Hi! I’m Jen Insley, a landscape designer based in Tauranga. Home is my happy place – most definitely because it includes my husband Dan, daughter Eva & Jasper the cat. But it also has a giant garden, which I enjoy losing track of time in. 

My childhood was set amongst a beautiful garden – on one side was a semi structured wilderness with lots of different pockets to explore, perfect for making huts in and to gather ingredients for mud pies. On the other side was a grand view of the ocean which ran into a group of tangled Pohutakawa hanging to the cliff. Magic. It wasn’t until after high school and after a few outdoor work experiences that I realised landscape design would be a great fit for me; combining two things that I’ve always found fun and rewarding, being outside in nature and being creative with pen and paper (and now screen).

Prior to studying for a Diploma in Landscape Design and throughout my uni breaks, I worked in several plant nurseries, carrying out various tasks from propagation and potting to watering and weeding, all the while learning a lot about plants (and a little bit about driving a tractor).

After completing my diploma, I landed myself a job working at a garden centre that was busy setting up a landscaping division. Here I added to my plant knowledge and was also able to get hands on landscaping experience. Preparing foundations for various surfaces, taking and setting levels, planning and of course shovelling lots of soil and mulch. I loved the satisfaction of the physical outdoor work but I was also pretty happy when the opportunity arose to clean the dirt from my nails and start working on my own designs.

20+ years of industry experience later and I’m loving the variety of projects I get to work on, from urban courtyards to coastal resort-style retreats - helping clients bring their outdoor visions to life. There is something special about meeting new people and being welcomed into their home, to have those conversations that uncover how they want to live and enjoy their outdoor spaces. 

These insights help shape every design; allowing for gardens that are beautiful, functional, and at the core - an invitation to celebrate the simple joy of being outdoors.