Meet the Maker: Cath Kidston Padgham
Photography credit: Hugh Padgham
On Friday 23rd May, we’re delighted to host Cath Kidston Padgham for the ‘Pellymania’ charity geranium sale in the Tithe Barn at Thyme.
All proceeds will go to Horatio’s Garden: a charity working to nurture beautiful, restorative spaces for people with spinal injuries. Here Cath speaks about what inspired her to organise this wonderful event and her love of geraniums.
What inspired you to organise this Geranium Sale in aid of Horatio's Garden?
We ran a similar event last year and raised quite a lot for the venue’s charity. Thyme have a long-standing affiliation with Horatio’s Garden, a wonderful charity, so we were delighted to have the opportunity to take part in another fundraiser with them.
2. How would you describe the magic of geraniums and what they've taught you?
My memories of geraniums go right back to childhood and my mum’s collection. I installed my own greenhouse a few years ago and began a collection. I am in awe of the scented leaf varieties and the wide range of fragrances they offer with all their benefits in this one species. There are also varieties that make the most fabulous house plants.
3. Do you have a favourite geranium variety and why?
It’s so hard to choose a favourite . It would have to be one of the scented leaf variety. At the moment we have been working with p.Mabel Grey which has wonderful pungent sherbet lemon scented leaves so that is high on the list this week!
4. Can you tell us the story behind your beautiful brand C.Atherley.
I had spent hours in my greenhouse during the pandemic and was so struck by the extraordinary uplifting breadth of fragrances from my pelargonium collection; leaves scented with rose or citrus, mint, cedar and many more, with research telling me of their extensive healing benefits. A chance meeting with old friends in the body care industry led to the idea of C.Atherley being born. Named after my grandmother, an avid gardener, our mission is simple: to capture those fragrances in as pure a way as possible from greenhouse to bottle and bring these magical scents of geraniums into our customers’ homes.
