Cut the flowers in the early morning when it is cool. Take a bucket of water with you and put the stems into the water as soon as they are cut. Strip the stems of leaves that will be in the water once they have been arranged. Those with milky latex need to be sealed by either burning them or dipping them in boiling water. Woody stems should be crushed so that they will absorb more water. Some folk drop an asprin in the water and others use a few drops of Homeopathic Rescue Remedy to encourage them to last longer.