If you receive your roses in a box as cut flowers, keep them in a cool, dark place until you're ready to place them in a vase. When you arrange them, cut an inch or so off the base of each stem while holding the stem end under water. Remove any foliage that will be under water when you make your arrangement. Add a floral preservative to the water you give your roses. Keep your roses out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources and drafts.
Roses love a cool, well-lit area.
When you're away from home, or as you go to bed at night, place your roses in a cool location. Keeping your roses cool will extend their life by several days. To keep your roses for years, make a rose potpourri from the rose petals. The youngsters will create their own rock paintings and carvings to learn about how ancient cultures drew messages to express their relation to water. This column appeared Feb. 9.