some variety of marigold?

Or specifically maybe a calendula, also known as pot marigold. They tolerate cold weather so are often planted to bloom in late winter and then taken out to be replaced by warm weather annuals, but it will continue to bloom until it gets hot. Good find!

Thanks! I think it is a calendula.

Great find. I'm always hoping to be around when I see some of these businesses or apt complexes changing their landscaping plants.

I'm not even sure if they donate them to somewhere else. I feel that they probably just throw them away :-(

At the least, let someone compost them!

Gather seeds and save for next fall. Seed heads for these are really interesting.