Kate, I tried those a few years back and didn't like them for some reason I no longer remember. I think the writing tip was too large and it dried out on me but not sure.
I went out and checked some of the remaining labels from you. I believe they are from 2009 and are still unfaded and unsmeared. Clearly, however, they were made with some kind of ink, not pencil, and fine point. Hope you can remember, as they are great. I think if the marker was used to mark a heavy UV-stabilized PVC label, that they would last 5 years or longer.
The major thing I am doing to keep from losing labels is to mark labels where the lettering goes under ground. No exposure to UV means that they do not fade, so the limiting factor is the plastic of the label (that sticks out of the ground). If I also mark the top of the label that sticks out of the ground, then I can use it to ID the plant. The important thing is to remember to write the label on the part that goes in the ground as well.
I'd offer to send you some plants too, but things are so complex and challenging here that I am not making any more commitments at the moment. One would say that "life is happening" here. Still, I'd like to help if things settle down a bit. Please keep me in mind if you are looking for something specific and tree-mail me. I'll try to help, even if it takes a bit of time to get to it.
