J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom

>> "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 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.

>> A Return to Hawaii explores the flowers grown there for flower arranging.

We'll visit Green Point Nurseries, a flower farm on the Big Island of Hawaii, then travel to Oahu to meet Dr.

Tessie Amore and learn about the flower breeding program at the University of Hawaii.

Anthurium arranging with my friend Jenny round out the show.

I'm J Schwanke.

Welcome to "Life in Bloom."

>> Unfolded by the water are the faces of the flower.

>> Aloha from Hawaii, and welcome to the show.

Many people think of the beautiful flowers when they think of Hawaii.

Today, we are focusing on just that -- what kind of flowers are grown here and ways to arrange them.

The state flower is yellow hibiscus, and hibiscus in all colors are prevalent here.

However, their fleeting nature with beautiful blooms that last a mere 24 hours, although prolific, is not compatible with arranging of cut flowers.

To that end, I'll show you flowers that are grown here for arranging in both elegant and spectacular fashions.

Tropical flowers always make a statement, creating an exotic island allure that is impossible to resist.

Join me now on a tropical flower tour.

Welcome to Green Point Nursery, a family flower farm on the Big Island of Hawaii.

I've known Eric Tanouye and his family for many years, and I'm excited to share their history and how innovation has been a hallmark of their success.

Eric, this is incredible.

I mean, it's breathtaking.

It's... >> I'm glad you enjoy it, J.

>> It's amazing.

>> We're in a fairly mature anthurium field here.

>> Okay.

>> It's, you know, piping cable structure, we call this.

The anthurium plants are growing in cinder media.

>> How come they're so tall?

I'm used to seeing anthurium like this, but that's potted plants, right?

>> Yeah, well, you're in Hawaii, J.

>> Right.

[ Laughs ] >> But actually, these varieties are bred for cut flower.

So especially we want big blooms, long stems, you know, pliable stems, whereas potted plants, they grow more compact.

So they stay miniature.

>> You talked about the medium a little bit.

This isn't soil.

This is... >> Cinder.

It's a volcanic ash.

The nice thing about cinder in Hawaii, this is coming from about 25 miles south of us in an area called Kapoho.

>> It's very porous.

>> Very porous, very uniform.

Kapoho probably had the best quality of black cinder.

>> Wow.

>> And so, in the early '60s, when my father started it on another nursery in Mountain View, he experimented with cinder, and everybody thought he was crazy, but it worked out perfect for anthurium production.

So this is the standard now.

Everybody grows in cinder.

>> In cinder.

Wow.

What does the anthurium like about it?

>> The anthurium likes these cinders because it holds moisture but not too much.

>> Okay.

>> It's aerated, but not too much.

It gives you enough support for the root system so the plant can stay upright.

>> Okay.

>> And then when we fertilize it, we use hard fertilizer on the ground.

The roots are able to absorb all the nutrients and water to its roots to feed the plant.

So cinder is really good 'cause it also lasts longer.

>> Oh, sure.

>> So it's very sustainable, yeah.

>> Why did he pick here?

>> My dad picked Panaewa because it's about 5 miles south of Hilo, so it's very close to the proximity of airports, harbors, population center.

Also, the climate here is a very nice, mild climate.

It's not very warm, not hot, not very hot.

So we get maybe like 80, 85 degrees as a high, and it doesn't normally go below 65, 60 degrees in the evening.

We get about 120 inches of rain a year.

So it's very ample, very good weather for anthurium.

Warm, little humid, and always a lot of moisture.

>> Okay.

We are in your orchid house.

>> Yes.

>> So we've got all of these -- again, the plants are much bigger than I thought they would be.

[ Both laugh ] And because this is for cut-flower production.

>> That's correct.

>> How many different varieties in here, do you think?

>> We have just about... I'm just gonna say about five different cultivar varieties.

>> Okay.

All right.

What's your favorite orchid?

>> Probably the white Dendrobium orchid, right by the University of Hawaii.

>> Right, right.

>> Yeah, it's pretty bulletproof.

[ Both laugh ] >> So is that important?

>> Very, very, yeah.

>> Okay.

Right.

And it ships well.

>> That's definitely one of them.

>> Right, 'cause it's a long ways to here -- from Michigan, anyway.

>> That's for sure.

>> Right.

Why be a flower farmer and not, like, a policeman or an astronaut or, you know?

>> It was very natural.

Whatever my parents did, they did the right thing.

>> Okay.

>> It was easy for us to come into the family business, to want to farm.

It's hard work and all that, but we -- they kind of allowed us to show us that side of the business, that side of the farm.

