Summer is in full swing, and our gardens are bursting with vibrant blooms, nodding their pretty heads and waiting to be cut and brought indoors to brighten our homes. Selecting the best flowers and using the best preserving techniques can boost your floral bounty.

Almost any flower can be used to create a stunning bouquet or vase arrangement. Long-lasting flowers include varieties of coneflowers (Echinacea) whose straight stems pop out of floral arrangements. Once their petals are spent, use their orange cone centers as accent flowers.

Dahlias are exceptionally long-lasting flowers with numerous varieties, sizes and colors on strong stems. The buds will not open after they are picked, so wait until they are almost or fully open before snipping. Alternatively, use dahlia buds to add interest and depth to your arrangement.

The daisy-like flowers of cosmos (Cosmos) come in a riot of colors, with taller stems that remain upright and shorter stems that sway in an arrangement. Easy-to-grow zinnias, a classic choice for cutting, come in a wide variety of colors with large, profuse blooms. They too have straight, upright stems that make them a perfect choice for vase arrangements.

The stunning, drooping sprays of the bell-shaped, bright green flowering tobacco (Nicotiana langsdorfii) blend well with other cut flowers. A group of cheery sunflowers makes an impressive display, while individual sunflowers serve as focal highlights in a mixed bouquet.

Gladioli have dramatic, tall blooms that make them ideal for indoor arrangements. Cut them when a few of the buds are no more than half open. The purple spikes of blazing star (Liatris) add vertical interest to your floral arrangement.

While none of these beautiful flowers lasts forever, there are some simple tricks for enhancing their beauty and longevity.

Decide in advance the size of your arrangement and approximately the number of flowers you will need.

Consider adding in greens such as grasses or small branches.

Cut blooms during the cool part of the day; early morning is better than late evening because the night dew provides extra moisture.

Cut the stem length as long as possible because you will recut the stems for your arrangement. To cut the stems, use sharp, clean scissors or shears, and cut the stem horizontal to the ground.

Place the stems in a bucket of water as you harvest them.

Depending on your preference, select blooms of varying longevity or select specimens that are in early bloom.

After bringing the flowers inside, boost their lifespans by cutting the stem under water at a 45 degree angle to the desired height for your arrangement. That angle increases the surface area for the stem to absorb water.

Using sharp floral shears or a knife eliminates the damage to the stem from the blunt side of scissors. Remove any leaves below the water level, as they will rot and foul the water.

Arrange your flowers in your selected container, such as a vase, pitcher or bowl that is filled with lukewarm water. This water temperature allows the water to be taken up quickly by the stem and helps prolong the flower's life.

Adding commercial “flower food” or floral preservative to your arrangement's water keeps blooms fresh for an extended time period. Floral food provides sugar for energy, acid to increase the water's pH, and a biocide to kill bacteria and fungi.

Alternatively, you can make your own homemade “flower food” by mixing one part lemon-lime soda (not diet) with three parts water plus a few drops of bleach.

There are other household recipes for “floral food,” but their effectiveness as floral preservatives is dubious.

Although copper is a well-known fungicide for gardens, placing a copper penny in the vase water will not increase a flower's lifespan. An aspirin is not as effective as citrus soda for an acid source; if overused, aspirin can increase wilting and turn stems grey.

A spritz of hairspray can preserve the shape of flowers as they dry, but will not keep them fresh.

A few drops of vodka can inhibit the production of ethylene gas, which causes plants to mature and can slow down wilting, but it has no antibacterial or nutritive effects.

There are a few simple steps that can help increase the longevity of your floral arrangement.

Change the water daily, remove any accumulated debris, and rinse out the vase. While you have the flowers out of the vase, trim the stems again at the same 45 degree angle. Remove any withering blooms, yellow or dead leaves, and toss them in the compost pile.

Avoid displaying your bouquet in direct sunlight. Also, keep your arrangement away from open windows, heating and cooling vents, and a running ceiling fan, all of which can cause flowers to dehydrate quickly.

Place flowers away from bowls of fruit, as ripening fruit releases small amounts of ethylene gas which can reduce the longevity of your fresh arrangement.

Practice making floral arrangements with flowers from your garden. Experiment with containers, flowers, and greens. Replicate arrangements you find in magazines and online floral sites.

Follow these simple guidelines for caring your cut flower arrangements, and your garden's beauty will last for many days in your home with minimal fuss.

Mary Reefer is a Penn State Extension Master Gardener of Butler County.