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  • From: Melanie <melaniev@optonline.net>
  • To: gardenwriters-on-gardening <gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [gwl-g] Labeling in the Garden
  • Date: Tue, 16 Nov 2004 09:52:17 -0500

Lorraine and all, Lots of great ideas here on labeling in the garden. I'm a bit late on this thread, just got in from St. Louis last night. It felt like spring there!
 
Believe me, I've got hundreds and hundreds of labels in my garden and still have hundreds of plants that I've lost their name. It's so frustrating to me, especially if somebody wants to know exactly what that sedum is and I have no idea.
 
The article about my garden organization methods in Newsday was quite funny considering I'm totally unorganized :-)  But I do use several different methods to label my garden.
 
#1, Like Lina, those mouse graveyard types are used here. I print out the plant name with a brother p-touch and affix it to the metal marker. It holds for years, much better than anything in pen or marker. I've tried several different metal markers and many discolor quickly. My favorites come from a company in Idaho called "See-Fine Marker company".
 
#2, Old mini blinds are great to keep records on but ugly to look at. I keep a bucket full of cut up blinds for when I'm in a pinch. Write on them with paint pen on the front but always back it up with pencil on the back. The pencil will never fade, never, never, never.
 
#3, Digital cameras (mentioned here before) are excellent ways to keep records. Take a picture of the plant when you plant it and tape the plastic nursery tag to the printed out photo. I just print them out on regular paper, it's not supposed to be artwork.
 
#4, Video cameras are great because you can do a panoramic sweep and talk while you are taping. Of course I say this but have never had the time to pull out a video camera during gardening season.
 
#5, Get creative! I go to the beach and pick up beautiful smooth white stones about the size of my palm and paint the plant name on that. Looks lovely in the garden.
 
#6, For a flower show we needed larger names so I handpainted them on interlock blocks. Now those blocks are in my garden and they're great. Not only do they record the plant name but they give me a place to put my foot when I'm weeding in the garden.
 
#7, Shrubs are a new addition to my garden an I bought metal impresso tags. You press hard on them with a ball point  pen and then even if the pen washes away, there is an impression with the name. Can only do a few before my hands hurt from writing but they are great. They get attached to the shrub and then I always know what I have. They were also nice and cheap.
 
Melanie
 
 
 



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