And, you know, I guess it took a little bit place in our, my brothers and I's hearts, so it was very easy to come back to, continue to farm, and the legacy and the family business, yeah.

>> I'm happy.

It makes me happy in my heart to know that there are Tanouyes.

>> Thank you.

Thank you.

>> It's a great thing.

It's a great thing.

Now we are in the shipping area.

So this is where the flowers all come.

They're graded.

So, they've been cut in the fields that we saw.

They bring them into the buckets, and then they grade them.

So that's, what?

Size of flower?

Length of stem?

>> Yeah, flower size, stem length, and, also, if they are our first grade or a flower that may potentially have a bruise or some kind of damage to it.

>> Yeah.

It's a heart-shaped flower.

>> Yeah.

>> So people talk about that a lot, too.

And I think that that's very interesting that there's a heart-shaped flower that we can utilize.

>> Yeah, definitely.

>> We see a lot of red.

We see pink.

>> Mm-hmm.

>> Most unexpected color?

>> I would say maybe like a dark maroon or a dark brown.

>> Oh, okay.

All right.

You have a ginger that's called spectabilis?

>> Spectabilis, yes.

>> It's brown.

>> Yeah, yeah.

>> And so that's interesting, as well, now.

>> Exactly.

>> So we have fragrant -- a fragrant ginger.

Do we have fragrant anthurium?

>> Fragrant anthuriums?

Yes, we do.

>> The variety is called a Princess Aiko, and it is that pink tulip one over there.

>> Oh, wow.

Okay.

>> And so a majority of the smell is mostly in the morning.

So if you get there in the morning and you get quite, like, a nice smell, it'll smell like hand soap, almost.

>> Oh, okay.

That's great.

Well, it has been so great to visit you guys and see this.

And it's spectacular 'cause we, you know -- I think it's great for people to understand that we think anthurium come from a flower seller, or we think that they come out of a box or they're inside, you know, a flower seller's showroom, but now we get to see the plants that they come from, how the process works, how everything comes together.

And this is spectacular.

So thank you so much for showing it to us.

I appreciate it.

>> Of course.

You're very welcome.

Thank you.

>> Wow, am I excited to be here.

I'm at the Magoon Research Station at the College of Tropical Agriculture at the University of Hawaii.

This is the breeding grounds and greenhouse for new varieties of flowers under the watchful eye of Tessie Amore, a PhD in horticulture here at the university.

How does the process work?

Where does it start?

>> Anthuriums are really interesting.

They're complete flowers, but the females mature before the males.

>> Okay.

>> So it's always cross-pollinated.

>> Okay.

>> So you'll see the stigma getting all sticky, and then you'll have to make sure you find a suitable pollen parent, and you make them cross.

These little bumps are actually the beginning of the fruits.

>> Okay.

Because -- because, for people who don't know, the spadix -- Is this a spadix?

>> This is the spathe.

This is the modified leaf.

>> It's a modified leaf.

It's not really the flower.

>> Correct.

>> The flower takes place up here.

>> Yes, that's correct.

So, this... Now that -- Luckily, I have it.

>> Oh, yeah, look, look.

>> That's the pollen.

>> [ Gasps ] So that's what you use to cross-pollinate.

>> Yes.

So I get the pollen.

So that means I have to find something with a receptive stigma.

Maybe this one.

Yeah.

Feel that.

>> Oh.

Yeah.

>> So the pollen will stick to that.

>> Okay.

>> And then we wait six months and we get seeds.

>> And so then -- And then you plant the seeds.

>> Then we plant the seeds, grow them out.

>> And how long does it take to grow?

>> In 18 months to 2 years, we'll see the flower.

>> So it's a slower process.

>> Yes, it's a slow process.

>> I want people to understand what the difference is between obake and non-obake anthuriums.

>> Okay.

This -- This is an example of non-obake.

It's just a solid color.

>> Okay.

>> No green.

However, when we refer -- what we refer to as obake anthuriums, always has that green.

>> Uh-huh.

>> And then a major color, whether it's red or pink or orange... >> Mm-hmm.

>> ...or white.

And there are some that will have -- Like, Maui bride would be something a little green, a little ivory, a little pink.

>> Okay.

A tri-color.

>> A tri-color.

>> Wow.

>> But this is what we refer to as obake.

And because this is a modified leaf... >> Correct.

>> ...and it has a lot of the green pigment -- you have your chlorophyll... >> Uh-huh.

>> ...this makes the flowers, or "the flowers" last longer.

So you have vase lives of 60 days.

>> That's amazing.

>> It will last long.

And it gets darker green because it keeps doing its thing, making food.

>> Yep.

You talked about this being a number.

>> Right.

>> And then you have a flower that we name after someone.

