KEY POINTS:
Describe what you do
I own and manage a landscape design business based in Auckland, providing landscaping, garden design and maintenance services for commercial and residential customers.
Your history?
I'm not sure if I chose this line of work or landscape design "chose me".
I studied as a laboratory technologist and specialised in microbiology and haematology. After having three wonderful daughters, I decided not to return to laboratory work but to do some casual gardening in my spare time. I soon discovered I enjoyed being outdoors and doing physical work. One thing led to another and I started gardening and designing while the children were at school. This suited me as I could manage the business around the children.
A friend was completing her diploma in landscape design at Unitec and talked me into extending my knowledge by attending the course. I started with the certificate part-time over two years while continuing with my business and raising three girls. Burning the "midnight oil" became the only way to achieve all three goals with the help of a very supportive husband. I hope to do more landscape papers some day when I have some spare time.
I now have a team of gardeners doing the physical work so I can dedicate more time to the creative side of the business, meeting new clients and designing gardens.
What are the "trademarks" of your designs?
My designs are for a wide range of briefs, from inner-city courtyards, poolscapes and family gardens to large-scale lifestyle properties.
I like to incorporate simplicity of design with strong garden structure, using plants suitable for the soil type and climate. I use styles sympathetic to New Zealand architecture and environmental conditions.
Your smallest and largest projects?
The smallest, but possibly the most enjoyable and enlightening, was for our local school, where I helped the children design a native garden for a difficult, unsightly corner.
The largest project was an equestrian centre north of Auckland which was incorporated into a development including subdivision, street planting and the remains of a working farm. This interesting project involved coastal and riparian planting, taking into account not only council requirements but those of the local iwi.
You won a silver award at last year's Ellerslie show.
Participating in the Ellerslie International Flower Show is a must-do for every landscape designer. It's a challenging but wonderful experience.
A surprising number of people are involved with the installation of a show garden. Specialists in fencing, paving, water features and my gardening team were involved; we even used the talents of a glazier for mirrors and water jet cutters to shape pavers around the water feature. Photos of the Schwarzkopf Garden can be seen on my website (www.cwlandscapes. co.nz).
Why is your job important?
The environment around us is central to and necessary for our wellbeing and emotional state. A well planned and maintained garden can be invigorating and rejuvenating without us even realising it.
Most challenging part of the job?
Dealing with people and understanding their desires and needs. The most important skill for a designer is to be a good listener.
Do you have a favourite garden?
My favourites would be the Italian style gardens in Tuscany. I enjoy the balance between the formal and informal use of Mediterranean plants; some are clipped and structured, others ramble and flow through and over garden structures.
Another interesting garden is Lotusland near Santa Barbara, California. An eclectic mix of cacti, succulents and plants from all over the world. In New Zealand, I find it inspirational to visit the International Gardens at the Hamilton Botanical Gardens.
Any unusual tales?
Often I am asked to create a low or no maintenance garden. Really there is no such thing. Gardens are a living thing and will grow and produce weeds no matter what we do.
Advice to someone wanting to do the same?
Anyone who wishes to do landscape design must be naturally creative; this is not something that is learnt. They must also have an affinity for plants and the palettes you can create using them.
A budding designer must also be practical in their approach to a landscape design, it is not just a pretty picture in 3D but also a place where people need to live, interact and carry out daily routines of life. (We still all need to hang out the washing and fill rubbish bins.)
Study of landscape design is important.
MY JOB
* Name: Caroline Wesseling.
* Age: The outdoors has not been kind to me! So let me say, younger than I look.
* Role: Landscape designer.
* Working hours: Vary depending on workload and availability of clients; it's not necessarily a 9-5 job.
* Average salary: Each client's job is on a contract basis and not all hours are chargeable, so income varies.
* Qualifications: Certificate in Home Garden Design from Unitec and years of experience "from the ground up".
