Devoted mothers everywhere receive dozens of flowers for Mother's Day. While these precious blooms don't last long, they provide moms with much enjoyment.

        This year, Steuben glass offers something special to help mothers derive more fun and satisfaction from their flowers — inside tips from five of the country's top floral designers on how to make arrangements and bouquets look spectacular and last longer.

        Steuben brought these New York-based floral connoisseurs together at its Madison Avenue flagship store. Here is a list of the designers and a few of their trade secrets.

        Rebecca Cole, consultant for The Today Show who combines fruit and vegetables with flowers to create the unexpected.

        • Use an odd number of flowers when creating arrangements for a more natural look.

        • Remember that green is your neutral in floral design and not white as in decorating.

        • When creating arrangements, make sure that each layer of blooms can stand on its own and look like a finished product.

        Renny of Design for Entertaining is the master of elegant-but-understated designs. His trademark work is sophisticated and traditional.

        • Keep scale in mind when designing arrangements for special occasions. For example, large affairs require large arrangements.

        • Realize that the flowers don't need to match everything in the room. It's more important to create the right look.

        • If the flowers will be resting on table tops, the one essential decor element to keep in mind when choosing floral colors is the tablecloths.

        David Beahm of David Beahm Designs Inc. focuses on traditional designs with a nod toward modernism. His creations range from sleek and minimal to extremely lush.

        • Insert flowers into bouquets at odd angles to create a natural look instead of gathering them together at a straight 90-degree angle.

        • Use waxed string to tie bouquets because the knot won't slip when wet.

        • Realize that clippers mash stems, damaging plant cells and therefore preventing optimal water pickup. For the best results, shave stem bottoms with a sharp knife.

        • Remember, the harder the stem, the warmer the water; the softer the stem, the cooler the water. When in doubt, use room-temperature water.

        Jorge Cazzorla of Celebrate Flowers is known for haute couture flower designs that say formal, yet simple elegance.

        • Simple, monochromatic arrangements are the hot look today. Don't feel compelled to use every color of the rainbow when designing arrangements.

        • Use candles and attractive candlestick holders alongside floral arrangements to create a rich, romantic ambiance.

        Simone Naut of Blue Ivy Inc. draws on his skills as an architect to design modern and edgy, traditional or avant-garde arrangements.

        • Add a drop or two of bleach to the water to prevent bacteria growth.

        • The length of the stem dictates how much water flowers need — longer stems require more water.

        • When using moss and rocks to anchor flowers and stems, it's important to keep the moss moist.

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