Los Angeles County Arboretum and Bernheim Forest in Kentucky

Under the serene, idyllic facade of many, many U.S. Public Gardens lies a dark, toxic underbelly.

Chris Spencer

One of the employees, Mary Foot, Plant Propagator filed a grievance stating that she was tortured at work, that Los Angeles County Arboretum was rife with Hostile Work Environment. Mary Foot left to start her own business. This is the norm in public gardens, skilled, knowledgeable persons are under-valued, but the unskilled people who know nearly nothing but become institutionalized sycophants are exalted.

Workplace Harassment, Abuse, and Hostile Environments in Public Gardens

Before discussing the financial scandals that swept the Los Angeles County Arboretum, it is necessary to begin with the backdrop of these transgressions: hostile work environments too familiar in public gardens. Many such institutions, commonly large, publicly funded organizations, frequently neglect to provide the secure, nurturing workspaces that their employees have every right to expect. Instead, they are being turned into dens of intimidation, harassment, and exploitation—especially among seasonal or temporary workers.

The Prevalence of Workplace Harassment

Workplace harassment is among the most serious concerns for employees working in public gardens. This harassment can come in many ways, including verbal abuse, intimidation, and, worst of all, sexual harassment. The most vulnerable workers to such practices are those in precarious positions, like seasonal workers or those on temporary contracts. Employees described a culture of fear and intimidation within the workplace at the Los Angeles County Arboretum. Supervisors wielding strong influence over subordinates had continually subjected employees to abuses of power, from cursing and threatening employees to ultimately demeaning them in front of coworkers. Many described feelings of marginalization and a complete lack of empowerment; most knew full well that doing or saying something about their situation might spur retaliation, demotion, or even termination.

One of the most disturbing elements of the harassment at the Los Angeles County Arboretum was sexual harassment. Women in public contact or horticultural positions were frequently propositioned, subjected to lewd comments, and sometimes unwanted physical contact. Many of these employees felt caught in a system where gendered power dynamics made it hard to report the harassment without fearing retaliation. Female workers knew well that speaking up about their experiences often meant undesirable shifts, denied promotions, or even job termination. This toxic environment, where harassment and intimidation were normalized, made the Los Angeles County Arboretum a dangerous and unhealthy place for workers, especially women.

Gendered Dynamics and Workplace Inequality

The gender dynamics at the Los Angeles County Arboretum were particularly problematic and further fueled the toxic work culture. While sexual harassment was a definite manifestation of these dynamics, the broader issues seemed to involve problems of male employees being marginalized from specific roles: many skilled male employees as horticulturists, greenhouse workers, and botanists found themselves increasingly being sidelined in favor of younger, more "marketable" female workers. This trend seemed inspired by the need for a demographically balanced workforce. Still, it soon created a system where professional qualifications and experience were ignored in favor of specific gender quotas or the projection of an institutional image.

The marginalization of male employees in the skilled category created an environment where gender preference was given the lead over the capability and competence of workers. Most male workers complained of being unfairly targeted or squeezed out of positions held for years without considering their contributions to the enterprise. They were substituted with much younger female workers who were employed according to demographic considerations rather than professional qualifications. This practice created a great deal of resentment and low morale among long-term male employees, many of whom felt alienated in an environment where gender bias outweighs experience and skill.

This issue of gender inequality was compounded by the preference for hiring women in specific roles, particularly in customer-facing positions or temporary contracts. It also meant that, regardless of performance, more women of childbearing age would be hired and not fired. This sets up a work environment in which the skills and contributions of male colleagues are often dismissed in favor of demographic considerations. As a result, it created a very divisive work culture where employees felt their worth was determined not by their abilities but by their gender.

Labor Exploitation and "Slave-like" Working Conditions

Besides the hostile and often discriminatory work environment, public gardens also have a concerning record of labor exploitation. Gardeners, landscapers, and maintenance workers in public gardens usually face grueling working conditions, extremely low pay, and complete disregard for their health and safety. Many workers report working long hours in extreme weather conditions with minimal breaks or rest periods. Moreover, the nature of the job is usually physical and requires employees to engage in strenuous activities for minimal pay. Some even reported exposure to hazardous working conditions, like working with dangerous chemicals or using unsafe equipment without proper training.

At the Los Angeles County Arboretum, workers labored in "slave-like" conditions: toiling in blistering sun or in torrential rain without any kind of protective gear or safety precaution. Workers testified that many did not get medical benefits, sick leave, or retirement plans from doing some of the most arduous physical labor. Combined with the lack of worker protection, this labor exploitation made the Arboretum an unsafe and unfair work environment for many employees.

