According to a floral designer, the key to keeping flowers fresh in a vase is to change the water every two days, along with trimming the stems and keeping the vase clean. Placing a vase of flowers near fruit, especially bananas and tomatoes, is not recommended as the ethylene gases released can speed up the aging process of the flowers.
Jessica Vincent purchased a colorful vase for $3.99 at a Goodwill store in Virginia. After researching its origins, she discovered it was a rare Murano glass piece designed by Carlo Scarpa. The vase sold at auction for $107,100, with Vincent receiving about $83,500. She plans to use the money to install an HVAC system in her farmhouse. Vincent hopes the vase will eventually be displayed in a museum.
A vase purchased for $3.99 at a thrift store in Richmond, Virginia, has sold for over $107,000. The bottle-shaped vase, made of high-end Murano glass from Italy's Venini, was initially valued between $30,000 and $50,000. The buyer, described as an esteemed collector, remains anonymous.
A woman in Virginia purchased a large glass vase from a local Goodwill for $3.99, not knowing its true value. After posting photos online, she discovered it was a rare Carlos Scarpa-designed "Pennellate" vase made by Italian glass company Venini in 1947. The vase sold for $107,100 at a Chicago auction house to a European art collector. The woman plans to use the money to update her farmhouse and considers it a Christmas miracle.
Adding coffee grounds to a vase of cut flowers can help keep them looking fresh and vibrant for longer. The nitrogen in the coffee grounds acts as a nutrient for the flowers, while also preventing the growth of microbes that can cause unpleasant odors. To use this method, start with a clean vase, snip the stems, remove any foliage below the water line, and mix coffee grounds into room temperature water. Change the water every other day and trim the stems to maintain freshness. Coffee grounds can also be used as a homemade flower food to preserve the flowers and stimulate healthy plant growth.
Glasgow-based design company POTR Pots has created the LetterBox Vase, inspired by a centuries-old technique of using copper to keep flowers fresh. By dropping a pre-1992 1 or 2 pence coin from The Royal Mint or a pre-1982 penny from the U.S. Treasury into the vase, the copper acts as a natural antimicrobial, killing bacteria and extending the life of the flowers. The vase features a copper stem, a self-cleansing design made from recycled materials, and a flat-pack design to reduce carbon footprint. The initiative aims to reduce premature flower wastage and is available in three pastel colors.