Welcome to Corporate Gardens (CG), a project started in 2008 by me, Sean Schmidt, that explores the inspiring gardens of groundbreaking (literally and figuratively) companies, nonprofits, and government agencies. We'll dig deep into design and inspiration, as well as how culture, values, and practices of the organizations are reflected in their garden spaces. In this website and blog, I share brief summaries of the gardens I visit along with highlights from conversations with the innovative CEOs, gardeners, and other staff behind the outstanding gardens.
Companies, organizations, and agencies often go "above and beyond" what may be required for standard business operations and necessary expenditures because they feel it enhances their brand, reputation, or leadership in some way. These efforts have many names, including discretionary efforts, voluntary actions, value-added activities, and/or "nice-to-haves". Often, these efforts fall under industry best practices. Architecture, interior design, and landscaping are examples in which additional activities and expenditures may occur as part of such efforts. Whether it is choosing live plants over artificial plants in interior spaces or landscaping or hiring a professional landscaper to design and maintain exterior landscaping, these efforts and expenditures may seem to be unnecessary or even frivolous to some. But to many leaders, they are seen as adding significant value that outways the costs of these efforts.
One area of activity that is often reflected in the gardens of companies and organizations is their efforts related to what I refer to as sustainable business and development (SBD). Other terms similar to SBD that may be used for this area of activity are corporate social responsibility (CSR), environment, social, and governance (ESG), corporate citizenship (CC), and human health and the environment (HHE). For this reason, information and resources on SBD are also collected and shared on this website.