And this was named after Cathy Rulloda.

>> Yes.

>> So, this was previously known as UH2237.

>> Okay.

Cathy Rulloda is much better.

Cathy is a great name for it.

>> Then we select a seedling, and then we go, "Okay, if it has market potential, then we'll clone it.

>> Okay.

>> And the cloning process -- So we need about 600 plantlets... >> Okay.

>> ...to send to our co-operators on each farm.

So our co-operators are commercial growers.

>> Okay.

Who are gonna grow it on, harvest, and sell to the market.

>> Yes, and just, you know, go through the steps that they would with any commercial flower.

So they will tell us is it worth commercially -- growing it commercially or not?

>> This is Cathy.

Where's Phil?

>> Oh, Phil is on the other bench.

>> Okay.

>> Phil's designs are very bold.

>> Yes.

>> And very showy.

>> Okay.

>> so when this... UH2245.

>> Okay.

>> This is Phil.

Meet Phil.

This is Little Phil.

>> This is Little Phil 'cause these are younger plants.

>> These are younger plants.

And as they get bigger... >> They get the obake, and they get huge.

>> They get huge, and they really get stunning.

But Phil, the color of Phil, when we were looking at that, it was just this nice, dark, deep, dark red.

>> Yeah, it's like a crimson almost, yeah.

>> Yes.

>> And there's a little bit of mocha or cocoa, chocolate colored in it.

>> Right.

>> It looks really great when he's holding it.

>> Oh.

>> It really does, 'cause they both play off of one another.

>> Yes.

I mean, it really is.

It's so amazing.

>> When we saw him carry a bouquet of Phil, I was just so gratified because it was -- this is -- You know, sometimes the names don't match the namesake.

>> Right.

>> In this case, both the legendary Phil and the anthurium feel just -- It was just a perfect match.

>> Yeah, it's perfect.

>> Doesn't happen all the time.

>> And that it's a heart-shaped flower.

And he has such a big heart.

>> He has such a big heart, and anthurium is one of his -- I'm not sure.

>> It's his favorite.

>> Right.

>> It is his favorite.

Anthurium is his favorite flower.

I'm so glad that we got to come here and see what you do and see how this comes together, and these are great examples of how you took those numbered varieties and crossed them to create a flower that can be a namesake for somebody.

That's so special.

>> That, to me, is really special and that we could present the flowers to them.

>> Absolutely.

Absolutely.

>> My friend and cocktail expert Jenny Fiedler joins us now for Flower Cocktail Hour.

>> I wanted to share with you a cocktail that features ohi'a lehua, which is one of the most important native flowers in Hawaii.

The tree is one of the first to populate lava fields, and its roots help convert the rocks into soil so that other plants can come into the lava fields and start growing.

And then its leaves help catch the rain and bring the rain back into the ground.

And so it's very important for the local ecosystem.

The way that we're going to do it and the way that most people can experience it is by using the ohi'a honey, and you can infuse spirits with it.

You can have the honey, and it's a way to experience ohi'a without picking the flowers from the tree.

>> Oh, I love that.

Our friends, the bees will always take care of us, right?

>> And so today, the way that we're going to be having it is in a very classic daiquiri.

The tricky thing with classic cocktails is, the minute that you sub out any one ingredient, it becomes kind of a different drink.

So the classic daiquiri is made with simple syrup.

>> Okay.

>> But today we're going to be making it with honey.

>> Wonderful.

>> It's a little bit different.

>> Okay.

>> And we're going to be making two portions here.

So 1 1/2 ounces of rum serving...to there.

And then we'll just make it right on top of each other.

The shaker's big enough to fit dos.

>> Awesome.

>> Because it's a citrus drink, you want to shake it.

And that's the rule of cocktails -- if it has citrus in it, you shake it, and if it has no citrus ingredients, then you can stir it.

Here is our lime juice, 3/4 of an ounce per serving.

So I'll put in 1 1/2 ounces for the both of us.

>> Perfect.

>> And then we have our honey syrup.

Put the honey in.

And then we put ice in at the last bit because you don't want everything to get all melty.

[ Ice rattling ] We get that out right here.

Then I'll strain it into these cute little coupes.

It's all nice and frothy.

I was brought up old-school where you don't put any ingredient into the garnish that you're not using in your cocktail.

Since we don't have our ohi'a here, I'm using a different -- a different native flower, which is the kolomona, which grows in my yard.

And I use it a lot in lei-making, and it's very bright and beautiful.

It doesn't last for very long, so you kind of want to pick it on the day that you're using it.

And I stuck it into these little lime wheels, which will help keep it stable.

>> Right.

