According to Boodles, during a visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 25 years ago, their Director of Design, Rebecca Hawkins was captivated by the play of light and the movement of raindrops – which inspired her Raindance Collection, featuring rare coloured gemstones and diamonds.
The garden design draws heavily on the styles and motifs of the collection. Circular paving pads, featuring etched concentric circles, lead the visitor to a platinum coloured Raindance pavilion, complete with domed roof that channels rainwater to a circular rill at its base. Three circular platinum finished water features, arranged in a diamond bezel configuration, complement the pavilion and are reminiscent of the collection.
The planting is predominantly green with soft accents of white and pale pink, reflecting the rare diamonds of the jewellery. The textural foliage of ferns provides evergreen visual interest and their fractal patterns have been linked to a positive impact on the cerebral cortex, reducing stress and enhancing creativity.
James Amos, Director at Boodles said: “We are thrilled to be returning to RHS Chelsea to commemorate the 25th anniversary of our beloved Raindance Collection. We are working once again with designer Catherine MacDonald and it seems a fitting tribute that we create a garden honouring Raindance at the very flower show that first inspired its creation.”
Her second show garden for Boodles and seventh RHS Chelsea garden, Catherine MacDonald is Principal Landscape Designer at Landform Consultants. MacDonald coordinates all the new design schemes for the company – for both domestic as well as commercial clients. Her designs are known for the combination of strong architectural features and soft naturalistic planting style. MacDonald has won gold and silver-gilt medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
“I’m thrilled to be designing my second garden for Boodles, celebrating this beautiful collection that was
inspired by a visit to the flower show itself. The Raindance collection’s delicate nature, intricate patterns, and soothing geometry have been a major inspiration for this design. I’ve always been fascinated by the fractal patterns of nature, which create such visually captivating structures, like raindrops. These intricate forms can be both aesthetically pleasing and mentally beneficial as the symmetry not only delights the eye but it is believed that they can also help alleviate stress and foster a sense of tranquillity.”
The garden is being built by Gadd Brothers Trees & Landscapes and after the show, it will be relocated to Old Buckenham Hall school in Suffolk.