discover [inexpensive flower arrangements]

Meant for this to go live this morning, so I'm sorry it's a bit late. I want to share with you my favorite way to make inexpensive flower bouquets go a bit further: split them up. 

three (pretty pink) ducks in a row

Sure, it's nothing new, but you might need a reminder of how impactful this can be. D is always shocked with the $15 garden bouquet we buy becomes 2, 3, and sometimes even 4 different arrangements, ready to be grouped together or spread out through your home. Martha has some wonderful ideas for arrangements, like using tape to make a grid over the top of the vase that can support and direct the stems.

grouped together

I like to photograph them grouped together, but typically we spread them out on a sofa table we have between our open dining/kitchen area and the couch/living room area. It almost acts as a buffer and helps further define our space. I've been using these $3 vases I found at Ikea for years, like this or this.

There are a few tips to help your flowers last longer, too. One, cut the stems on a diagonal under running water, so they get a fresh hit of hydration as soon as you trim the stalk. To prevent bacteria growing in the vase, add a few drops of vodka to the water, and refresh every 3-4 days. Bleach can do the same, but use it very sparingly. A teaspoon of sugar can mimic some of the nutrients the flowers would get if they were still in the ground. I haven't tried it yet, but crushed asprin supposedly works as well, and the copper of a penny may acidify the water and help droopy flowers perk up. Those packets of plant food they give you? Usually they're just a dried mix of sugar and vinegar.

Let me know if you have any other tips or tricks for cut flowers. I'll let you know how long these last, but when you only spent $14.99, it feels like they've already paid for themselves.