7 Ways My Horticulture Background Influences My Jewelry Designs

By Danise Coon, Raccoon Designs

When people discover my jewelry for the first time, they often notice the leaves, flowers, birds, insects, natural stones, and earthy color palettes. What many don't realize is that those design choices didn't happen by accident.

Before creating jewelry full-time, I was a florist throughout collage then earned a master's degree in horticulture and worked as a horticulture research specialist at New Mexico State University. Years spent studying plants, landscapes, soils, seasonal cycles, and the natural world continue to shape the way I see color, texture, and design.

Although my work is artistic rather than scientific, my background gives me a different perspective when creating each piece. Here are seven ways horticulture continues to influence everything I make at Raccoon Designs.

1. Nature Is My Greatest Color Palette

One of the first lessons horticulture and floral design teach is that nature has an incredible understanding of color harmony.

A woodland doesn't rely on a single shade of green. Instead, you'll find hundreds of subtle variations—deep evergreen, soft sage, fresh spring growth, weathered moss, and blue-green conifers—all existing together beautifully.

The same is true for flowers. A garden filled with lavender, coneflowers, salvia, and ornamental grasses isn't simply colorful; it's balanced through contrast, repetition, and texture.

When I'm selecting beads, gemstones, Czech glass, or metal finishes, I often think about combinations I've observed outdoors rather than following current fashion trends.

Many of my favorite palettes come directly from places like:

• Autumn maple forests

• Desert wildflowers

• Moss-covered rocks

• Prairie grasses

• Woodland streams

• Spring gardens

Nature rarely chooses colors that compete with one another—and that's a lesson I carry into every design.

2. I Notice Texture as Much as Color

Plants aren't interesting simply because they're green.

They're fascinating because of their texture.

A velvety lamb's ear leaf feels completely different from glossy magnolia foliage. Ferns create softness, while pine needles add fine linear detail. Succulents introduce smooth geometry, and ornamental grasses contribute movement and rhythm.

That appreciation for texture naturally translates into jewelry design.

I enjoy combining:

• Smooth polished stones

• Matte natural beads

• Faceted crystal accents

• Antiqued metals

• Organic ceramic components

• Hand-textured metal charms

These contrasting surfaces create visual interest in much the same way a thoughtfully designed garden combines plants with different forms and textures.

3. Every Season Brings New Inspiration

Working in horticulture means paying close attention to seasonal change.

Spring isn't just "green."

It's fresh foliage, emerging buds, delicate blossoms, and soft new growth.

Summer introduces lush abundance, pollinator activity, and vibrant blooms.

Autumn offers seed heads, herb collecting, berries, warm foliage, and weathered textures.

Winter reveals bark patterns, evergreen branches, dried grasses, and the quiet beauty of a resting landscape.

Those seasonal observations naturally find their way into my work.

Sometimes a necklace reflects the colors of early autumn.

Other times a bracelet captures the cool blues and silvers of winter mornings.

Every season has something beautiful to offer if we slow down and notice.

4. Plants Teach Balance and Composition

Garden and floral design isn't simply about collecting beautiful plants.

It's about arranging them so they complement one another.

Height.

Spacing.

Repetition.

Focal points.

Negative space.

Movement.

Those same design principles appear in jewelry.

Instead of shrubs and flowers, I'm arranging beads, pendants, metal components, and natural stones.

A focal pendant needs supporting elements without becoming overcrowded.

Colors should repeat naturally without feeling predictable.

Just like a well-designed garden, every piece benefits from balance.

5. Natural Stones Remind Me of Living Landscapes

Although stones aren't plants, they've always felt connected to the landscapes where plants grow. As a little girl roaming the farm or forest I was always drawn to and managed to collect a heafty load of pretty rocks.

A piece of moss agate can resemble miniature forests.

Labradorite flashes like sunlight reflecting through water.

Jasper often resembles desert cliffs or ancient canyon walls.

Every stone has its own colors, patterns, and character.

Rather than trying to make every gemstone match perfectly, I enjoy letting each one remain unique—just as no two leaves or flowers are ever exactly alike.

6. Observation Is One of My Most Valuable Design Tools

Research in horticulture teaches careful observation.

You begin noticing small details that many people overlook:

The way light changes leaf color.

How flowers open throughout the day.

The texture of bark after rain.

The patterns inside seed pods.

The architecture of branches in winter.

Those habits never really disappear.

Today they influence my photography, color choices, material combinations, and overall design process.

Sometimes inspiration comes from a single leaf.

Other times it's an interesting stone, an unusual flower, or the way sunlight filters through trees.

Nature is constantly offering ideas if we're paying attention.

7. My Goal Is to Capture a Feeling, Not Copy Nature

One question I hear occasionally is whether I try to recreate flowers or plants exactly.

The answer is almost always no, sometimes when Im asked to create a custom piece.

Instead, I want my jewelry to evoke the feeling of being outdoors.

The calm of a quiet forest.

The excitement of discovering wildflowers.

The peaceful rhythm of a garden.

The colors of changing seasons.

Rather than making literal copies of nature, I prefer creating pieces that remind people of experiences they've had outside.

Sometimes all it takes is a particular shade of green, a leaf charm, or a beautifully patterned stone to bring those memories back.

Nature Has Always Been My Best Teacher

Looking back, it's easy to see that horticulture and jewelry design aren't nearly as different as they might seem.

Both require patience.

Both reward careful observation.

Both celebrate diversity, texture, color, and form.

And both remind us that beauty often lies in the details.

My years studying plants continue to influence every collection I create, helping me see inspiration in forests, flowers, leaves, stones, and changing seasons.

Whether you're wearing one of my necklaces, a pair of earrings, or simply exploring the stories behind each design, I hope you find a little piece of the natural world reflected in my work.

Thank you for joining me on that journey.

Explore More from Raccoon Designs

If you're drawn to handcrafted jewelry inspired by nature's colors, textures, and changing seasons, I invite you to explore the latest creations at Raccoon Designs. Each piece reflects my love of the natural world and the inspiration I've found through years of studying horticulture, observing landscapes, and appreciating the beauty of organic forms.

Whether you're looking for a meaningful gift or a piece that reminds you of your favorite place outdoors, I hope you'll discover something that speaks to you.