Cards can be a beautiful way to commemorate everything from a birthday to a book deal, but they're as transient as gifts come; unless its hand-painted, a card rarely sees more than a month on display before it hits the trash. These Bloom and Grow cards from UncommonGoods are designed with this short lifetime in mind, and in true cradle-to-cradle spirit, feed the earth once they're discarded. Seeds are embedded in each card, and with a little patience and water, will bloom into healthy flowers after the card is buried. While building an entire garden from these cards might only be possible for the super-popular, they're perfect for anyone who will actually take the time to make the seeds sprout. I only wish there was an option to send local seeds- perhaps you could choose varsities based on the recipient's climate region.

Disclaimer: I was employed by UncommonGoods in 2006

Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:

• Tools for Enjoying Hammocks and High Tea
• Is TextID a Greener Business Card?
• The Shop of (Design) Delight Pops Up
• Free "Holy Ground" Book To First 20 TreeHuggers

Anti-diamond Ring

System X Marks the Spot