Lilies. I love them. They have the most wonderful scent ever! We usually buy 4 stems, and they last about 2 weeks. I usually try to find a few stems that have blooms that have not opened so they will last longer. This is what I do:
- Give each bloom a fresh cut on a diagonal under running (cool) water
- Pull off any leaves that will touch the water in the vase
- Place them out of direct sunlight
- Give them fresh water every few days
- … and a fresh cut every once in a while
This is what happens when you wait too long to pull the pollen off – it gets on the bloom. This is the one pesky thing about Lilies. If you don’t pull the anthers (crescent shaped area inside the lily bloom, covered with pollen. It is the darker end of the stamen inside each bloom) off then it will drop (and possibly stain).
This is what they look like before pulling off the pollen. There are 6-8 anthers with pollen (depending on variety) tips to pull, you’re actually just pulling the darker part, they pull off easily. Leave the center one that does not have the brown pollen (and looks different).
What you end up with is a vase of cut lilies, free of pollen and nice pretty blooms! Lilies make the room come to life!
Catch you back here tomorrow!