My plantable bookmark “You Belong” was inspired by my love of flowers, music, and community. On the surface, this handmade woodblock-printed bookmark is a nod to Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers”, a classic album and song. But digging deeper into the piece, the message is about acceptance and enduring love because you belong to be here — in this community, country, and planet, and you are cherished. As a bookmark, you can easily tuck in this reminder wherever you need it, or you can release it and any other intentions into the wild.

The handmade plantable seed paper was sourced from local paper maker and book artist Amanda Degener. As the paper decomposes, a mix of perennial wildflowers grows, which includes flax, larkspur, coneflower, lupine, daisy, primrose, purple clover, blanketflower, cornflower, tickseed, black-eyed susan, and more.

The illustration carved into the woodblock highlights the coneflower, lupine, and primrose seeds found in this paper. Assigning symbolism and meaning behind different flower species dates back hundreds of years. Coneflowers are a symbol of strength and – depending upon the genus – healing. The lupine flower stands for imagination, admiration, and overall happiness. They put vitamins and nutrients back into the soil and help forests grow. Primroses are one of the first wildflowers to bloom in the Spring, which is one of the reasons this flower symbolizes youth. One of the most popular messages associated with primroses is “I can’t live without you” — and indeed, we need you.