When decorating for the holidays, the first things that come to mind may be colorful lights and candy canes ‑- but don't forget to add fresh flowers around the house as well. For advice, Good Housekeeping interviewed Jill Slater, spokesperson for www.flowerpossibilities.com, to get hints on buying blooms that will last.

The first key to making flowers last is knowing how to pick them at the market: Take a whiff inside the flower bucket ‑- the water should smell fresh. And check the stems ‑- they shouldn't feel slimy.

After you come home, remove any leaves on the stems that will wind up under water. This will help prevent bacterial growth. Then trim a half-inch off the stems and repeat every two days, so your flowers will "drink" the water.

Remember to add preservative to the water. Either use what you get at the florist or market, or make your own life-extender: Stir a teaspoon of sugar and a thimble-full of bleach into every gallon of water used.

To make the classic arrangement, use red, green and white carnations. Or, for something more surprising, try stems of long-lasting alstroemeria. They come in pink, yellow and burgundy.