Flowers have long held a significant place in human culture, serving not only as symbols of beauty but also as vital components of ecosystems and economies. British Columbia-based writer, photographer, and designer Christin Geall explores this complex relationship in her new book, *Flora Culture: How Flowers Shape Our World*, which examines the environmental, economic, and ethical implications of the global flower industry.

Geall’s work investigates the often overlooked impact of the floriculture sector, an industry valued at approximately US$58 billion worldwide. Drawing upon her background nurtured by ethnobotanist Nancy Turner at the University of Victoria, Geall approaches the topic with both scientific insight and cultural awareness. Her book is structured as an “abecedarium,” a collection of over 80 alphabetically organized essays that blend personal narratives with expert perspectives from growers, scientists, and designers to uncover the realities behind the floral supply chain.

One of the central issues Geall highlights is the vast scale and environmental footprint of the industry’s global distribution networks. For example, a single Boeing 747 cargo plane can transport nearly 1.65 million roses, and cities such as Miami receive about 22 million flowers daily. The United Kingdom imports around 90 percent of its cut flowers despite its historic reputation as a nation of gardeners. These logistics depend heavily on refrigerated “cold chains” powered by fossil fuels, contributing to climate change.

Geall questions whether consumers should apply the same critical standards to flowers as they do to food, advocating for increased awareness about the origins and sustainability of floral products. She points out that the dominant commercial cut flowers—roses, carnations, gerbera daisies, lilies, tulips, daffodils, and chrysanthemums—pose specific challenges. For instance, roses, which account for 41 percent of the global flower trade, need to be delivered to consumers within 24 to 48 hours of being cut to maintain freshness, necessitating extensive refrigeration and rapid shipping.

While local flower production is often promoted as a solution, Geall cautions that it is not a straightforward fix. Many local growers use plastic coverings and peat-based soil mixes, which carry their own environmental concerns. Geall has adjusted her own gardening practices to focus more on perennial native plants such as snowberry and red-flowering currants, which may offer more sustainable alternatives.

She also highlights the environmental costs associated with backyard gardens, emphasizing that individual home gardening can require significant energy, water, and non-biodegradable resources. A recent study in *Nature Cities* found that backyard gardens often have larger carbon footprints than nearby farms, whereas urban farms and community gardens demonstrated greater climate benefits. Geall urges greater support for these more sustainable community-based growing models over resource-intensive private gardening.

The use of bedding plants—annuals sold in plastic containers—is another practice Geall critiques for its disposability and lack of sustainability, despite their popularity for seasonal color. She encourages gardeners to prioritize native species and biodiversity while reducing hardscaping, lighting, and artificial infrastructure in their gardens.

Ultimately, Geall calls for a shift in how society perceives and interacts with flowers, paralleling the evolving consumer consciousness seen in food systems. She argues that floral and ornamental horticulture industries, like food industries, require reform supported by government policies and consumer education. Given the widespread affection for flowers and gardening, she believes meaningful change is achievable and necessary to harmonize human activity with ecological wellbeing.