Here's How to Select a Fresh Cut Rose or Lily:

Make sure the flowers' blooms or buds are not bruised or browning. The foliage should be dark green without yellowing leaves. The water the flower is sold in should smell clean. If it smells bad, chances are the flowers are old.

Lilies take about 3 days to open. Buy lilies when they are closed or just partially open. Many lilies are multi-bloomed, that is, the one flower has several blooms on its one stem. Try to select a lily with one bloom open and the others closed. That way, the recipient will be able to watch the additional blossoms open and enjoy the lily longer.