TIP SHEET #1 Situation: Have you ever wanted to purchase fresh flowers in bulk quantities through an internet provider or a direct shipping grower but didn't know how you would handle them once they arrived? Here's How: 1. Plan for arrival when you place the order. Couriers usually arrive between 9a.m. & 5p.m. Your flowers should be opened and cared for immediately. If that's not practical for you, have them delivered to a location where they can be received and placed in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight and extreme temperatures for a few hours until you can get to them.

2. Prepare to condition your flowers. Gather assorted sizes of clean vessels (buckets, vases, trash cans) to hold and support flowers. Fill them 1/3 with water. Find a shallow basin and fill it with water so stems can be cut underwater. You will need scissors to cut paper or plastic wrap and stem cutters for flowers. 3. Clean and Condition Flowers. Open the box, remove flowers, and cut packaging away from each bunch of flowers (picture #1). Cut the binding off the stems (usually a rubber band, elastic or twist tie).

Strip all foliage below the waterline (picture #2). Cut away any broken or damaged blooms or foliage. Save pieces that are pretty enough to be used in budvases or floated. Cut the stems individually or in groups underwater with the bunch cutter (picture #3) and place immediately into the appropriate size bucket of water (picture #4). Let the flowers absorb water for several hours (4-24). For my Saturday events, the flowers usually arrive in the studio on Thursday for cleaning and conditioning. They receive a full 24 hours to hydrate and open up before we design with them on Friday. Saturday they are delivered and set up.

Cleaning and conditioning your flowers this way will ensure good hydration which is key to long vase life. Whenever, and from wherever I buy flowers, I condition them this way. I know they'll live longer and more gloriously for me, my friends and customers. The studio is the coolest, darkest (with the lights off) room in my house. The flowers pictured here, having just been cleaned and conditioned, will drink contentedly and will wait here for styling time tomorrow. 4. Enjoy. Over the next few days have fun assorting, arranging, and designing your flowers into lovely bouquets and groupings.