Legend has it that the origins of St. Valentine’s Day lie in the ancient Roman fertility festival Lupercalia. During the festival, young women would place their names in a large urn. The young men would draw a name from the urn and then be romantically linked with that young woman for the following year.

Rituals have changed, but Valentine’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to let the people in your life know how much you love and care about them by sharing chocolates, balloons, cookies or flower bouquets. If you are giving or receiving fresh flowers, here are some tips to help you extend their life for longer enjoyment.

If purchasing flowers for someone, remember that not all flowers have the same vase life. For example, carnations or chrysanthemums can last two weeks in a vase. Delicate flowers, like gerbera daisies or roses, will last less than a week.

Proper care will extend the vase life of flowers you might receive. Start with a clean vase tall enough for the height of the flowers and with an opening large enough for all of fthe lowers. Fill the vase with warm water, which will move into the stems of the flowers faster. Avoid chemically softened water, which typically has a high amount of sodium that flowers do not tolerate well. Your flowers will last longer if the water contains sugars needed for survival and disinfectant that prevents growth of bacteria and fungus in the water. If a chemical preservative is not included with your bouquet, you can make your own with one of these recipes:

• Three parts water to one part nondiet lemon-lime soft drink provides sugar for the flowers and lowers the pH of the water (citric acid in soda).

• One tablespoon sugar mixed with 1/4 teaspoon bleach with 1 gallon of water.

Cut stems underwater in a bucket or your sink to prevent air bubbles from entering the stem. Bubbles reduce water uptake. Using sharp pruners, cut off at least 1 inch or more to fit in your selected vase, keeping in mind that the flowers should be about one and a half times the height of the vase

Place fresh floral arrangements in a cool, bright spot away from direct sun or heat sources. Change the water in the vase every two to three days, or when it becomes cloudy, continuing to add your chosen preservative each time. Remove foliage below the vase waterline as this quickly decays and causes bacteria to grow. Remove flowers from the arrangement when the blooms fade, and then move healthy blooms to a smaller arrangement.

Following these simple steps will give you maximum enjoyment of the thoughtfulness of your special Valentine.

Email gardening questions to the remote help desk at csumg2@elpasoco.com. The in-person help desk will reopen this spring. Find us on Facebook at Colorado Master Gardeners — El Paso County.