Looking forward to the Bank Holiday weekend, and hoping the sun shines. Jan and  I spent wednesday at the hospital, as I’m undergoing tests and will have major surgery very soon. It has been a big shock to take it all in as it has all been happening  so quickly. It was a long day, but we met so many great people, and managed to have a good laugh, despite the circumstances.  Jan’s promised to take over some of my gardening tasks till I’m back to my normal healthy self . Jan will keep you all posted on how the operation went, please God, everything will be fine. Talk to you all soon. Lots of love, Sean. xxx  I have taken a few pictures of  my lupins and pansies –  hope you like them.

Hi everyone,

started the day at Homebase, buying charcoal, tomato & lettuce plants, big pots & compost. It was packed with people by 9.30am.,  in anticipation of a beautiful, sunny day.

Jan & I put the new barbecue together. It took two hours!! Not our forte! We only lost one screw permanently in the grass, so not too bad. We also bought a paddling pool & electric pump, but after the long session with the barbecue, we’re waiting till tomorrow with the pool.

We planted dwarf runner beans, cucumber & tomatoes in two big pots, hung trailing tomatoes & strawberries from the tree and put some lettuces in the back border, hoping not to attract rabbits. Our herbs are coming on well, as are the sweet peas. The mint border looks amazing – mint tea & cake in the garden tomorrow afternoon.

We also managed to give the dogs a bath today. Rolo hid under the bed as soon as he heard the bathwater running. Decided to give him first bath. He stopped sulking more quickly than usual, which I think was down to getting his own sunbed, complete with beach towel in the lovely garden sunshine. Monty was less upset – just doesn’t like getting his face wet. He loves swimming in the river, retrieving sticks, but always holds his head above water level, and doesn’t attempt breaststroke or front crawl – only doggy paddle!

Rounded off the day with chicken, sausages & vegetable skewers on the new barbecue – delicious. Monty & Rolo enjoyed their sausages. That’s what you call a good start to summer.

People often say they wish they could see the flowers that will be delivered to friends and colleagues. So why not send a summer bouquet to someone & make their day. We have beautiful summer flowers, including coolwater & aqua roses, aliums, hydrangea, stargazer lilies and lisianthus plus many other flowers, and we’ll deliver from our shop in Sicilian Avenue.

You can look on the website, visit the shop in person, send flowers online  or simply ring us on 020 7831 6776. We can deliver same day.

Really pleased with the flowers for the Soap Awards. We used gold sprayed cymbidium orchids, anthuriums crocosmia & leaves with Grand prix roses. The star dressing rooms had pink & purple summery flowers or whites & lime greens, including the fabulous new “green eye” ranunculus rose!

It was held at the London Studios, with fabulous views of the Thames.

I’ve just been out in the garden, & have seen that most of my rose bushes have really good buds on them now. I feel like my garden is as fed up as me, waiting for the sun to shine. When it eventually does, there’s going to be an explosion of colour. Plants are like people – they need the sunshine to get rid of the winter blues.

At the weekend we did the flowers for the Soap Awards. It was great fun.

Looking forward to our summer barbecues, which is always great, & we get to see people we haven’t seen for a while. Plenty of good food and plenty of good music. Chill out time!

We’ve decided we’re not going to venture abroad this year, but spend time with our dogs, and have a couple of days here & there in England. Monty – our older dog, is getting on a bit now, & we feel we want to spend lots of time with him.

That’s it for now. Hopefully more to tell you next time. Talk again soon, Sean x

I’ve made a start on the garden – weeding, new compost, mended & mowed the lawn and replaced all the logs surrounding the borders.

My herbs are planted, and I’m especially pleased with the mint border – three types of mint Jan & I use for cooking & endless cups of mint tea during the summer months.

We bought a new charcoal barbecue which we have yet to assemble. This type of job, however simple, is not our forte, and we have endless rows about which screw goes where, but it always ends in masses of laughter.

Eva, the latest addition to the staff at Stems, delivers bouquets to Kensington on her pushbike. She has a big basket on the front, and loves cycling through the city.

  Sunflowers are looking good already. I like them with big, summery flowers, like aliums,or just on their own with some big leaves.

We’re designing displays for the The Soap Awards for a couple of week’s time. I love this sort of project.  It will take place at The London Studios – one of our regular flower venues.  We’re going for glamorous & glitzy, along with our trademark classy look. Photos to follow……watch this space!

This is one of the Green Rooms, usually used on Loose Women. Somehow, the red & gold even worked with the pink!