Annika Zetterman and Kajsa Björne – Pocket Profile

We are so excited to welcome Annika Zetterman and Kajsa Björne to the 2024 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, Presented By Scotts within the Landscape Show Garden Competition!

Annika and Kajsa’s garden will celebrate and share the natural beauty and culture of their Nordic heritage. The New Nordic Notes Garden derives from their Scandinavian heritage. The duo talked us through their garden and inspiration, as well as some insights on our they got into the industry and what they’re most excited to share at this year’s show.

Check out the full profile below!

Annika Zetterman – Show Garden Profile

The Nordicness in my spirit lies deep, constantly working towards elegant and meaningful expressions through simplicity.

When/How did you get into the industry?

My knowledge and interest in plants has been part of my life for as long as I remember, as well as drawing that comes naturally to me.

Moving to London, UK in my 20’s, witnessing gardens being such a valuable integral in people’s life, made me decide to retrain and become a garden designer. Gardens in Sweden didn’t have the focus then, as they have today.

What are you most excited about at this year’s #melbflower show?

To share our garden.  The New Nordic Notes Garden derives from our Scandinavian heritage; the use of materials, plant choices resonating with the wild and an appreciation of our past, and at the same time demonstrates a concept applicable worldwide.

Our garden will instantly be recognised as celebration of our Scandinavian roots. The garden acts as an inspiration for young people to be energised and inspired by, for them to stay curious and be encouraged to explore tradition and nature in a new context with respect and admiration of the past.

What is the gardening trend of the season?

• Happiness! In a world of dark and difficult times, we want to paint our minds and souls in colourful pictures that boost our day. Plants with an abundance of flowers in an array of colours.

• We also stay in the upcycle and foraging trend, using our creativity to use materials found close and keep the interest to explore nature and bring it into our gardens.

• A keen interest to grow your own fresh produce, vegetables, herbs, fruits and berries is kept strong.
  
  

Who has been the biggest influence on your design career?

Nature, itself. I have a quite dialogue when I am outdoors, observing the tiniest pattern, such as a spiders web or the remarkable patterns of a snow flake in my hand in winter.

The natural light is very special, sometimes peculiar in Scandinavia, having an impact on myself as much as it plays an important role in expressions in what I create.

If you could invite any three people to a garden party who would they be?

Tapio Wirkkala – Finnish designer and sculptor. An exceptionally versatile artist. His expressions are often derived from nature, such as leaves or shape of birds as well as observations, such as ice formations or the movement of water. 

Karin Larsson – a Swedish design pioneer famous for her innovative patterns, long before her time. Trained as a painter, her paintbrush was replaced by thread and needle, as she turned her artistry to decorating her home, especially to weaving and embroidery. Her home and garden in Sundborn, Dalarna is perhaps Sweden’s most famous home, still open to the public today.

HRH Crown Princess of Sweden, Victoria – she is a role model for a younger generation sharing her admiration for nature, choosing to spend time in nature when possible, and being an advocate to save our oceans, raising awareness of challenges in the Baltic Sea. In 2020 she completed a two-year project of exploring every Swedish county on foot, to experience and to celebrate the natural beauty of Sweden.

Kajsa Björne – Show Garden Profile

I love the power of living materials, it is the lungs of every garden, without them, a garden will never be complete.  

When/How did you get into the industry?

I was studying industrial design and always felt like something was missing. Once I realised it was the natural elements and plants that I was missing, I changed my direction and never looked back. Growing up having Swedish nature as my playground shaped me more than I knew at the time.

What are you most excited about at this year’s #melbflower show?

To celebrate and share the natural beauty and culture of our Nordic heritage together with my close friend Annika. To share what lies deeply embedded within our hearts. It’s a matter of nurturing what we have on our doorstep and returning to our roots. Traditions, nature, handcraft and the beauty of our forests.

What is the gardening trend of the season?

• Calmness – our world is so stressful with the constant technology chasing us, the unsettled world around us with so much hatred and the stresses of a planet that is about to expire. We need to slow down, appreciate the small things around us, smell and look at the delicate construction of a leaf or a flower, listen and touch water, smell timber and celebrate nature.

• Artistic vision on a budget – Most of us are affected by the costs of living, the spike in interest rates, and generally having much less in our pockets. A beautiful garden should be something that everyone can afford.  It’s a matter of balancing creativity and finance by being innovative, have a plan and think through solutions.

Who has been the biggest influence on your design career?

My upbringing. Living close to nature and being surrounded by a family who share a love for nature. I developed a gratitude in the art of growing plants after growing most of our food in our garden and at my grandparent’s farm. 

If you could invite any three people to a garden party who would they be?

My grandmothers– Two very strong and inspiring women of their times, who taught me to take pride in the home & garden, make handcraft and how to create magic with plants.    

Andy Sturgeon – My first step into the garden design industry and show gardens was while working for Andy at the very start of my career. Andy is a great designer, a great friend but most of all, a very inspiring role model.

Björn Natthiko Lindeblad – A Swedish monk who can teach us all of how to slow down and appreciate what we have around us. When life gets busy and stressful, I read his book.