What can I do to preserve my paintbrush lillies?

Question:In about a month, I'm about 30-40 paintbrush lillies are going to bloom. Is there anyway I could cut them, then preserve them? I want them to look fresh looking, and i want them to last for about a year (or more, hopefully). Any ideas what I could use and how? If I just hung them upside down and put hairspray on them , would that work? Thanks in advance.

Answers:
I would go to a craft store and purchase a spray polyurathaine. this will dry hard and clear.
Take the lillys while they are still firm and hang them
up side down. spray the flower part and about 1 inch
down the stem. Let it dry, I would do this outdoors.
once it is dry, apply a 2nd coat. let dry again.
then when the flower is dry let it hang untl the stem
drys. probably within a week.
once the stem is dry. spray them too. 2 coats.

You should keep them in a dry area, to preserve them
after finishing. you can place them in a vase and enjoy.

*hair spray doesn't work. it dries them. but they will be fragile and will easily crumble and break.