Like others, I make my tags once I order the plants. I tag them as I take them out of the box; this lets me do a quick inventory in case something is missing (it also lets me see if a vendor has been generous to send a bonus!). In addition, when making tags, I do one color for dips and one for tets. This is a visual way to learn the ploidy of so many new plants at once if you are planning to do some crosses (like many, I order en masse because I have an addiction
) I use a paint pen to write the cultivar name & daylily vendor on my tags, and I haven't had any fade or wear off after two years. I get the paint pens from Walmart in the craft section.
One of the most important steps is to make a map. It doesn't have to be fancy, just whatever works for you. Make sure to update it as you add new plants or remove existing ones
Here's a work in progress of one of my older beds that I am currently reworking:
And I didn't have time to draw anything when I made a map of my sidewalk daylilies, so I just listed the names like this:
I do my sketches in pencil and keep them in a protective sleeve in my daylily binder (which my family gives me much grief about since they're not 'flower' people, but I'm super organized about most things
).
If anyone uses a computer program for making maps of beds, I would love to know more!!
Great topic, Barbalee!
