City Botanics is a specialist garden design studio that sprouted from the observation that our cities are changing, and they are changing fast. With an increase in higher density living, our homes are gardens are getting smaller. Their strong beliefs about how gardens should fit into today’s world, are incorporated into their business every day, says owner Martin Steel-Brown.
“We believe that gardens and plants can heal and provide a sense of calm in today's chaotic world. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to incorporate nature into their daily lives, regardless of the size of their living space or how green their thumbs. That's why at City Botanics, we strive to create functional, thoughtful and hassle-free gardens & plantscapes for busy urban dwellers”
Focusing on designing and installing gardens in apartments, courtyards, townhouses, small yards, and interiors, their goal is to provide a service that allows their customers to be captivated by plants each and every day so that they too can harvest that special connection our gardens provide. And their customers are jumping on board.
“Thanks to City Botanics carefully selecting plants, this former plant killer (me) is now a reformed green thumb! Every day I wake up to a beautifully landscaped native garden and every corner In my house has a plant - this all makes me so happy!” (Kiki Isidorou)
For owner Martin, starting a business that revolved around plants, dirt and nature seemed to be an easy decision.
"I was working in an account management role for a food company and while I mostly enjoyed what I did, I quickly become disconnected in what I was selling and new that there was a missing piece in my career puzzle. I always loved nature and the great outdoors and I had spent most of my life gardening. It allowed me an avenue to be creative and I always found the task of gardening to be quiet meditative. So I decided to take my passion and hobby and apply it along with my business and sales experience to start my own business here in Auckland".
For City Botanics, their vision is simple. Become a leader in small space gardening and ensure that we, as a society, never lose our connection to the natural world, no matter how high our buildings rise. With all the upheaval that we have all experienced over the past few months, now more than ever we can discover that connection and use it to help us navigate the new normal.
City Botanics has been a member of Grey Lynn & Around since June 2019 and offer special rates to all other members of our association. If you have a gardening project around the house or office, get in touch with them to discuss your green goals.
Martin Steel-Brown
grow@citybotanics
027 2157 844
@citybotanics
