At a glance: A garden inspired by water drops to mark a quarter century of the Boodles’ Raindance jewellery collection
A full-circle moment, this garden marks a quarter-century of Boodles’ Raindance jewellery collection, which was itself inspired by raindrops falling on stone and water when director of design Rebecca Hawkins visited RHS Chelsea Flower Show 25 years ago.
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Reflecting the collection’s pieces, garden designer Catherine MacDonald has chosen a “pale planting palette of white and pink, with soft blue as a nod to rain and water”. Her plants include Paeonia lactiflora 'Angel Cheeks', Paeonia lactiflora ‘Duchesse de Nemours’ and Astrantia major subsp. involucrata ‘Shaggy’ for their “almost jewel-like quality with perfect symmetry”.
Patterns in nature are a key element of Catherine’s design, and something she’s always found fascinating; “they're aesthetically pleasing, but often have a symmetry and arrangement governed by a mathematical formula.” Alongside Ginkgo and Acer trees, she’s adding ferns, as “their fractal patterns have been linked to positive impact on the cerebral cortex, reducing stress and enhancing creativity.
Circles – related to the bezel setting used to hold cut diamonds and the concentric patterns created by falling raindrops – will also play a key role, from the paving stones featuring etched raindrops to the decorative water bowl capturing dripping water, to the Raindance Pavilion roof with its circle-patterned supports and round rill underneath. “It’s the raindance that we are celebrating,” says Catherine. “I love that something so simple and ordinary like rain can provide inspiration for the creative and artistic world.”
Sponsor Boodles Contractor Gadd Brothers Trees & Landscapes Suppliers Kelways, Deepdale Trees, Creepers, Hot Metal Engineering, Torc Pots, Aquascapes Relocated to Old Buckenham Hall School in Suffolk