FAQ
Soothe n' bloom products faq
What do you mean by “native” and “sterile” plants?
A native plant is any plant that is indigenous to a given geographical region. Native plants provide vital ecosystem services, like absorbing carbon, providing food and habitat for insects, birds, and animals, and interacting with other native plants. With global import/export of plants and the popularity of picture-perfect gardens, the line between native and not has become exceptionally blurred. Many plants that might seem native because of their popularity are often in fact just the opposite. Many non-native plants are heavily advertised as “pest-free” for your garden. Pest free means that the plant is alien to the local wildlife and therefore does not play a part in the food web. This is what we mean by “sterile”. While pest-free may sound appealing, replacing native plants with sterile plants really means wiping out the food source for a local creature. Each instance creates a domino effect that reverberates up and down the food chain, eventually impacting every part of the nature around us. A garden devoid of insects may look pretty, but it is a depleted habitat in disguise. Given the state of the earth right now and the magnitude of suburban/urban development, it is crucial that our gardens, our personal pieces of nature, are truly in harmony with the habitats we’ve replaced. Curious about your garden? Search the names of your favorite featured plants online and see where they originate from. Next time you get to work in your garden, be sure to look up your regions native plants using the Native Plant Finder! You may be surprised how many beautiful (and environmentally impactful) plants and flowers you’re missing out on.
Where can I find more information on native plants, biodiversity loss statistics, conscious gardening, etc?
Here’s a list of some of our favorite resources!
What do you mean when you say "every purchase contributes" to the project?
We're so glad you asked! We understand that this wording may not be as clear-cut as other businesses who, say, donate a percentage of profits or plant a tree for each purchase. The reason we opted against these systems is not to pull the wool over your eyes; in fact, quite the opposite! We are so deeply passionate about the Conscious Garden Project, and we want to do as much as we possibly can to spread the impact. We originally intended to plant a flower for each purchase, but our research quickly showed us that we need to do more than just put flowers in the ground to really help our starved habitats. In order to build "conscious" native gardens, we work hard to locate, research, plan, carry out, and maintain extensive landscaping projects. In addition to carrying out the physical creation of the garden, we are also working to team up with communities to educate youths and adults on the meaning and importance of native gardening. Our intention is for the CGP to continually grow and evolve alongside our business.
Frequently asked questions
What do you mean by “native” and “sterile” plants?
A native plant is any plant that is indigenous to a given geographical region. Native plants provide vital ecosystem services, like absorbing carbon, providing food and habitat for insects, birds, and animals, and interacting with other native plants. With global import/export of plants and the popularity of picture-perfect gardens, the line between native and not has become exceptionally blurred. Many plants that might seem native because of their popularity are often in fact just the opposite. Many non-native plants are heavily advertised as “pest-free” for your garden. Pest free means that the plant is alien to the local wildlife and therefore does not play a part in the food web. This is what we mean by “sterile”. While pest-free may sound appealing, replacing native plants with sterile plants really means wiping out the food source for a local creature. Each instance creates a domino effect that reverberates up and down the food chain, eventually impacting every part of the nature around us. A garden devoid of insects may look pretty, but it is a depleted habitat in disguise. Given the state of the earth right now and the magnitude of suburban/urban development, it is crucial that our gardens, our personal pieces of nature, are truly in harmony with the habitats we’ve replaced. Curious about your garden? Search the names of your favorite featured plants online and see where they originate from. Next time you get to work in your garden, be sure to look up your regions native plants using the Native Plant Finder! You may be surprised how many beautiful (and environmentally impactful) plants and flowers you’re missing out on.
Where can I find more information on native plants, biodiversity loss statistics, conscious gardening, etc?
Here’s a list of some of our favorite resources!
What do you mean when you say "every purchase contributes" to the project?
We're so glad you asked! We understand that this wording may not be as clear-cut as other businesses who, say, donate a percentage of profits or plant a tree for each purchase. The reason we opted against these systems is not to pull the wool over your eyes; in fact, quite the opposite! We are so deeply passionate about the Conscious Garden Project, and we want to do as much as we possibly can to spread the impact. We originally intended to plant a flower for each purchase, but our research quickly showed us that we need to do more than just put flowers in the ground to really help our starved habitats. In order to build "conscious" native gardens, we work hard to locate, research, plan, carry out, and maintain extensive landscaping projects. In addition to carrying out the physical creation of the garden, we are also working to team up with communities to educate youths and adults on the meaning and importance of native gardening. Our intention is for the CGP to continually grow and evolve alongside our business.