>> And then just make sure our stems not too long.

And go right here.

>> Oh, it's beautiful.

>> Stick it in the lime wheel.

Just poke it right through.

>> Oh, I love that.

>> Um... You've got two little beautiful cocktails.

>> Jenny, this is beautiful.

>> Cheers.

>> Thank you.

Oh.

It's incredible.

>> Oh.

I'm glad you like it.

>> Oh.

It feels -- This feels like something I should be drinking here.

>> You should.

It's a good island drink.

>> So, Tessie, we're going to arrange flowers together.

>> Oh, I'm excited.

>> You're going to tell me some of the things about these flowers as we make stuff.

>> I'll tell you which ones were born here.

>> Okay.

>> Were made here.

This purple Dendrobium, it's called Uniwai Supreme.

The cultivar name is Uniwai Supreme.

>> Okay.

>> University of Hawaii.

>> [ Gasps ] >> So Uniwai.

>> Uniwai.

>> So, this is -- remember?

We were talking about numbers.

This is, UH232.

So this was originally cross number 232, a.k.a.

Uniwai Supreme.

This is the white Dendrobium Uniwai Mist.

>> Okay.

>> Everybody wants this.

>> Oh, okay.

>> This is the most widely grown whites.

And this purple is called Wally Murazane.

>> Okay.

>> UH1427.

So they were all... >> I love that you know these numbers, right?

You get that.

>> So that's why when you said here, and I'm thinking, "This is the birthplace of these."

>> It is the birthplace.

Okay.

So then, anthurium.

>> Yes.

And so now with the anthurium, this is Hokuloa... >> Okay.

>> ...which is the most requested now.

I mean, all the bridal pictures you see that have the white anthurium, they're mostly Hokuloa.

>> Okay.

>> And it doesn't bruise.

>> Okay.

>> Unlike the other white variety.

So Hokuloa is UH1349.

>> All right.

>> And this lovely purple -- I mean, pink obake is UH1991.

Kapoho Welo.

>> And... >> That's UH1756.

Maui.

Maui.

>> Maui.

>> The warrior.

>> The warrior.

It is.

It's beautiful.

>> Okay.

Let's see.

>> I have... >> So, why did you become a horticulturist?

>> I grew up in an agricultural college town in the Philippines, the University of the Philippines at Los Baos.

>> Okay.

>> My parents were faculty members.

My mom was an avid gardener.

You would say she gave me the introduction to horticulture.

>> Got it.

>> She was a member -- an officer of the Orchid Society.

And then she'd also bring me along all the garden shows.

>> Oh, I love that.

>> So, she'd be doing the garden show, and I'd be tagging along.

>> Oh, I love it.

>> And it's like, "Oh, we're going to do tickets."

"Oh, yeah, sure.

Whatever."

"Oh, it's vacation, wash pots."

"Okay.

Wash pots."

>> [ Laughing ] Similar.

My folks were, you know, in the Society of American Florists, and they were -- and, you know, they ran the Nebraska Florist Society for so many years, so they were always, you know, making sure that, you know, it was all -- And I was born at a flower convention.

>> I heard that story.

>> Right, right, right.

>> I will try and mimic you.

>> Oh, no.

You can do whatever you want.

>> Oh.

But it would be nice to have a study in red and a study in pink.

>> So, we have a tradition at "Life in Bloom."

>> Yes.

>> We have flower crown.

>> [ Gasps ] >> And it matches your bouquet!

>> Oh, my -- Hey, I didn't -- And it matches you, too.

This is unity.

>> It is unity.

Look at that.

I love it.

>> Oh, my goodness!

>> This is wonderful.

>> This is wonderful.

This is wonderful.

Ah, I'm so happy.

>> I hope you've enjoyed our focus on Hawaiian flowers as much as I have, if that's possible.

A virtual visit to the islands is just an arrangement away to remind us of the beauty of nature and the spirit of aloha, too.

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

So, what's your favorite anthurium?

>> Oh, that's such a tough question.

>> I know.

What's your favorite kid, right?

>> Right.

Or even asking me, "What's your favorite flower?"

Because I do love orchids and anthuriums.

But I like other flowers, also.

>> I'm the same way.

I understand.

>> You know, we're equal opportunity.

>> There's just so much to love, right?

That's the best part.

>> And I think part of it, too, is that when you see, say, anthuriums used in designs with other flowers, doesn't it enhance the beauty of -- They all work together, enhance each other.

>> Absolutely.

>> So I believe it's teamwork.

>> [ Laughs ] >> It's teamwork.

But I love -- I love all.

>> "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 Jay on Facebook and Instagram at "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom."

"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 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 fabulousflorals.com.