On the vanity, a cold-cream jar holds a nosegay of violas. A florist can create this handheld arrangement, packing the blooms together and surrounding them with a cuff of leaves. Trim stems short and place in fresh water.

MATTHEW’S SECRETS
The key to long life for cut flowers is to change the water daily. Some people add a drop of bleach, an aspirin, or a shiny penny, but Matthew prefers plain, room-temperature tap water.