I like to buy myself flowers every once in awhile.  I also love having flowers in my yard. But in our Texas heat, I get to enjoy my flowers in my yard for about 3.5 hours every year.

So I like to cut a few and bring them inside to brighten up my space for at least four days.  But when I put them in a vase, they often look like this.  

While still any flowers in a vase are better than no flowers in a vase, I learned a cool trick last week.

I can’t wait to show you.

First, find your favorite vase and some scotch tape.  I love this one with a rectangular opening.

Then take the tape and make strips across that are about an inch apart.

Then do the same thing going to opposite direction. (It’s June.  Why in the world would I start taking pictures out in the HEAT?!?!)

Now add water to your vase.  I always put enough water to fill about 2/3 of the vase.

Then start with flowers with the biggest blooms.  So my beautiful hydrangeas will go first. Start by pulling the bottom leaves from the stems.

I try to keep whatever is in the water, leaf-free.  Leaves seem to muck up your water faster.

Add the biggest blooms to the little squares on the outer edge. I added two hydrangeas, one on each side.

Then I  start adding the other flowers into the middle squares.  The remaining outside squares are filled with greenery.  (I just cut some of my dusty miller, asparagus fern and an unknown little white flower I have growing in my yard.)

And there you have it.  All of your little sweeties will be standing tall and will stay in their spot.  

Okay, you can do this.  I know you can!!

Flowers do make me happy!!

Go be amazing!

Allyson