Someone just gave you a bouquet of freshly cut flowers... how do you enjoy them for as long as possible before they start wilting and drooping?
First things first, keep them cold in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. If you don't have the time or the space to do that, jump right into the preparatory steps of removing excess stems and leaves, cutting the stems at an angle, and placing flowers in a vase of cold water.
Next, follow the proper maintenance steps to maximize their lifespan. Flowers may be perishable, but that doesn't mean you can squeeze as much life out of them as possible.