When he was just 10 years old, Wes Shelley unknowingly launched his horticulture career by helping his dad, Eric Shelley, who worked at one of the worldB次元官网网址檚 most famous gardens. But despite those early years at The Butchart Gardens, Wes never planned to follow in his fatherB次元官网网址檚 footsteps.

B次元官网网址淚 never really thought much about horticulture and gardening when I was helping my dad,B次元官网网址� explains Wes, co-owner of . B次元官网网址淚t was something I just did to help him out.B次元官网网址�

But after studying music composition in college and doing a stint at a recording studio, Wes changed his mind.

B次元官网网址淚 was hoping to have a career in music but I decided that would be a pretty tough life,B次元官网网址� the 35-year-old says. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 always wanted to be my own boss, so I asked my dad what he thought of me starting a landscaping company. He initially said he thought it was a really bad idea!B次元官网网址�

But Wes was determined to make it work, so Eric gave him his first truck, a mower and the basics to get him going. He was only 20 years old at the time, and he admits he had a lot to learn.

B次元官网网址淚 was pretty young and inexperienced in life and sort of relying on my own gumption to figure the whole thing out,B次元官网网址� Wes recalls. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 picked up a lot working with my dad but I realized there was still a huge amount I had to learn.B次元官网网址�

And thatB次元官网网址檚 when his passion for horticulture really started to grow.

B次元官网网址淎s I started doing it, I realized there was quite a strong connection to what I learned in music in that thereB次元官网网址檚 an endless depth of knowledge,B次元官网网址� Wes says. B次元官网网址淭he amount there was to learn was so great and that actually made it more stimulating than I expected it to be when I started out on my own. And that propelled me onto a mission.B次元官网网址�

As the business started to flourish, Wes realized he could help others find their passion by exposing staff to a field with limitless learning and the potential for career growthB次元官网网址攊ncluding paying for their Red Seal training at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a common misconception that itB次元官网网址檚 just a labour job or outdoor janitorial work, but the amount that our supervisors and staff need to know and understand is huge, and itB次元官网网址檚 constantly changing because weB次元官网网址檙e working in a living environment,B次元官网网址� says Wes. B次元官网网址淲e have lots of staff who have come from other industries and found their passion.B次元官网网址�

Believe it or not, Fallingwater Landscapes doesnB次元官网网址檛 actually hire anybody with landscaping experience. Instead, it recruits people from other industries who are looking for a positive change. And while it might sound counterintuitive, Wes says it works.

B次元官网网址淰ictoria has one of the highest concentrations of landscaping companies in Canada,B次元官网网址� he explains. B次元官网网址淭here are over 400, and most are really small. Because itB次元官网网址檚 such a low barrier to entry business, you get a lot of people that just donB次元官网网址檛 have the sort of depth required.B次元官网网址�

In the past, when theyB次元官网网址檝e hired professional gardeners who have the knowledge, Wes says, they found they often didnB次元官网网址檛 understand the pace required for a residential and strata environment. As a result, theyB次元官网网址檝e developed a strong training program, and they can get people to the pace and knowledge needed relatively quickly.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 worth it for us to take that time to train people right and get them excited,B次元官网网址� Wes says. B次元官网网址淭hat initial investment pays off because we end up keeping people for a long time and we donB次元官网网址檛 have to worry about re-training bad habits.B次元官网网址�

Much like learning about plants, growing a business has been a big learning curve, and everything was put to the test four years ago when his father decided to retire from the landscaping company he started after he left Butchart.

B次元官网网址淲e were operating as competition for 10 years and he kept saying he was going to retire in a couple years, but never did. And then he called me one day and said, B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 retiring in six monthsB次元官网网址橞次元官网网址攕o we scrambled to deal with that.B次元官网网址�

Both companies had about seven employees at the time they merged, and Wes was in talks to buy a small irrigation company.

B次元官网网址淲e tripled in size and it was a messy year,B次元官网网址� he admits. B次元官网网址淚 learned that I didnB次元官网网址檛 want to do that again! We were just overwhelmed in how much shifting we needed to do in the way the business was run and there were a lot of dropped balls and a lot of unhappy clients and it was a really difficult period of time.B次元官网网址�

Tough as it was, it taught Wes and partner Drew Coleman an important lesson. It changed their perspective on how they wanted to cultivate the business.

B次元官网网址淚t made me look at where the next phase would be, and where the next breaking point would be in growth. ItB次元官网网址檚 at about double where we are now,B次元官网网址� says Wes. B次元官网网址淪o weB次元官网网址檝e kind of set that as the cap. WeB次元官网网址檙e not interested in infinite growth.B次元官网网址�

Instead, theyB次元官网网址檙e focusing on mentoring their 21 staff and building client relationships with their high-end residential and strata customers, including dream client Dockside Green. TheyB次元官网网址檝e also restructured so supervisors have more autonomy.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e really been able to step away from that dictatorial, B次元官网网址榗ommand and controlB次元官网网址� business structure, which is how so many businesses are run,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e learned how strong a company can become when everyone buys in.B次元官网网址�

For Wes, itB次元官网网址檚 all about getting people passionate about something. And heB次元官网网址檚 the first to admit, most of the staff are now more capable than he is when it comes to horticulture.

B次元官网网址淚 think as humans we just thrive when weB次元官网网址檙e given opportunities to learn and grow.B次元官网网址