(Sort of related) I have to share a story from last year. I had a vase of flowers on my patio table where I was sitting, reading a magazine one morning. In the vase where several Sum and Substance flowers as well as some others. I looked up from my magazine to see, just a few feet in front of me, a hummingbird, taking her time getting some nectar from the Sum and Substance flowers. A real nice moment in the garden. Not only do the flowers look good and last several days in a vase, but they may attract some special company. Beverly

Glass and ceremic drill bit....Harbor freight has them.

Seems like every grower has their own recipe for cut flowers. The most common bit of advice is to cut early in the morning, when the dew is still on them. This is when they are at their peak hydrated condition. The large blooms with hollow stalks last longer if you put your knife into the stem up top, and twist a touch, allowing the water to go up the stem. When I cut many blooms at once, I use broad totes with chicken fence stretched out two inches from the bottom. This holds the stems up, and allows me to stack the blooms together with minimal squishing of petals. There are tons of recipes for the water, including lemonade, bleach, vodka, aspirin, etc, BUT plain 'ol water works just fine, too. Changing the water out often seems to do the trick. I haven't personally seen any benefit to using hot water, but some show growers swear by it. Here's a link with many opposing suggestions...Extending Vase Life

Ranunculus can be picked when the bloom is showing colour or when in full blossom