This weekend the Gypsy Rose camp went to Chelsea with Nelsea.

We got a crush on Ulf of the Telegraph garden, bought stephanosis to twirl…and went in search of le Titchmarsh for a bit of a tickle, (no joy my friends, no joy).

Bertie to me, Albert William Maynard to you. A proper gent.

Today we’re wearing silly shoes to garden in, planting runner beans, listening to Count Basie and sowing our Chelsea wares…will report back with piceroonies. xx

Should I, would I, could I …wed in red?

A week of announcements, operatic societies and the chelsea flower show.

The bicycle made for two, planning a show stopping autumn affair and pining a pretty frock matched with dads wellies.

Today we are being of the gentle palette, going giddy for geraniums, waltzing to wild roses in milk jugs, and pontificating peonies, cow parsley and…anything white. Parmesan biscuits a la Goop, a cheeky Chablis and white cats called Cholet.

Even milk white lie down shoes that are v. pretty but impossible to walk in.

Working and writing in the garden in inappropriate footwear ‘n frills. White.

and thinking that….after a month of chaotic weddings and prop jobs in every colour in the rainbow it’s time to start plotting a white wedding in Portmerion, Wales. Bring on the bunting, blooms and Bombay Saphire. A feast of white pompoms in roses and hydrangea awaits.

Will the blooms survive in the cab? Can I leave town without searching for Prisoner or going giddy over the ganache? Will let you know en juin.

This week there’s definitely a blue theme on the boat.

Inspired by a trip to see Grandma, window dressing…and blue ribbons bought on ebay.

Then there’s the imminent arrival of twenty beachballs and O’s mollusc mix on Pinglewood.

Flowers are delicious, tea dresses are divine and Dusty Springfield moments really shake the cobwebs away. But oh for the love of a good cuppa and a lemon slice, a mix of all is a must. Tea parties being all the rage apparently. Are you game?

It can get boring but I’ve not discovered a food and flower loving blog that hasn’t featured a Laduree macaroon and the mention of twee tea yet… oh and dancing.

I recently got to do a fantastic wedding with oodles of pots of tea, cake stands wonky vintage china and quirky champagne coups. Teacups blooming with roses and peonies, tumbling crazy horses, rose petal jams and hydrangeas too.

This summer a pal and I are planning a tea club night, free tea and cake, a babysham and a battenburg – it will be sweetpeas ahoy and any excuse to wear a fancy pink frock, silk stockings, haul out an old gramaphone and kick off our sunday shoes.

Any suggestions for toe tapping teatime tracks, much appreciated…
xxx

A fine romance with plenty of kissing – Another chic wedding in London. The Nash rooms at the ICA are gorgeous, I’ve done a few weddings here and Mabel heaving prettily with flowers always gets free parking. There’s definitely something regal about an old navy cab bursting forth with cream blooms and cut glass I reck.

Wowee…

This was a real fashionista affair with a bespoke Valentino number, cream lillies and early delphs. Fancy dress to boot, the gents wore spats and boaters, the girls – silent movie startlets. The lighting in this great location makes it feel like a film set so it was surreal and sexy. Throw in a string quartet followed by an Elvis impersonator… and you’ve got a really hip wedding.

The Dynasty sweeping staircase is a must at a wedding, jeeps, why have a frufrulala of bustle if you can’t bob it up and down on a staircase? The ICA has a rock ‘n roller if a staircase – great fun if you’re flouncing – not so when you’re negotiating huge lily vases, but we made it!

xx

After a weekend of pluie I leave you with a jazzed up Blossom, responsible for a fine romance.

Away from weddings and lest we forget, peony du jour…this one courtesy of stylish Miss Chelsea Elsea, check out her flowers of the week, fetish for Super 8’s and yummy food blogging.

… Blossom Dearie lyrics ever, but Guns ‘n roses, apologies for promises of a rose garden and thorns in my sides I’ll give a miss. This friday I love these tunes and will be kicking off my wellies and thinking of you.

Songs to write, arrange flowers and cook lasagne with pistachio to…

Yester Me, Yester You, Yesterday– Stevie Wonder
Into the Groove – Madonna
Cherchez la femme – Dr Buzzard
Can You Feel It – The Jacksons
Sunday Girl – Blondie
Bat out of Hell – Meatloaf ( this one’s for my friend Sam Pow)
Tiny Dancer – Elton John
Who Loves the Sun – Velvet Underground

Over the weekend a wedding at the ICA, More Tea Vicar and Winchester in Apple Blossom Time.
xxxxxxxxxxx

It’s Friday – Not a flower in sight. I’m dusting down my vicars bike, searching out Cecil’s show and prop-making paper balloons on the boat – with a dash of Lemon Barley, ice, mint and a bit of Cole Porter, care to join?

What is it about girls our age….food interiors and flowers? Whilst roaming for fun food blogs and ideas for unique parties I just discovered this great site with amazing ideas for will you marry me’s, great photography…super stylee. Swoon!

Today I’m loving Brigitte’s sulky pout and wondering what this flower loving icon was thinking? Seeking inspiration from Agatha for chapter three. A haunted Vicarage, a slice of cake, a broken down merc and a nosey florist perhaps?

If my paws don’t get stuck together with paste, I’ll dig through O’s vinyl and my shoddy 80’s tapes for my top digging you digging me tunes… as promised!

xx,

Rosemary and Time – The one where we try to go all Tom and Barbara.

I moved to the boat a year a go and between juggling my managing for Wild At Heart and setting up my own adventures as Gypsy Rose I totally ignored the large tarpaulin covered section of our garden towpath and soon realised it was only the getting down and dirty getting – between me and my prized marrow.

Autumn and its sausage season came and went with whiffs of our neighbours freshly picked toms and onions. A winter of herbs scampered past, and spring – with our fellow boaters fresh leeks – had us whimpering with hunger.

Admittedly O and I kept our pyjamas on but welly booted and with gallons of tea we went on our way…sowing beds of leeks, lettuces, herbs, courgettes, beans, garlic, beetroots.

The result isn’t exactly Sarah Raven but watch this space … in a few weeks it won’t be posey’s I’m selling or styling for a living my dears but pots of lettuces, prize winning marrows and breathtaking beetroots…I wish, hope…and so on.

I’ll let you know how my seedlings fare… Whether you’re gardening, cooking, flowering or fotographing.

I’m barmy about the Belvedere

If there’s a London venue to fluff up ones feathers, this is it. Forget the ICA, RAC, Claridges, Wiltons Music Hall or the funksome Bistroteque (although O to be favours this immensely) to me the Belvedere and the Orangery are the jewels in the crown of the ‘I do’ moment.

Peony laden (three hundred stems no less), we found ourselves last week amongst its art deco interiors, Andy Warhols, swinging white glass chandeliers and crystal glass elegance. Classy, British and oh so Noel Coward…

Embarking on an indian summer affair huricain lanterns were laced with petals and tables adorned with themed flowers.

Stephanosis and peonies burst forth from silver dishes as jasmine and country roses sashayed merrily on cream linen.

The tuberose and fritalia danced till dusk on table three and huge stone urns were home to tumbling peonies. My dream dream wedding flowers…

As for autumn weddings, simply throw in a sparkler, Lucille Ball, a vintage roller and darling I’m yours.