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Sep 15, 2016 1:11 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Leon
Indiana (Zone 5a)
Light is the shadow of God!
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Region: United States of America Region: Indiana Vegetable Grower
Garden Ideas: Master Level Peonies Hummingbirder Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
crawgarden said:Leon, are your original labels P Touch with UV resistance?

RJ,
Not P-touch. I ordered them online from some place in Maine. They advertised heavily at that time in the AIS Bulletin.
(Wow! They say the memory is the first thing to go. I just now found an old ad in the July, 2001 AIS Bulletin, and I was wrong on all counts!) It was not Maine but New Hampshire where I ordered the peel & stick labels. I Googled the name but came up 'empty'. So I can only assume they are no longer in business. The website was http://www.gardenfonts.com yet when I tried it earlier got an error message. Here is the actual ad & the AIS Bulletin cover from 2001. I must say the labels held up fairly well for that length of time.

Thumb of 2016-09-15/TBGDN/cdf271 Thumb of 2016-09-15/TBGDN/41d4c9

Polymerous said:I briefly had a fling with those impressionable copper labels (on stakes), but as Sherry commented, they quickly oxidize and you can't read them unless you are right on top of them - and even then it can be problematic! (Also, the copper "label", which is really just a strip of copper bent around the posts, can and will fall off in the garden (thanks to critters or blundering humans).)..................The garden marker writing does eventually start to fade, but one advantage of the Wren labels (over other types of "long term" garden labels) is that (as Sherry noted) one can always write in long-lasting pencil (on the reverse side of the label). It is not really readable in the garden, BUT the duplicate pencil writing on the reverse side ensures that the plant identity is not lost if the gardener is too slow/lax to update the label.


All of this is very informative. I like the idea of a 'back-up' in pencil. Smiling
Even a fool, when he shuts his mouth, is counted (as being) wise.Proverbs 17:28
MY BLOG
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Sep 15, 2016 2:49 PM CST
Name: Marilyn, aka "Poly"
South San Francisco Bay Area (Zone 9b)
"The mountains are calling..."
Region: California Daylilies Irises Vegetable Grower Moon Gardener Dog Lover
Bookworm Garden Photography Birds Pollen collector Garden Procrastinator Celebrating Gardening: 2015
You are very right, Mary Ann - maps FTW! Thumbs up

(...but just noting... maps can get lost, too... or not be updated...)
Evaluating an iris seedling, hopefully for rebloom
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Sep 15, 2016 4:01 PM CST
(Zone 9b)
Region: California Garden Ideas: Level 1
I have everything labeled and hand written maps, backed up with maps on the computer and even those are backed up on my back-up drive. None of that helps when you have wild turkeys dig up your beds and take dust baths.

Maybe one day I'll go for a better looking label, but for now, cut up pots and tin blinds work for me.
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Sep 15, 2016 8:54 PM CST
Name: Niki
Bend, Oregon (Zone 6a)
Flowers are food for the soul.
Bee Lover Butterflies Daylilies Dragonflies Frogs and Toads Hummingbirder
Irises Region: Oregon Organic Gardener
I remembered just burying the fancy labels from Schreiner's next to the rhizome last year. (Lazy, but I did do the maps like suggested on here too.)
"The Earth laughs in flowers."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Sep 16, 2016 9:34 AM CST
Name: Lucy
Tri Cities, WA (Zone 6b)
irises
Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Irises Region: Northeast US Region: United Kingdom Region: United States of America
Enjoys or suffers cold winters
We use the Brothers P-touch but get the metal markers from different sources. When I use temporary plastic labels I find that a graphite pencil lasts the longest. Occasionally a tape label will peel off from the stake.
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Sep 16, 2016 10:14 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Leon
Indiana (Zone 5a)
Light is the shadow of God!
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Region: United States of America Region: Indiana Vegetable Grower
Garden Ideas: Master Level Peonies Hummingbirder Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
irisarian said:We use the Brothers P-touch but get the metal markers from different sources. When I use temporary plastic labels I find that a graphite pencil lasts the longest. Occasionally a tape label will peel off from the stake.

I'm leaning in favor of the P-touch system, and will most likely order one soon since I want to make this a fall project. I agree with many of you that mapping is critical, and I've already started doing that. As some of you have said, stakes & tags have disappeared for unknown reasons and critters. And I like the graphite pencil idea as a back up.

