The Smart Botanic Art Team
Sydney Schwiebert - Owner, Lead Horticulturalist
Smart Botanic Art is, at its heart, a reflection of Sydney.
She does it all, from digging in the dirt and growing plants from seed to designing floral installations and personally answering every email.
Sydney moved to Charleston from Chicago to play Division I volleyball and study architecture. Along the way, she realized she was spending more time admiring the landscapes surrounding the buildings than the buildings themselves. She changed her path to horticulture and never looked back.
Today, she brings together a formal education in horticulture with years of hands-on experience working throughout the Lowcountry. Her work has included maintaining and designing plantings at Magnolia Gardens, Hampton Park, Marion Square, and other prominent Charleston landscapes.
She began her career planting and caring for luxury window boxes downtown, learning firsthand which plants thrive together, how Charleston's climate shapes every decision, and what it takes to create beauty that lasts beyond a single season. That same philosophy guides her floral work. As a freelance florist, she has helped design and install flowers for weddings across Charleston and Kiawah Island, blending horticultural knowledge with a refined, garden-inspired aesthetic.
Whether designing a private garden, creating living wedding florals, or growing uncommon plants in her Summerville greenhouse, Sydney approaches every project with the same goal: to create work that is beautiful, personal, and enduring.
Chris Diemer - Creative Stategist
Chris works behind the scenes to support nearly every part of Smart Botanic Art. He designed the company's logo, website, printed materials, and the systems that keep the studio running smoothly, from quote templates to invoices and client documents.
He collaborates closely with Sydney on business strategy, marketing, and brand direction, and occasionally lends a second set of eyes to gardens and floral installations to ensure every project feels balanced and complete.
Most importantly, he does his best to be a good husband to Sydney.
A Charleston native, Chris grew up spending summers at the beach, fishing from neighborhood docks, and exploring the landscapes that make the Lowcountry unique. He has maintained a lifelong fascination with art, design, and craftsmanship.
By training, he is a mechanical engineer. His technical background helps ensure that large installations are thoughtfully planned, structurally sound, and executed safely, bringing an additional layer of precision to the studio's creative work.
While Sydney brings plants to life, Chris helps shape the systems, ideas, and designs that allow Smart Botanic Art to flourish.