Fleur-ette 2026: A Celebration of Gardens, Community, and Gracious Living

Earlier this summer, Powell Gardens welcomed more than 350 supporters to Union Station’s Grand Hall for the third annual Fleur‑ette — a floral‑forward celebration of nature, design, and the vibrant community that surrounds Kansas City’s botanical garden. With its soaring architecture and historic character, Union Station has become the event’s new long‑term home, offering a grand yet intimate setting for an afternoon devoted to living beautifully with nature!

Fleur‑ette supports Powell Gardens’ mission to inspire and educate through the beauty of the Midwest landscape. Funds raised help preserve native plant collections, expand educational programming, and create meaningful garden experiences for visitors year‑round. It’s a mission we deeply admire at Nell Hill’s, and one we’re proud to support as an event sponsor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Garden Party in Full Bloom

This year’s event felt like stepping into the prettiest garden party filled with botanical cocktails, a curated marketplace of plant vendors, and a program celebrating the influence of flowers in our homes and lives with special guest, Margot Shaw. The entire space came together beautifully to create an environment that felt both celebratory and deeply connected to Powell Gardens’ purpose.

We were delighted to contribute pieces from the shop to help shape the event’s aesthetic. Furniture, pillows, and garden‑inspired accents from Nell Hill’s appeared throughout the space. Our workroom also created custom elements for the event, including the Muriel Garden fabric tablecloths used during the Garden Party cocktail hour and a special embroidered Fleur-ette pillow that found its home on the stage with pieces of furniture from the shop.

The Powell Gardens team approaches the event with such care and creativity, and we’re so grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to that vision.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Thoughtful Collaboration: Hawkins Design Build

One of the standout design elements this year was the beautiful trellis stage backdrop created by Hawkins Design Build. Chris Hawkins has become closely connected to Powell Gardens over the years – he grew up visiting the Gardens, later became a sponsor, and now serves on their Board of Directors. His love for the Gardens runs deep, and you can feel that in the way he approaches projects that support their mission.

We were thrilled to cross paths with Hawkins Design Build at Fleur-ette for a second time when another of his backdrop builds created the foundation for the stage on which some of our furniture was perched. Chris’ passion also shines through in his approach to custom home building in a way that aligns with our values, stating that “the best homes are the result of thoughtful planning and collaboration. [We focus] on creating homes that feel natural to the way our clients live while maintaining a sense of timelessness and lasting quality.”

It’s a fun intersection of worlds: Powell Gardens, Hawkins Design Build, and Nell Hill’s all care deeply about design that feels personal, welcoming, and connected to the people who experience it. Seeing those values come together at Fleur‑ette — through architecture, florals, furnishings, and community — is part of what makes the event so special.

 

 

 

 

Looking Ahead

Fleur‑ette has grown in scale and imagination each year, and Union Station opens the door for even more creative possibilities and unique experiences ahead.

We have has always believed in the power of beautiful spaces to bring people together. Powell Gardens shares that belief in its own way — through nature, education, and the joy of discovery. Supporting Fleur‑ette feels like a natural extension of our values, and we’re honored to play a small part in an event that celebrates beauty, community, and the landscapes that make our region special. We’re already looking forward to next year!

 

Photos by Annie Tuttle Photography