With this in mind I am also saving a set of mini-blinds from the trash can for future use. They are coated aluminum I think. I also know I'm not getting any younger, so I don't want to put this off another year. And I don't like trying to read a label that's practically faded away or missing. I know I'm not alone in plant ID control. Many of the irises I hang on to are absolute favorites so I want to keep them positively identified. And I might sound old fashioned, but my top ten TB's are all over 20 years since introduction.
Even a fool, when he shuts his mouth, is counted (as being) wise.Proverbs 17:28
MY BLOG
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Sep 16, 2016 10:53 AM CST
Name: Lynn Golovich
Wyandotte, mi (Zone 6b)
"It's never to late to be what you
I have been using cut plastic mini blinds on the iris themselves. I use a marker that I ordered from Amazon that they use for tagging ears of animals that is supposed to last a very long time. (first season for this) I use a zip tie and attach it to the plant. Then in from of the row I also use a Cheap Off White Vertical blind with the name of the plant and how many of each I have in the row. I use the same marker to mark these. Then I also have the program Plantstep (only $30 worth every penny and more!) That I enter the location of the plants on. Not fancy but I think its going to work better then anything else I have tried and its CHEAP! I look in the trash on trash days for the blinds! I also have a drapery shop that is going to save their cast off vertical blinds for me.
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Sep 16, 2016 1:00 PM CST
Name: Sharlene Sutter
St. Gallen - Switzerland (Zone 6a)
Garden Ideas: Level 1
I have been using p-touch the last three years. The labels still look great Hurray!
Thumb of 2016-09-16/sunnyvalley/745255
Co-founder of www.dasirisfeld.ch in Oetlishausen, Switzerland
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Sep 16, 2016 1:14 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Leon
Indiana (Zone 5a)
Light is the shadow of God!
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Region: United States of America Region: Indiana Vegetable Grower
Garden Ideas: Master Level Peonies Hummingbirder Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Sharlene,
Great illustration! Is that the 1" tape? Thanks for posting.
Even a fool, when he shuts his mouth, is counted (as being) wise.Proverbs 17:28
MY BLOG
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Sep 16, 2016 1:18 PM CST
Name: Mika
Oxfordshire, England and Mento
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Foliage Fan Critters Allowed Daylilies Irises Roses
Hostas Birds Multi-Region Gardener Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
It's a good looking label, Sharlene. Where did you get the metal markers? I've been considering importing some from the US, because the only ones I can find in Europe are in Germany and much more expensive even taking into account trans Atlantic shipping costs.
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Sep 16, 2016 1:48 PM CST
Name: Sharlene Sutter
St. Gallen - Switzerland (Zone 6a)
Garden Ideas: Level 1
Leon - 0.94" to be exact.

Mika - I got them at Obi in Germany last year. A pack of three for EUR 2.50
Co-founder of www.dasirisfeld.ch in Oetlishausen, Switzerland
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Sep 16, 2016 1:52 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Leon
Indiana (Zone 5a)
Light is the shadow of God!
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Region: United States of America Region: Indiana Vegetable Grower
Garden Ideas: Master Level Peonies Hummingbirder Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Thanks Sharlene,
I had researched some today and 0.94 was what I found. Thumbs up
Even a fool, when he shuts his mouth, is counted (as being) wise.Proverbs 17:28
MY BLOG
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Sep 16, 2016 2:44 PM CST
Name: Mika
Oxfordshire, England and Mento
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Foliage Fan Critters Allowed Daylilies Irises Roses
Hostas Birds Multi-Region Gardener Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Thanks, Sharlene. Paw Paw will do 1000 for $305. My original plan was to get them sent to DH on his next trip to the US, but they told me that it would be 2 parcels weighing 34 lbs each! So shipping from the US is a further $199, plus whatever customs decide to add on. Still much cheaper per marker, but I keep thinking about how many irises, roses, or other treasures I could get for that money... Confused
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Sep 16, 2016 7:40 PM CST
Name: Mary Ann
Western Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Bee Lover Irises Hummingbirder Hostas Keeps Horses Farmer
Daylilies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Container Gardener Cat Lover Region: Kentucky Birds
Tough call, Mika.............
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
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Sep 16, 2016 11:04 PM CST
Name: Robin
Melbourne, Australia (Zone 10b)
Region: Australia Garden Photography Cat Lover Irises Seed Starter
Thanks for starting this thread Leon and thanks everyone for all the useful information. I only have about 50 irises and pretty much remember where they all are so I couldn't contribute anything useful. I have a map but I think some labels would be great, especially as my collection increases.
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Sep 17, 2016 5:59 AM CST
Name: Lilli
Lundby, Denmark, EU
Irises Roses Bulbs Hellebores Foliage Fan Cottage Gardener
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Seed Starter Winter Sowing Bee Lover Dog Lover Region: Europe
I use cheap, but sturdy plastic markers with pensil. They hold up really good, but can be difficult to lacate after a year or two. I have been looking for some nice, but not too expensive metal markers on which to put p-touch labels - but have the same problem as Mika with finding affordable ones.

