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Do you work in an office without windows? Does your office or shop have windows but the view is boring? Have you ever felt shut-in or trapped every day when you would really rather be home working in your garden? If your employer will not make the outside of your work place beautiful, maybe you can find a way to add a lovely display. Click to see beautiful commercial property pictures and ideas to help brighten your corner.
We have all probably worked in an office, shop or restaurant with a dismal view out the windows. I worked at a wonderful, friendly company for a few years. However, the building did not have any windows. Sometimes I needed a break to step outside to re-connect to the world even though no lovely trees or flowers were planted.
Typically, many employees may feels powerless to change the environment, so the lack of beauty is ignored. I call this the brick wall syndrome; everyone just ignores the wall. However, this syndrome is easy to remedy. It only requires a creative mind, patience and a bit of work for one person to change the environment. The remedy is even easier if multiple employees love gardening.
Here are some pictures of different corporate buildings and/or landscaping around the Tulsa, Oklahoma area. Some of the plantings are decidedly simple and some definitely complex. My hope is that the following pictures will inspire you to change the brick wall where you work. A beautiful place is a calm refuge in an otherwise crazy world, even if you love your job.
Spring blooms on a cherry tree in an office complex.
These purple-blue flowers look outstanding against a tan office building.
This familiar and long blooming favorite was planted directly outside an office.
The landlords in this office complex must love plants. I would want to rent here.
These shrubs added beauty for months for the employees.
A beautiful group of multiple colors of green hedges trimmed in different heights, capped off with shrubs and small plantings adds appeal to this church parking lot.
Just a simple, easy to maintain shrub adds so much to an otherwise boring commercial wall.
A fancy light under a beautiful tree shines a new light on work.
Who would not be delighted to look outside and see this beauty?
The side area of this commercial building looks beautifully decorated with ornamental grasses, other easy care plants and river rocks.
A Japanese maple tree looks stunning against this boring white corporate building.
How beautiful is this parking lot?
The flowers outside this builder's model home add cheer.
The sun and wind played games with these leaves outside my office window this year.
This crab apple bloomed outside my window for a couple springs while I worked as a staff accountant.
This lovely landing is outside a medical emergency building.
The spring flowers and shrubs add curb appeal to this corporate parking lot.
Even the post office planted a tree. (This is a memorial tree planted to remember the individuals that died in the Oklahoma City bombing.)
These redbuds are planted between a parking lot and Main Street.
This area looks great with seasonal flowers planted.
A simple grouping of tulips adds brilliant color to this corporate lot.
Even a construction area looks better decorated.
Here are some simple steps to help you beautify your workplace:
Always ASK your employer first. It is possible that there are funds in the budget to spruce up the workplace. By asking permission to plant, you might find unexpected help.
Note: A water garden may cause the landlord's (or your employer's) insurance to increase. Get special permission to add any type of water; there may be city requirements also if a water feature is added.
If the building is rented, you may also need permission from the landlord so the gardeners do not "chop down your cherry tree".
Decide on an acceptable plan. If you must also maintain the area, be sure to keep it simple. You might be delighted to keep the area up at first, but a long-term maintenance plan may be time consuming and expensive if you choose the wrong plants.
Analyze the area; how much sun and shade does it receive? Does water run off the building where you plan to plant your tree or flowers? Will the plants block the traffic sight line? Will the roots of the tree damage the foundation? Will the vines grow up into the roofing or into the bricks?
Look for plants that add beauty all year long and/or that do not need replanting every year. Also, look for plants that do not require constant watering in your area.
Do you or other gardeners have plants that have spread in your own garden(s)? Save funds and transplant a few to your workplace.
Make sure your planting will not interfere with underground utilities and easements.
Visit with other employees. Are there other gardeners in your workplace? Would anyone else be willing to help provide plants or labor? Do you have other gardening friends that will help you plant beauty at your workplace if you will help them create a workplace garden also?
Do not work on the garden during paid work hours unless this has been explicitly approved. You know your workplace; be wise. Go through all of the proper channels. A lovely garden you created is not much comfort if you lose your income.
Plant and enjoy the beauty.
Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:
Thank you for reading this article. Please feel free to comment below.
About April Campbell
Writer, Speaker, Accountant, Gardener, Teacher, Sign Language Interpreter, Friend, Inactive Real Estate Agent. I love plants but don't grow as many as I wish. The garden in my head is better than the one in my yard. However, I plant at least one tree every year and have left every home with a little more green than it had before. I hope you enjoy reading these articles as much as I enjoy writing them.
Posted by sli736 (from Redmond, WA) on December 04, 2008 at 01:45 AM:
I went back and viewed the pictures again. This time they all came up and they are beautiful!
Great ideas and thank you for sharing.
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Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on December 04, 2008 at 01:08 PM:
sli736,
Thank you so much! I appreciate your re-checking and your comments!
April
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Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on December 04, 2008 at 01:09 PM:
sli736,
Glad you can view them now!
