Growing up around gardeners fostered an interest in nature from a young age that’s lasted my entire life. Some of my fondest memories are of playing in my Grandad’s garden, hiding in the irises and climbing the trees hanging over the little koi pond. Now that I have my own backyard, I can carry on the tradition. The plants in this booklet were picked for their versatility in a disrupted climate, with special attention paid to native species. This is how I want to garden, and how I want other people to begin thinking about gardening and their relationship to the natural world.
Take a look inside….
Branding
While designing Urbundant, I wanted it to feel like an actual scrapbook, which I think turned out pretty well! I often looked to the Swiss style, vintage field guides and collage as a source of inspiration. As such, this book features a mixed-use of photography and my own illustrations. The font used for each section title is hand-lettered to give it more of an organic look. The logo was created using the same process, cut out of a milkweed leaf, a plant loved by butterflies.
A plant sprite is a newly discovered species of fae found in areas with an abundance of plant life. Though they typically prefer living in undisturbed locations such as forests and meadows, they’ve also been known to live among people. If they find someone they like, these sprites will move in, becoming a sort of groundskeeper for the person’s garden. However, if they’re displeased by how its cared for, the garden will die.
Sprites
Contrary to popular belief, these sprites are insectile in nature. Scientists believe they share a common ancestor with the bagworm family. They cover their bodies in rich topsoil, and whatever plant they choose to live on begins to grow on top of their heads. Their tails are actually the roots of these head-plants.
Plant Picks
I decided to design these picks using my sprites, so that when they’re planted in the soil their little heads stick out of the ground, just like they would if they really existed! They also make for some pretty cute bookmarks, if I do say so myself.
