How to Tell if Flowers Are Fresh Before They Bloom

If you're shopping for fresh-cut flowers, use this trick to determine whether or not they're really as fresh as advertised: gently squeeze the flower bud at the widest part. If the flower feels firm, it is fresh and will most likely bloom nicely. If the bud feels mushy or loose, the flowers are likely not fresh and will go bad before they have a chance to bloom fully.