7 Ways to Create a Gorgeous Bouquet with $10 or Less

Many retailers receive their flower shipments on Friday mornings (in preparation for the weekend rush) and Mondays (when they need to replenish stock), but you should get to know the clerk who stocks the flowers at your local supermarket or corner store, who can tell you the exact delivery days, says entertaining expert Matthew Mead.

Aside from wilted petals and dry leaves, an easy way to determine a bouquet's freshness is to look at the bottom of the stems. Just as with asparagus, you should see white and green fibers in the center. Any brown or mushiness means the flowers have been sitting in stale water for a few days, says Meredith Waga Perez, owner of Belle Fleur in New York City.