inspired by "Life in Bloom" and include your pets, too.

Right, Dixie Lou?

We call them "Schwankes," inspired by viewers Brad and Kelly's nickname.

Send them to J@uBloom.com.

That's the letter J at the letter U bloom.com.

And watch for more Schwankes on upcoming shows.

I hope this show has provided some ideas on being a good neighbor.

Take the time to get to know and enjoy those around you and within your greater community.

And, of course, share flowers whenever possible.

Won't you be my neighbor?

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

So, I was looking, Kameel Chamelly.

Did you know that "Chamelly" means courage and caretaker?

>> In which language?

>> I don't know, but I just love that that's what it means.

>> Well, we are Lebanese.

>> Okay.

>> And so, in Arabic, Chamelly, or "shamal," means north.

>> Okay.

>> So, we look at it as northern.

>> Okay.

>> But "courage" is beautiful, and I do love -- >> Courage and caretaker.

>> But I'm curious where that originates.

>> I don't -- I found it online.

>> [ Laughing ] Okay!

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

>> Visit J's website, uBloom.com, for flower projects and crafts, complete recipes, behind-the-scenes videos, J's blog, flower cocktails, and more.

♪♪ "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... ♪♪ Closed-caption funding provided by Holland America Flowers.

♪♪