Meet Lauren: The Former Scientist Turned Floral Queen

Posted on April 2, 2021

[vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” background_animation=”none” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]Lauren joined us as an intern back in 2013, when Lotus Gardenscapes was still an environmental design company. An aspiring landscape architect, she was looking for a creative alternative to her job as a biologist, having grown tired of working in a sterile laboratory environment. Taking a leap of faith, the young scientist enrolled in a Masters of Landscape Architecture program at the University of Michigan, where she quickly fell in love with the colorful world of garden scaping. 

As a Lotus intern, Lauren did a little of everything, from working with the marketing team to shifting plants at the retail nursery. This hands-on approach is something she continues to nurture in her role as a designer. She and the other designers can often be found getting their hands dirty on small horticulture jobs, working alongside the crews to make sure each plant placement is perfect. Lauren believes this is one of the best ways to learn about plants and reminds her of what goes into making her designs a reality. 

One of Lauren’s favorite memories at Lotus was helping to unload the plant orders in the spring. It’s a dirty, sweaty job, and for Lauren, a fun way to get a preview of what she’ll be working with. Lotus horticulturist Stacy Rayer is always on hand to explain the new plants and how to get the best from each one. Stacy helped Lauren learn as an intern, and the designer says that she continues to cherish her mentorship. 

Although Lauren’s official job title is Landscape Designer, the reality of the job is much more varied. Day to day Lauren wears a whole wardrobe of different hats, from project manager to customer service. Over the years she has got very good at juggling!

Lauren has developed a strong appreciation for bold, contemporary designs, bursting with colorful flora and funky focal points. Her dream designs incorporate modern-looking hardscapes with vibrant plants, which she admits, isn’t always to everyone’s taste. That being said, Lauren finds joy in including hints of this style in her client projects, even when it is subtle.

Every designer has a favorite season, and for Lauren, late summer is number one. Every year she looks forward to seeing the coneflowers in bloom, and the traditional pollinator plants surrounded by bees and butterflies. She also loves watching the summer landscape mellow into fall, the vibrant colors melting into warmer tones.

Although the job is never easy, Lauren says her drive to create beautiful spaces never dwindles. 

She said: “Lotus is a lively, supportive place to work and we all maintain a sense of humor about things. I’ve learned you can’t take things too seriously! That being said it’s also an intense place because everyone is goal orientated and driven. We all like challenges and making those big sales and creating cool designs.”

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]