If you are anything like me, you’ll find it hard to resist the temptation of fresh flowers. Perhaps over the Mother's Day weekend a loving child brought you a beautiful bouquet to enjoy—but what a shame those flowers don't last longer! Well, as a non-mom I received no flowers this weekend, but that’s ok. I have been enjoying the fine flower pictured above for quite a while. I took the photo this morning. Any bets on how many days it's been around?

19 days! Yes, this Spider Mum has been in standup-shape for a whole 19 days! Like other flowers in the Chrysanthemum family, this is one of the longest lasting, fuss-free cut flowers around. And to be perfectly honest, I haven’t even changed the water once. (Though it is a good idea to do so to extend the life of any bloom.)

Another thing to keep in mind: cut the stems on an angle using a sharp, non-serrated knife rather than scissors. Do this under water if possible, or place the stems in water immediately after cutting to preserve freshness.

Not a fan of Mums? Worry not... just look for Lilies, Roses and Alstroemeria next time you need a long lasting fresh floral fix!

(Images: 1.Maryanne Petrella ; 2. wallpaper-pack.com; 3. alphabeticallistofflowers.org; 4.Better Homes and Gardens)