Cut Like a Pro

A fresh bouquet can last a week, or it might succumb after a day. One of the tricks to longevity lies in the time of day flowers are cut, as well as how they are treated immediately after harvest. “I try to cut in the evening after sunset,” Michelle says. Blooms perk up after the day’s heat has vanished and cut without wilting. “I condition them overnight and then do my arranging at daybreak,” she adds. Here are her tips to make flowers last.

• Take a bucket of water into the garden with you. Cut flowers, and immediately put them into the water.
• When done, recut stems and place them in buckets filled with tepid water and floral preservative (available from florists or www.afloral.com). Spotlessly clean buckets are a must.
• Let the flowers rest overnight in a cool, dark place.