Planting a Victorian Garden

by Shanna Hatfield

My current work in progress includes a heroine with a wonderfully green thumb (so not like me at all!).

She creates a backyard haven for the birds she loves to study and sketch.

While I was writing about the splendid oasis she created (and wishing she would come work her magic in my neglected flower beds), I researched the types of flowers and plants that might have been found in her yard.

For any one you interested in creating your own Victorian flower garden, here are a few suggestions:

Plants: Victorians loved their flowers! You might have found the following in one of their summer gardens...
Acacia
Ageratum
Alonsoa
Amanthus
Aster
Scarlet Basil
Begonia
Bluebell
Calendula
Campanula
Chrysanthemum
Cobeaea
Cockscomb
Dianthus
Dusty Miller
Fern
Fuschia
Geranium
Heliotrope
Impatiens
Lobelia
Marigold
Moonflower
Morning Glory
Nasturtium
Pansy
Periwinkle
Petunia
Portulaca
Primrose
Roses
Snapdragon
Sweet Alyssum
Verbena
Zinnia

Statuary: Sculptures, decorative urns, water fountains, sundials, birdbaths and small ponds were all commonly used in Victorian gardens. Cast iron was the material of choice. Oh, and the urns were often left empty, used as a decoration on steps.

Seating: Garden benches and seats, gazebos and decorative pavilions were popular and made as decorative as possible. Cast iron was again the favored material of choice. Seats were also placed under trees along garden walks, below arbors, and in nooks. Rattan and wicker furniture were often use on porches and in sun rooms.

Fencing: By the turn of the century, many properties were fenced. Guess what the most popular material was? That's right... cast iron wins again! The more elaborate the home, the more elaborate the fence and gate. Informal settings often used wood bent into decorative motifs. Picket fences were hidden with shrubs or vines. 

~*~

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, this hopeless romantic is out to make it happen, one story at a time. When she isn’t writing or indulging in chocolate (dark and decadent, please), Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

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