Mon Chéri - A Valentine’s Picnicscape
Mon chéri.
Two words that translate, quite simply, as my darling - but carry far more weight than that. They’re whispered rather than announced. Romantic without being syrupy. Affectionate, playful, intimate. The sort of phrase that feels handwritten in the corner of a letter, not printed on a banner.
Which is precisely why it became this month’s Picnicscape.
Valentine’s doesn’t need balloons, prix-fixe menus or the pressure of doing something big. It needs time. Attention. A moment that says: I chose this on purpose. A picnic, it turns out, is the most charming way to do exactly that.
This Mon Chéri picnic was designed as a love letter - to slowing down, to making things beautiful for the people we adore, and to the joy of gathering without overcomplicating it.
The Romance of Red (Done Properly)
Red can be dangerous territory. One wrong turn and you’re firmly in novelty-card territory.
So we softened it.
Classic red-and-white gingham grounded the scene — nostalgic, familiar, and quietly confident. It’s a pattern that doesn’t shout. It invites. Draped over stone, tucked into baskets, knotted casually rather than styled stiffly.
Against it: warm wicker, brushed glass, blush florals, glossy cherries, and candlelight reds that felt rich rather than loud.
The setting itself did half the work - cool Somerset stone, a hush of winter air, damp ground underfoot (the sort that makes you grateful for a good rug). Romance, but rooted.
Flowers That Feel Like Falling in Love
The flowers were nothing short of breathtaking.
Created by my dear friend Tina at Evergreen Floral, they were romantic in the truest sense - blousy, generous, soft-edged, and utterly alive. These weren’t arrangements that sat politely in the background. They reacted to the scene.
We used:
‘Endless Love’ double tulips - lush, layered, and almost indecently pretty
‘Wild Radish’ spray roses - delicate but characterful
‘Ballerina Summerhouse’ pink garden roses - full and nostalgic
‘Sweet Avalanche’ pale pink roses - calm, classic, quietly elegant
‘Musa’ Butterfly ranunculus - fluttery and joyful
Alongside the most delicate bunch of tulips, they softened the picnic beautifully - romantic without feeling precious, intentional without feeling arranged.
They reminded me that flowers don’t need to be formal to be meaningful. They just need space to be themselves.
Visit Evergreen Floral Design or find her on Instagram
Something Sweet (and Very Cherry)
At the heart of Mon Chéri was cherry - dark, glossy, unapologetically indulgent.
We were gifted a box of dark chocolate cherry macarons from Mademoiselle Macaron, and I genuinely had to exercise restraint not to eat them before the camera came out.
Delicious cherry shells, rich cocoa and cherry centres - they tasted grown-up and celebratory, the kind of sweet you linger over rather than rush. Presented simply on white plates, scattered with fresh cherries, they became the edible equivalent of a love note.
If you’re looking for a Valentine’s gift that feels thoughtful rather than obvious, these are it. No clichés. Just something genuinely delicious, shared.
Visit Mademoiselle Macaron or find them on Instagram
Bread, Cheese & a Bit of Playfulness
This picnic wasn’t precious.
Alongside the sweets, we had home-baked sourdough breadsticks — wrapped with red ribbon — and cheese slices cut into heart shapes (because sometimes you should lean into the theme).
It’s that balance I love most: doing something charming without taking yourself too seriously or creating another to-do list.
A heart-shaped cheese slice says, I made an effort.
It doesn’t say, I’ve lost my mind.
The Cosy Detail That Makes All the Difference
February picnics live or die by comfort.
Enter the sheepskin rugs from Draper of Glastonbury - thick, beautifully made, and utterly transformative. Draped over cold stone, they turned the whole scene into somewhere you actually wanted to linger.
There’s a reason this family-run Somerset brand has been crafting sheepskins since 1937. They understand warmth, durability, and the quiet luxury of something done properly.
A picnic should feel indulgent - not brave.
Visit Draper of Glastonbury or find them on Instagram
A Toast to Small Rituals
We poured Freixenet rosé prosecco into cut-glass coupes and dropped in a single cherry.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
It’s these tiny rituals that elevate a moment. Glassware that clinks. A drink that feels chosen. The pause before the first sip.
And yes - my retro thermos finally made her picnic debut delivery the perfectly warm tea. Bought from House of Brunswick back in December 2024, she’s been waiting patiently for her moment. The same style used in Wallace & Gromit, no less. Proof, if ever it were needed, that the right piece will wait for the right story.
Valentines picnic’s shouldn’t be about a performance.
They should be about affection, expressed quietly.
About choosing details that feel personal. About sitting somewhere unexpected. or if like us you get utterly and completely in true British style rained off, even the most normal corner feel special, it’s about making time - not a fuss.
Mon Chéri works because it invites romance and joy. Because it’s playful without being twee. Because it honours tradition while still feeling modern.
And because sometimes the most loving thing you can do is spread out a blanket, pour a drink, and say: shall we sit here for a bit?
That, to me, is the art of picnicking.
With love, Gemma x
Stay a While . . .
Is there anything more quintessentially British than a Scotch egg? This golden, breadcrumb-coated delight is the very definition of a picnic staple — a portable, savoury snack steeped in tradition, bursting with flavour, and endlessly versatile. Whether nestled in a Fortnum & Mason hamper, gracing a gastropub menu, or tucked into a well-loved picnic blanket, the Scotch egg is nothing short of a national treasure.