Fresh flowers were an essential part of Victorian décor. Even in winter, fresh greenery and flowers were a big part of the decorations for the holidays. For the rest of the year, the garden (if there was one) provided an ever-changing complement to the household, with bouquets for the table, the mantel, smaller tables, and wherever else they might fit. Victorians, as you'll see from the articles below, could also get quite creative when it came to designing floral decorations!

Design for a Flower Stand (Floral World, 1873)

Flower Baskets for the Drawing Room (Floral World, 1873)

Flowers for Christmas Decorations, by Thomas Trussler (Floral World, 1873)

Preserving and Mounting Ferns (Floral World, 1873)

Ferns and Flowers for the House in Summer, by Dora de Blaquière (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1879)

Timber Trees as Indoor Ornaments (Peterson's, 1879)

How to grow small, decorative trees in bottles.

Flowers in the House (Girl's Own Paper, 1880)

Pressed Grasses and Ferns for Ornamental Purposes, by Dora Hope (Girl's Own Paper, 1880)

Wild-Flowers for Home Decoration (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1882)

A Water Bouquet, by Lady Hope (Girl's Own Paper, 1884)

How to create a bouquet in water in a sealed container that will last for up to a month.

Makart Bouquets (Demorest, 1887)

Beautiful assemblages of feathers, dried grasses and "everlasting" flowers.

Table Decorations (Girl's Own Paper, 1887)

Ideas for beautiful floral centerpieces and highlights for the table.

Some Hints on Arranging Flowers, by Eleanor Archer (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1889)

What to Do With Our Autumn Gatherings, by Natalie Sturges (Ingalls' Home Magazine, 1889)

A number of creative uses for autumn leaves, grasses and other gatherings.

The Fashionable Chrysanthemum, by H.H. Battles (Ladies' Home Journal, 1892)

Using the flower for dinner, luncheon and party table decorations.

Flower Decorations, by Constance Jacob (Girl's Own Paper, 1892)

The Dining Table Fernery, by Joseph Kift, Jr. (Ladies Home Journal, 1896)

How to create a display of ferns for the table.

Some Secrets About Flowers, by S. Ballard (Girl's Own Paper, 1898)

• See also The Elegant Table for more tips on table decorations.