Powell Gardens is open select evenings for Evergy Festival of Lights (Nov. 14 - Jan.4). Learn more
Fleur-ette (June 4, 2024) celebrates the beauty of Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden with a unique take on the traditional fundraiser. More than just an event, Fleur-ette is an immersive luncheon experience that combines the splendor of nature, the art of living beautifully, and the joy of giving back.
Taking place at The Guild (1621 Locust Street Kansas City, MO 64108) on June 4, 2024, at 10 a.m., participants will experience the smooth sounds of Eboni Fondren followed by a delicious lunch with curated cocktails and mocktails, special runway presentation by KC Fashion Week, and a curated marketplace full of artisan goods.
Join guest speaker Christopher Spitzmiller, author of “A Year at Clove Brook Farm: Gardening, Tending Flocks, Keeping Bees, Collecting Antiques, and Entertaining Friends,” as he discusses the art of gardening and living beautifully.
Afterward, participants will have the opportunity to work and learn with Spitzmiller as he leads a step-by-step floral tablescape design workshop. The latter is not included in individual tickets and participants must pre-register for floral tablescape design workshop.
While planning for this reimagined take on a traditional fundraiser, Fleur-ette Co-Chair and Powell Gardens Board of Directors member Kristopher Dabner said, “With the launch of our Master Plan in 2020, there continue to be new and exciting things happening at Powell Gardens. This new fundraiser will capture that excitement and bring it directly to Kansas City. We hope this even will inspire to return to Powell Gardens and experience all the wonderful ways their contribution augments our mission.”
Come for a curated experience and leave with a deeper understanding and appreciation of Powell Gardens’ mission. Contributions for this event will support the Gardens’ operations, educational programs, capital improvements, and more so that we may continue to share the Midwest spirit of place with our community.
Fellow Fleur-ette Co-Chair and Board of Directors member, Ruthie Rinehart said, “As an untraditional take on a traditional fundraiser, Fleur-ette is sure to be a highlight within the social season. Powell Gardens is excited to bring this unique botanical experience into Kansas City.”
For registration and details, please visit powellgardens.org/fleur-ette.
As Kansas City’s Botanical Garden, Powell Gardens plays a vital role in the community as a space for release, rejuvenation, and the celebration of the fleeting nature of nature itself. Visitors enjoy themed display gardens, a three-mile nature trail, seasonal festivals, rotating exhibitions, and exceptional architecture. Established in 1988, Powell Gardens is a non-profit, public garden, maintaining 970 acres of lush, rolling hills and windswept meadows, with more than 175 acres and a large collection of plants open to the public for education, exploration, and recreation. Many of the plants in the Gardens are regionally native, and all highlight the changing seasons and Midwest spirit of place.
Christopher’s iconic ceramic lamp designs draw inspiration from classical forms and traditional gemlike glazes. He began his career in 1996 in Washington, D.C. then moved to New York City in the fall of 1999 where he continues to create his one of-a-kind lamps with a crew of skilled artisans. The lamps are of timeless appeal and luxurious quality. Beautiful classic lamps are drenched in bold, vibrant, rich glazes. As of late Christopher has expanded his designs to tableware and other ceramic accessories. In 2015 he began a partnership with Visual Comfort and Circa Lighting allowing his designs to reach a broader audience.
Christopher’s work is often featured in celebrated publications such as Architectural Digest, Town & Country, Elle Décor, Veranda, The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He has had the honor of making lamps for four different White House Administrations, the Blair House and many other distinguished American homes.
When not in the Studio, Christopher can be found at his farm in Millbrook, NY, gardening, beekeeping, making jam, cooking for friends, or tending to his flock of heritage breed chickens. All captured in his book ‘A Year at Clove Brook Farm,’ published by Rizzoli. He also enjoys the pleasure of giving back to the community by serving on the boards of the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House and The Garden Conservancy.
