The gardener makes the rules. If those rules later don't suit him, he will change the rules.
The gardener also decides how he wants to zone his garden. Tomorrow he can re-zone his garden according to his whims and fancies.
The gardener also decides on how much he wants to pay himselves. He has a very high opinion of his net worth.
The gardener also do not like other rival gardener tending to 'his' land. If possible he will kick them off or get them jailed..remember rule no 1 above.
The gardener work for the owners. However he can 'invite' foreigners to become owners (again see rule no 1). If the current owners give him problem, he will get more 'foreigners' to come in and outvote the current owners.
The gardener is thriving, the foreigners are thriving, the garden seems to be thriving. Only the current owners are not thriving. They are getting old, the garden now seems foreign to them and soon they will be gone.