Inspiring Conversations with Lori Neely of Cultivate Design KC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Neely.

Hi Lori, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m the owner, designer and consultant at Cultivate Design KC. Growing up in KCMO, my parents did a lot of gardening. Most of our back yard was dedicated to growing vegetables and my mom had a small flower garden. She taught me about collecting seeds from the flowers to store and grow the following year. I studied floral design and have had the privilege to work at Trapp and Co. and at Final Touch Studios.

Cultivate Design KC is a co-existence of my knowledge for growing plants and passion for arranging flowers. I add color and beauty that refreshes outdoor space with plants that thrive, by creating personalized DIY Landscape Plans. Additionally, I teach hands-on fresh flower design classes/parties, where participants learn the fundamental techniques of stem placement and how to maximize the life of their flowers. I have taught both in public and private settings. These classes are perfect for birthday and bridal parties, girls’ night out as well as business team building or client appreciation events.

Foraging for flowers and foliage rather from my own yard or out in the wild, creatively integrating nature into arrangements is such a thrill for me.  Even if there are no flowers available, a mix of foliage, colors and textures are beautiful in arrangements.  I hear all the time how HomeOwners want to add more color and flowers to their landscape for them to cut and bring inside. I encourage you to tour your yard, take some clippings and add to a vase placed where you can enjoy it.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Well, of course the Pandemic was a challenge for everyone.  It certainly was a time to take a deeper look at the business and see what may need to change or improve.  This was a time to pivot and put my fresh flower design classes online as well as have HomeOwners text me their landscape instead of me going to their homes.  Both worked out but it took a bit of a learning curve and adjusting on my end.  Yet, I have to say, given what we were all going through, everyone was flexible and I appreciate that enormously.   I also feel, though the shut down was hard, it shed a light on the opportunities with online courses and reaching a broader audience.  I’m currently working on creating courses both for fresh flower arranging and the fundamentals of landscape in designing a new space.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I create landscapes through the lens of a flower designer. Landscape is simply a large arrangement designed in the ground instead of a vase or container.  Looking back through history, our yards had multiple purposes. They not only had landscape for curb appeal but they had flowers to utilize in arrangements for entertaining along with fruits and vegetables planted in default as food staples. I believe there are more HomeOwners moving toward an interest in their landscape and what the possibilities may be with what they can grow.

I help HomeOwners in their journey with gardening and landscape by guiding them with a process for cleaning up, freshening up, maintaining and enjoying their outdoor space. There is something so completely gratifying in growing a Willow tree or Lilac bush you remember from your childhood, eating a tomato on a sandwich that came from your garden or arranging flowers in a vase that you grew. It’s a sense of accomplishment coming full circle. I would love for more people to have those experiences.  I’m most proud of receiving text or emails from landscape clients sharing their pictures and joy of their accomplishments from bringing color and life back into an area that had been neglected. I equally enjoy the smiles at the end of a fresh flower design class on someone who is delighted with the arrangement they have created.

I offer Personalized Full Landscape Design Plans designed with low-maintenance plants. Plans include instructions for each area with a list of plants and links for their care. Plants with flowers and foliage to use as fresh cuts are included.  I teach the fundamentals to arrange fresh flowers through hands-on classes/parties. I provide the glass vase, fresh flowers, clippers, preservative and delivery box to safely get the arrangements home. Public classes are currently available at Fabulous Fern in Olathe. Private classes may be scheduled with me at lorineely@cultivatedesignkc.com.

There are several Free helpful resources on my website at www.cultivatedesignkc.com such as Sun vs. Shade; Where Do I Place My Plants, Garden Guide By the Seasons. How to Plant Containers and Make Fresh Flowers Last Longer.

What’s next?
I’m currently working on creating online courses to reach more people, regarding fresh flower arranging and the fundamentals landscape and designing a landscape space.

Contact Info:

• Email: lorineely@cultivatedesignkc.com
• Website: https://www.cultivatedesignkc.com
• Instagram: cultivate_design_kc
• Facebook: facebook.com/cultivatedesignkc.com
• Other: https://linktr.ee/CultivateDesignKC

Image Credits
Steph Rupp