Victorian Christmas trees weren’t decorated with fairy lights and tinsel - people used candles, ribbons and orange pomanders. Have a go at making your very own Victorian tree decoration.
An orange
Whole cloves
Coloured ribbon
Some pins
Cut two pieces of ribbon that will fit around the orange and leave a bit extra to make a loop.
Use a pin to fasten the ribbon to the orange, with one piece of ribbon going crossing over the other piece at the top and bottom. You will now have four quarters to fill with cloves.
Sometimes the cloves can be pushed into the orange if it is soft, otherwise you can use a knitting needle or a strong toothpick to make small holes in your orange and then fit a clove carefully into each hole.
It looks fantastic! Use it to decorate your tree or as a present.
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.