April
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Subject: Plantings for work.
Posted by sli736 (from Redmond, WA) on December 04, 2008 at 01:40 AM:
This article was great. But there is a big problem. Out of all the pictures you had available only one would display on the computer. Everything was blank.
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Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on December 04, 2008 at 01:07 PM:
sli736,
Thanks for reading and commenting. I haven't heard this problem with anyone else. Please other readers, is this happening to you also?
Thanks again for your help!
April
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Subject: Christmas Decorations
Posted by CountryGardens (from Lewisville, MN) on November 30, 2008 at 07:33 AM:
I traveled by Cambria Corp. manufacturing plant on Friday night. It is located right next to the main highway between Mankato , MN & the Twin Cities. They have a beautiful building with a large pond. It has numerous trees planting since their expansion a couple years ago.
The whole building was covered in lights as well as all the trees. You could see it for miles before you got there. Beautiful sight!
This is a family owned business, so maybe that helps. This link has a summer picture of the building. http://www.cambriausa.com/learn_about.cfm
Bernie
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Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on November 30, 2008 at 09:44 PM:
Bernie,
Thanks for reading the article and commenting. I looked at the picture of the pond and trees. That must be a beautiful place with all the Christmas lights! How nice to be able to walk around the pond and trees on break; what a relief from the crazy busy world!
Have a wonderful week!
April
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Subject: :-)
Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on November 30, 2008 at 02:52 AM:
Thanks for a well thought-out article and for sharing all those inspiring photos! It's remarkable how much impact even a single tree or clump of flowers can have.
Inside plants are good too, where allowed -- and a window isn't necessarily required. I had a thriving pothos in a windowless basement office, lit only by ceiling fluorescent fixtures!
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Posted by Dutchlady1 (from Naples, FL) on November 30, 2008 at 08:50 AM:
A very nice article.
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Posted by planolinda (from Plano, TX) on November 30, 2008 at 10:44 AM:
our school playground is a sad dirt trampled area- the enviornmental club planted a few rosemary plants and butterfly bushes and it really helps--a little here and a little there and it changes the whole look! thanks for the article
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Posted by sallyg (from Anne Arundel Co., MD) on November 30, 2008 at 03:52 PM:
I often admire or cringe at commercial areas, depending on the plantings. I think it reflects a lot on the business. In that respect I shudder at many of our public school facilities. planolinda, kudos to your env. club.
And if you happen to be visiting a facility on the day they prune, you might pick up some rootable trimmings. I was dying to ask for some of the discarded pots when the guys were planting but I was too busy. I would also love if they'd bring me the "old" mulch they rake off from the trees. The landscape employees could and possibly do make good use of some of the discard material.
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Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on November 30, 2008 at 09:55 PM:
critterologist,
Thanks for reading and commenting and for your kind words. Sometimes the beauty outside the windows helped keep me sane; esp. if I feel like work is a cage. LOL.
You are right; Mitch gave me a plant and I'm thinking about taking it to work with me so it can enjoy the warm office this winter.
April
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Dutchlady1,
Thanks for reading and commenting. I'm delighted that you enjoyed it.
April
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planolinda,
So very true; a little here and a little there and we change the environment. Perhaps a child will develop an appreciation for plants along the way. Thanks for reading and commenting.
April
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sallyg,
That reminds me of what happened here in Tulsa about 20 to 25 years ago. A corporation advertised that they were pulling out the Iris for the end of the season and that the Iris would be given away free; first come, first served.
Judging by the lines of unruly Tulsans; you would have thought they were giving away gold coins. My mom and I waited for a long time. However, people butted out of line and ran up to grab the Iris. Mom and I left empty handed. I've never seen such an advertisement since. Wonder why (NOT)
I think a lot of the plants that are pulled out are simply tossed and that is a shame.
Thanks again for reading and commenting!
April
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Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on November 30, 2008 at 10:01 PM:
Dutchlady1,
Happy Birthday, too! :-)
April
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Posted by numbercruncher51 (from Herrin, IL) on December 02, 2008 at 06:30 AM:
Several years ago, the bank where I worked had the geraniums removed at the end of the summer so they could put in temporary mums. I worked in the basement and was unaware of what was going on, but thankfully, my sweet husband was making a deposit that day and asked the nursery people if he could have the old plants. Long story short, those discards are blooming their heads off on my enclosed porch this very minute and will most certainly continue to do so all winter long just as they have every year since that time. I've started hundreds of plants from cuttings off those guys and they go to our garden club plant sale each spring to brighten other people's homes and raise money for the club activities. It sure pays to be in the right place at the right time. By the way, my daughter lives in Tulsa and loves it.
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Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on December 02, 2008 at 08:44 PM:
numbercruncher51,
Thanks for writing and commenting! That is a wonderful story; I am so glad you saved the day for those beauties. Tulsa is a great place to live; she would probably recognize a lot of the places in the pics.
