Yesterday I toured Rose Story Farm in Carpinteria, CA. This 15-acre rose farm specializes in old-fashioned, fragrant, garden roses. The scent alone puts Rose Story Farm flowers in a league of their own: those at florists are bred to eliminate the fragrance in order to last longer.

The farm attracts its share of celebrities. Martha Stewart had been there (for her second visit) just two weeks ago. Julia Child, a resident of the area before her passing, was encouraged for years to select a rose for her namesake. She eventually settled on one: The Julia Child rose is yellow, and very disease resistant. Julia reportedly said the new blooms looked like egg yolks, and as they began to fade, they took on the hue of butter. Spoken like a chef! The farm is now waiting for another area resident, Oprah, to choose her rose.

I love fresh flowers in a restroom. They brighten it up and provide a warm welcome like nothing else. Unless you rely on a florist, there is a bit of maintenance involved. These tips from Rose Story Farm were worth the price of admission:

1. Squeaky clean vases, free of bacteria, are important to the longevity of flowers, and it is sometimes difficult to remove old residue. The best remedy for this: denture cleaning tablets!

2. Always keep the water in your vase clean. When it gets cloudy, you will know it is time for a change. Use tap water at room temperature.

3. To prevent premature bacteria build-up, trim away leaves from below the water line.

4. Trim flower stems at an angle. This creates more surface area to absorb water. (Plus flat stems resting on the bottom of a vase significantly reduce the uptake of water.)

5. There are many helpful hints in circulation for increasing flower life (7-up, a penny in the water, bleach, sugar), but the Rose Story recommendation, from the family's own research, follows. Topping the list is a commercial cut-flower food. These products frequently come in a little packet when flowers are purchased. Second, plain water. Third, a bit of bleach (it will prevent bacteria in the water, but provides no nourishment).