Follow these tips to get the longest vase life from your fresh local flowers.

• After buying your flowers, try to get them into water as quickly as possible.  If you are coming to one of our markets, bring a clean bucket to transport your flowers home.  If you have errands to run before heading home, don't leave your flowers in your car any longer than you would leave a half gallon of ice cream.  (Advice borrowed from veteran flower farmer Lisa Mason Ziegler.)
• Provide a CLEAN container for your flowers.  The vase or vessel should be clean enough to drink from.  Dirt and bacteria in a vase will clog flower stems and prevent water from reaching the blooms.
• Strip any foliage that lies below the water line.  Leaves in the water create slimy, dirty water.  
• Fresh, local flowers drink A LOT of water. Keep an eye on the water line in your vase.  Don't be surprised if you occassionally need to add water.  The vase should be 3/4 full with water. 
• Change the water in the vase every 2 to 3 days.  When you change the water, trim 1/2 inch off the bottom of the stem to encourage more water uptake.  
• Keep your arrangement away from heat and bright light.  Sun and heat will cause the flower to mature more quickly, making them fade faster.  
• Don't sit your flowers near fruit.   Fruits produce ethylene in the process of ripening.  Ethylene can cause the premature death of many types of cut flowers. 
• Use flower food. We'll send you home with a packet to empty into your vase.  It really does help prolong the life of many types of flowers, sometimes up to 2 or 3 days.  

Enjoy your local flowers!