Victorian Ladies and Their Favorite Flowers

Womanly Pursuits

In the restricted world of the Victorians, woman had a clearly outlined mode of proper avocations and duties. Thankfully, flowers featured in many of them. Victorian flower choices had become exponentially greater thanks to the exploration by people such as Sir Joseph Banks, Robert Fortune, and John Bartram.

An example of the pursuits of these Victorian ladies was Emily Dickinson. Her garden inspired many of her famous poems and she compiled a herbarium, a book of pressed plants.

“My flowers are near and foreign, and I have but to cross the floor to stand in the Spice Isles”  -Emily Dickenson

During this period of time, women became intrigued with the wildly popular "Language of Flowers" that permeated the society of Victorian ladies. Tussies Mussies, artwork, and assembled bouquets would relay secret messages.

Many women enjoyed combining flowers and painting, with numerous pastimes exhibiting both interests: from china painting to watercolor studies. When scientific curiosity was added to the mix some of the finest botanical art was created, as well.

Home decoration and Floral Arranging

Cutting gardens or forays into nature yielded plenty of floral and foliage material for brightening interiors and giving outlet for creative urges. Magazines of the day provided guidance and inspiration.

Popular publications were full of articles to instruct young ladies on floral arrangements. Homemakers were schooled on the how-to of decorating with flowers. The humblest home boasted of table flowers, and the finest homes could not be without their grand, complicated floral displays.

Bouquets of Coded Messages

Tussie Mussies and Nosegays

From the great to the small of the highly structured society of the Victorian Era, personalized bouquets were a common accoutrement of all sorts of social occasions. Used by brides today in the form of a nosegay or a tussie mussie..

As noted, using the "Language of Flowers", even girls of school age took pleasure in creating mysterious messages to their closest bosom buddies. Nowadays, we still have remnants of that language when sending red roses for romance. Also including certain flowers in our wedding bouquets.

Victorian Blooms for Bouquets

Which Blooms Were Victorian Favorite Flowers?

Flower Gardens

So embedded was the appreciation of creating gardens that even ladies of such station as the aristocracy engaged in making gardens. The middle classes followed suit. Women of the Victorian Age could often find a vocation in flower garden design and advice, even in these restricted times.

Grow a Victorian Favorites Flower Garden

Whether a cutting garden, cottage border, or front yard parterre, there are styles from this era that may be used in homes today. It may be a matter of matching your house architecture or hiding away a secret indulgence of garden Victoriana.

This was a time of the obsessed plant collectors and the explorers who were bankrolled by them. Some bankrupted by the extent of their passion, like Miss Ellen Wilmott. So it is no wonder the gardens were jam packed with all sorts of exotic flowers. Their gardens, like their drawing rooms were filled in every nook and cranny with something of interest or color.

For this reason few modern tastes are drawn to a truly Victorian style landscape. Edited to include some fine features in the mode of the era comprises today's Victorian style gardens.

Was Gardening a "Woman's Pursuit"?

Victorian ladies often had gardeners who did the labor in their gardens, while they planned and enjoyed the walks. Accordingly, when it came to interest in flowers, the majority of women were involved primarily with the arrangements for the home. Activities were for personal enjoyment, rather than the sweat equity required for creating today's borders or cutting gardens.

Yet, there are many outstanding Lady gardeners and designers who were responsible for the construction of famous gardens.

Undoubtedly, those who lived in economically strained circumstances grew their own food and herbs. Time for flowers and making arrangements took a back seat. Yet, the human heart still has been cheered by a few flowers on the table. No matter how humble the circumstances!

Victorian stories are full of just such touches that their plants and blossoms brought them.

The book written by Jane Loudon was a necessary companion to ladies studying floral art as one of their accomplishments. For an in depth look at Mrs. Loudon and the Victorian Garden visit the link on the Victoria and Albert Museum site.

Love of Floristry, Nature, and Beauty Intertwined

The world of Queen Victoria's era was a complex one. With many society changes, it had idiosyncrasies that made the pastimes of their daily lives memorable for us. Whether we are fascinated by Emily Dickinson in her restricted world or by world traveler Marianne North, the abiding love and interest in the plant world provides us today with a rich legacy.

Related posts:

Victorian Flowers: The Flowers of Emily Dickinson Victorian Garden Essential Elements and Flower Varieties Victorian Tussie Mussie, a Bouquet with Meaning Vibrant Victorian House Cutting Garden Flowers