J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom, the award-winning lifestyle show about flowers, isn’t expected to be negatively impacted by recent funding cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, its creator says.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced last week that it will shut down by January 2026 after Congress eliminated $1.1 billion in federal funding, ending more than five decades of support for public media. While the loss will force some PBS affiliates — especially rural stations — to cut programming or close, “J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom” will continue uninterrupted — and may even expand its reach, says creator and host J Schwanke.
The lifestyle series teaches viewers about flowers and floral design and won the Society of American Florists’ Marketer of the Year award in 2019 for its far-reach. The program is distributed through the American Public Television Exchange at no cost to stations. In July, the series aired 11,384 times on 415 Channels- in 171 Markets across all 50 states.
The show has never relied on CPB funds, Schwanke says. Instead, it is fully underwritten by flower industry sponsors including CalFlowers, Albertsons, Passion Roses and Suntory Flowers. Season 8 will premiere in April 2026 and include the show’s 100th episode.
“Because we’re independently funded and we give the show to All Public Televisions stations free of charge, we’re in a stable position,” Schwanke says. “In fact, with stations losing CPB-funded programming, we may see ‘Life in Bloom’ air even more frequently on stations looking to fill scheduled air times with free content.”
“Life in Bloom’s” participation in the American Public Television Exchange Program helps make the series more attractive to stations now facing budget shortfalls. “We’re the perfect show to air in this environment,” Schwanke said. “It’s truly a case of making lemonade when lemons are sent your way.”
The CPB shutdown marks a major shift for public broadcasting. Many flagship PBS series, including “Antiques Roadshow,” “Nature,” “Nova” and the “PBS NewsHour,” have long carried the “funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting” notice. While PBS and its app will remain operational, the loss of CPB grants could mean fewer local productions, especially in communities where stations rely on federal funds for operations.
For the flower industry, “Life in Bloom’s” stability means continued — and potentially expanded — exposure for flowers on national television.
“We’re going to be around for many years to come,” Schwanke says. “And we’ll keep sharing flower education every day on public television.”
Amanda Jedlinsky is the senior director of content and communications for the Society of American Florists.