In addition to the plastic markers, I have photos, digital maps and lists to keep track of my plants and their locations. I have been looking for some good plant database software for a while now, like the one Lynn recommended (will look into that Thank You! ), but have not found exactly what I am looking for so far... Suggestions would be very welcome! Thank You!
Of course I talk to myself; sometimes I need expert advice!
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Sep 17, 2016 6:14 AM CST
Name: Mika
Oxfordshire, England and Mento
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Foliage Fan Critters Allowed Daylilies Irises Roses
Hostas Birds Multi-Region Gardener Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Is it better to get stainless steel wires, or are galvanised wires just as good? And is there any reason to go for 'heavy duty' rather than 'regular' zinc nameplates? Or would everything in stainless steel be best? I quite like the less shiny look of the zinc... Sorry for all the questions, but it's probably a once-and-for-all order so I'd like to get it right.
I'm all ears!
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Sep 17, 2016 6:20 AM CST
Name: Lilli
Lundby, Denmark, EU
Irises Roses Bulbs Hellebores Foliage Fan Cottage Gardener
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Seed Starter Winter Sowing Bee Lover Dog Lover Region: Europe
Not an expert on markers, but I do know a bit about steel and the 'stainless' part really depends on the quality of the steel more than the name - bad 'stainless' steel will not last very long in the garden and unfortunately you cannot tell what quality steel you will get just from pictures... I am leaning towards the galvanised ones - though they can come in good and bad quality too of course... Sighing!
Of course I talk to myself; sometimes I need expert advice!
Avatar for SJButler
Sep 17, 2016 6:35 AM CST

I use a variety of labels...cut up vinyl mini blind slats and Brother P-Touch with 'strong adhesive' label tape. The best and most expensive I have are engraved markers from Engraved Garden Path Markers, Inc. 12693 South 350 east, Haubstadt, Indiana 47639 (812) 483-2127 [email protected] The price includes the stake, plate and engraved label, postage, and assembled. Their individual cost is $4.95 + postage or approx $5.75 each. Chris is the least expensive I have found on the internet. I have had some of these labels for 14 years and they still look new. I did have 2 engraved labels come off of the metal plate of my oldest labels. I cleaned the metal plate to remove any old glue and dirt. Then I reattached the engraved label with LocTite industrial strength super glue.
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Sep 17, 2016 6:39 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Leon
Indiana (Zone 5a)
Light is the shadow of God!
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Region: United States of America Region: Indiana Vegetable Grower
Garden Ideas: Master Level Peonies Hummingbirder Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
@cliftoncat Mika,
I just ordered 100 markers from Paw Paw yesterday. I ordered the heavy duty zinc plates since I had some flimsy ones in the past which bent out of shape. I went with the galvanized wires since the ones I currently have seem to withstand the weather OK. I paid $5.00 extra for the heavy duty plates. All this is a trial with them because it's my first order there. Hopefully this will get all my worst labels replaced this fall (and before winter). This is a picture of one of the 'flimsies'. All these will be replaced. (Also ordered a P-touch system yesterday as well.)
Thumb of 2016-09-17/TBGDN/a5b0ac
Even a fool, when he shuts his mouth, is counted (as being) wise.Proverbs 17:28
MY BLOG
Last edited by TBGDN Sep 17, 2016 6:40 AM Icon for preview

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