Meet Halle Tischler | Licensed Landscape Architect

We had the good fortune of connecting with Halle Tischler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Halle, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Thinking about starting a business can be daunting, especially starting one on your own without business partners! COVID actually gave me the kick in the pants to go out on my own and start building my own business after I was bumped down to a per diem landscape designer at the company I had worked at for 6 years in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We were also building a house in the Raleigh, North Carolina area and were planning an impending move which, amongst the chaos of COVID and moving to a different state, turned out to be the perfect time to start a new business venture on my own.

Networking in a new state and market proved to be a bit more complicated during COVID but LinkedIn turned out to be a fruitful second choice. With the creation of Wildflower, along came the flexibility to create my own schedule and choose my own clients, something I craved at my previous position. After a few years of gaining some incredibly clients and business partners, I was able to study for and pass the LARE, the licensure exam to become a licensed Landscape Architect, adding my North Carolina licensure to my toolbox.

All in all, starting my own business has been absolutely one of the best leaps of faith I’ve taken in my life. Had I not taken a chance to go out on my own, I am certain I would not have felt as fulfilled in my career as I feel today.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Art has always been an integral part of my life – whether it was seeing ‘Wicked’ at Playhouse Square in Cleveland as a 13 year old or visiting the Chihuly installation at Fairchild Gardens in South Florida, art has always peaked my interest. Not just experiencing the arts from a distance but being involved in creating and cultivating something new as well. Sports were never my thing, that was my sister’s wheelhouse, but the arts? Now that was (and still is) for me. I grew up always excited about creating something new and different, most exemplified by the jewelry that I designed and handmade from the time I was an early teen. Eventually, that hobby turned into the build out of an Etsy store and selling my creations at a local yoga studio. Still to this day, I still have that artsy bug. My hobby during this last holiday season was hand-wrapping serving utensils with glass beads and wire, just for the purpose of creating something NEW which also came in handy for impromptu holiday gifts!

My background in everything art is exemplified daily in how I carry out my own design process when starting a new residential landscape design and layout. Some may say it’s quirky and atypical, but it works for me! I’ve learned that there is no “right way” when it comes to the arts and any subject that doesn’t have a true, factual answer. But that’s what gives artists the ability to create such out-of-the-box pieces – the open-endedness of the arts. In the same vein, as an artist you need to develop a realization of when to stop, because the process truly could go on forever. That’s something each artist needs to figure out themselves – it’s truly an individual process. Trust your gut. It’s never wrong.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m most definitely biased but Apex is a true gem! The epitome of a small town with the firefighters that stop to let the neighborhood kids check out the truck (not on the way to an emergency, of course), the neighbors and friends that feel like family and incredible weather (minus the pollening which happens each spring). Visiting Salem Street in downtown Apex is an absolute MUST. A plethora of cute, locally-owned boutiques, restaurants and breweries nestled along the main drag. It’s what sold my husband and I on Apex back in 2019. Stop at Salem Street Pub for the best patty melt you’ll sink your teeth into, Scratch for unbelievable flash-fried brussel sprouts and cocktails and Stylish Living for a quick gift or a little something to treat yourself – because you deserve it!

If you have kids or are into tennis, pickleball or anything recreation, you absolutely need to check out Pleasant Park, also in Apex. 92 acres of recreation is sure to have something for everyone – don’t forget to check out the 35 foot slide! Stop by Vicious Fishes Brewery after for a beer, cider or coffee and let the kids continue to run wild.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It’s hard to pinpoint one person in general for pushing me toward my eventual success of starting my own landscape architectural firm so I’d like to give a shoutout to a few people who have had a huge impact on my life and career.

First, my parents, for discovering landscape architecture as a career and having the forethough to suggest it as a career to me early on in high school. Knowing that I had a passion for fine art and also a strength in math, my dad suggested landscape architecture as a possible career option after one of the career tests in high school suggested I look into being a park ranger (certainly an allied career!). My mom was always super involved in my education and always pushed me to take more advanced classes and push the envelope with electives and music and art classes. My deepest thanks to my mom and dad, for the truly endless love and support. One of the greatest gifts you ever gave me was knowing that you’d always be there to support me.

Also extremely instrumental in my choosing to branch out and start my own business is my husband, Mike. He never once doubted the success that would eventually come, even during COVID and just starting out. Knowing my income stream would probably never be steady, he supported me, in great income months, but especially in the not so great months. While studying for the licensure exam, he was my biggest supporter, taking care of our young son so I could squeeze in some good studying during the weekends.

Lastly, to my faithful goldendoodle, Franklin. My constant companion, always pinned to my side and always there when times get tough and nothing feels like it’s going my way.

Website: https://www.wildflowerldd.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildflowerlandarch/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/halle-tischler-yaeger/

Image Credits
Emily Crowell Photography Cat Nguyen Photography