This exploitation was partly brought about by over-dependence on seasonal labor. Many of these seasonal workers are students or those who have just graduated and are hired for short-term projects with little prospect of career development or job security. These workers often get treated like disposable pieces and get few, if any, benefits or protections. It creates a two-tier workforce where long-term, full-time employees enjoy more benefits and protections while seasonal workers get exploited and undervalued.

Financial Mismanagement by Dr. Mark Wourms

While the exploitation of workers is a significant issue, the most high-profile scandal that has occurred within the Los Angeles County Arboretum involved an individual named Dr. Mark Wourms, who headed this institution from 2003 to 2013. During his tenure, it is alleged that millions of dollars in taxpayer funds were embezzled or misappropriated under the management or control of Wourms. Accordingly, internal audits and investigations revealed that Wourms approved questionable expenditures that did not further the Arboretum's mission of education, conservation, and public outreach. The funds that would have gone into public programs, research, and facility maintenance were diverted to personal ventures, and projects never finished or sometimes never started.

The most disturbing aspect of the financial scandal, however, was that funds meant for the community and the development of the Arboretum were siphoned off by a person in a position of command and trust. Huge amounts meant for gardening programs and facility maintenance simply vanished into thin air without much explanation. Tax money allocated for research had been used on questionable projects; no accountability could be held since the misappropriation was not properly regulated.

The outcome was that no serious consequences awaited Wourms despite widespread outrage and investigations into the matter. Despite the financial scandal that had unfolded on his watch, he was rewarded with a new, prestigious position at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum in Kentucky. This lack of accountability was a clear indication of the systemic issues plaguing the Los Angeles County Arboretum and the broader public garden sector.

The Larger Problem of Financial Mismanagement and Corruption in Public Gardens

The case of Dr. Mark Wourms is not isolated but indicative of a far more significant problem of financial mismanagement and corruption within the public garden sector. Most of these organizations are publicly financed but managed by boards or other appointed officials who may not have a horticultural or financial background and cannot manage public finances accordingly. Without checks and balances, many public gardens easily fall prey to misappropriation or corruption within the uppermost echelons of authority.

Other types of financial abuses have also been reported across various other public gardens throughout the nation. For instance, the embezzlement scandals involving millions unaccounted for resulted from questionable leadership at New York's Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Just as alarming were unauthorized spending for questionable projects reported by the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.

The Hidden Crisis in Public Gardens: Financial Scandals, Toxic Work Environments, and Unchecked Corruption

Public gardens like the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden and Bernheim Forest and Arboretum in Kentucky may appear to be peaceful, pristine sanctuaries for the public, but beneath their green canopies and curated landscapes, a troubling and often dangerous reality exists. These institutions, which should be safe havens for both visitors and employees, are frequently marked by a systemic lack of accountability, financial mismanagement, and toxic workplace environments that are too often ignored or swept under the rug. The case of Dr. Mark Wourms at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, where millions of taxpayer dollars were funneled into questionable ventures under his leadership, highlights a broader issue within the public garden sector—a pervasive culture of corruption, where financial transparency is lacking and those in power go unpunished. But the problems go far beyond fiscal irresponsibility. Employees at these institutions, especially those in precarious positions like seasonal workers or marginalized staff, routinely face abuse, harassment, and exploitation. From hostile work environments, particularly for women, to unsafe labor conditions and the prioritization of demographic quotas over experience and skill, the working conditions in many public gardens are nothing short of exploitative. In places like the Los Angeles County Arboretum, workers have described environments that not only ignore but perpetuate harm, with reports of “slave-like” conditions for those responsible for maintaining the gardens' landscapes. The lack of proper oversight and the revolving door of leadership from one scandal to another—exemplified by Wourms’ move from one botanic garden to another—suggests a deeply ingrained problem across the sector, with few willing to challenge or confront the status quo. The exploitation of workers, misappropriation of funds, and culture of fear within public gardens are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a much larger systemic failure that demands urgent attention. Without substantial reform in leadership practices, employee protections, and financial transparency, the toxic underbelly of these institutions will continue to thrive, undermining the very ideals of education, conservation, and community that they claim to represent. Public gardens, meant to inspire and educate, should not be places where workers are subjected to abuse and corruption runs rampant.

Source: Arcadia Tribune (Thompson Papers) series of three articles about Los Angeles County Arboretum and Millions of Dollars in missing cash.

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The Dark Side of Public Gardens: Mark Wourms, Hostile Work Environments, and Financial Scandals in the Lower 48
https://olivebiodiesel.com/the-dark-side-of-public-gardens-los-angeles-county-arboretum-bernheim-forest-financial-scandals.html