What to do with spent blooms

There was a clearance sale on flowers at the grocery store this weekend. A rose bush was marked down from $20 to $1.99. Even at that price it was going to be a luxury purchase, so I stood there and stared at it and tried to find something wrong with it.

I left the store without the rose. I told the blooming youth in the car what I found and they agreed we should buy it. Hard to argue with $2 and three blondes. So, I parked again, and everyone got out to buy the clearance flower.

When we got it home, I read the directions. Pretty straight forward, and I figured I could keep it alive at least un...