Tulip Upkeep for the Easter Season

I really love fresh cut tulips, especially at Easter, and want to use them on my table for lunch. In the past, I have had trouble keeping them looking nice and was wondering if you have any tips to help sustain them longer?

While lovely, tulips have a very short span of life after being cut. If you are planning to use flowers from your yard, you will need to wait until at least the day before Easter to cut them. With the ever changing weather in the area and the fragility of tulips, this could be risky and you may find yourself looking for replacements at the local market. The day that you cut the flowers, wrap them from top to bottom, leaving an opening at the very top of the blooms for air, in damp paper. Place them in water and leave them overnight. When you remove the paper the next day be sure to re cut the stems diagonally and use fresh water in the vase. Tulips that have already fully bloomed will not last as long as those not in full bloom, so be sure that you have a backup plan handy.