Submitted photo Create floral arrangements to brighten up your world.

Ohio summers can be full of beauty.

The blue skies, green trees and grass, and a multitude of flowers and shrubs can give all of us elevated creative thoughts and transform our mood into joyfulness. Flowers provide fabulous color varieties to add to the party.

So why not bring some of that beauty into your home?

Today’s topic will help guide you to successfully cut and arrange those precious flowers and foliage into a thing of beauty.

Let’s start with the container. First, it should be able to hold water and support your arrangement. Containers can be made of glass, ceramic, metal or plastic, although other materials may also be used.

It is also important that the container is clean and an appropriate size for the stems you plan to use.

Add a commercial floral preservative to the tepid water in your container, following the label directions for proper mixing.

Floral preservatives provide nutrients for the flowers and help reduce bacterial growth.

To maximize vase life, replace the water and preservative solution every two to three days, and recut the stems before returning them to the vase.

To cut your flowers, always use sharp, clean pruners or floral scissors.

Maximize the vase life of your cut flowers by harvesting them early in the morning when plants are fully hydrated and making a clean cut at a 45-degree angle.

Place the stems immediately into a bucket of tepid water.

Once indoors, recut each stem in a small bowl of water or under running water.

This helps to prevent air bubbles from entering the stem and restricting water uptake, which can lead to wilting.

Remove any foliage that will be below the water line in the vase, as submerged leaves encourage bacterial growth and shorten flower life.

These same practices can also be used with store-bought cut flowers to help them last longer.

I like to arrange my flowers in the same manner I plant my outdoor seasonal pots — thriller, spiller and filler.

Think about balance, harmony and color.

I start with a focal point, or thriller, usually in the middle — spikes or spires or your tallest flowers in the vase first.

Lacy fillers draw the arrangement together. Necessary equipment includes: sharp, clean scissors or pruners; floral wire or tape; floral foam soaked in water, possibly glass marbles or pebbles; a bucket or can; and, of course, your vase.

The world is your oyster when making an arrangement.

Suggestions for longer-lasting arrangements would consist of allium, dahlia, lavender, zinnia, sedum, lilac, lily and echinacea. Now let’s make your world a beautiful place.