gardenswhere

Gardenswhere is a term used to describe a global, community-driven system for cataloging and discovering gardens and other green spaces. It denotes both a conceptual framework for situating gardens within geographical and cultural spaces and a practical digital resource that aggregates geolocated garden entries.

Entries in a gardenswhere database typically include location coordinates, garden type (public, private, community, school, rooftop), size, plant collections, design style, accessibility, visiting hours, and seasonal bloom information. Media such as photographs and maps may accompany descriptions. Some implementations also record metadata on habitat value, water use, biodiversity, maintenance practices, and conservation status. The aim is to provide a standardized yet flexible data model that supports discovery and comparison across regions.

Users of gardenswhere platforms include urban planners, landscape designers, educators, researchers, gardeners, and tourists. The system is designed to facilitate knowledge exchange, collaboration, and learning, with potential benefits for biodiversity, food security, and urban resilience. By crowdsourcing data, gardenswhere projects strive to produce inclusive catalogs that reflect local diversity and accessibility while promoting stewardship of green spaces.

Origin and governance of gardenswhere concepts arose from open-data and crowdsourcing movements, with various implementations adopted by municipal programs, non-profit networks, and community groups that manage garden registries or mapping initiatives. Data standards and licensing vary, but common priorities emphasize interoperability, accuracy, and long-term sustainability of garden information.

See also: open data, crowdmapping, geographic information systems, urban gardening, botanical gardens.