I've been doing this a while using a plant tag marking pen from Gardeners Supply Co. catalog. Your version sounds like a lot more work, but is also feasible if you use exterior paint or primer of any kind sold in a can at hardware stores. I use those flat round river stones found at stone dealers, just because I like them, but use any stone you can get. I've seen bricks being used also. For the names, use the common names found in any plant catalog. Anyone else?

I consider "Dutchman's Breeches" to be a specific variety (Dicentra cucullaria) that is actually different from "bleeding Heart" because the flower shape looks like a pair of breeches. I always considered "bleeding heart" to be an old timey name. I HAVE heard other people refer to the bleeding hearts as Dutchman's Breeches though, so maybe they can be interchanged. It's hard to know with so many common names being tossed around and some plants having several names or sharing the same common name. I think your idea is cute. I wish I could do it but my kids would mix them all up. I'd encourage you to put the latin name (and variety) on the bottom of the rock too for future trading. Violet, Solomon's Seal, St. Johns Wort, Bee Balm all sound like old names to me. Especially violet, that ones very old. -Ais.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dutchman's Breeches

Shannon, Cute idea! They have those paint pens you can get at the craft stores. Might be easier to work with. Probably be a good idea to seal them with some kind of clear overcoat. Also Lemon Balm/mint family is the same thing as Melissa officinalis (Latin).

We got an idea from the garden junk forum I think. Any ceramic tile (low as 25 cents each at Lowes) can be used. Draw with colored sharpees and then bake at 350 degrees for 35 mintutes to weather-proof. I also sprayed with shellac, since some postings indicated that a few colors were not stable. My 10-year-old stepdaughter had a ball making a dozen of these, marking her garden and making signs stating that garden cats rule - dogs drool.

Awesome idea with the ceramic tile. They always have tile down at Habitat for next to nothing. I'll probably do a combo because some of my plants are on top of each other.
Love the paint pen idea- they come in so many different colors. Also got an idea for a homemade gazing ball. It is going to be an art project for my DD and some of her friends.
I'm looking through some old herb books for references to old fashioned rememdies for flower names. I came across fairy cups for foxgloves. But I probably will write the more commonly used names on the bottom. Thanks, Shannon/Dirtrx

Might want to add some whimsical quotes too.........

Earth laughs in flowers.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

As follows are some old timey names for some flowers--- Columbine --aka-- Grandma's bonnet,-- Foxglove AKA Fairy's hat, Hollyhocks--- Known as the "outhouse flower" ( in Victorian times the proper ladies would always look for flower as It showed them the way to outhouse.-- An interesting fact-- the Hibiscus is in the okra family.

sorry these are in loose alphbetical order
aruncus dioicus- goatsbeard
artemisia- wormwood, absinthe
asclepias
A curas-savica bloodweed
A. incarnata milkweed
A. tuberosa pleurisyroot, colic root
A. vincetoxicum "tame poison"
balsam- jewelweed
burrdock- cockleburr
calamint- mountain balm
clary sage- eyebright
chervil- sweet cicely
coral bells- alum root
columbine- granny's bonnets
datura- devil's apples
digitalis- fairy cups
dill- dillweed
feverfew- flirtwort
geranium-(perennial) bloody cranesbill
goldenrod- aaron's rod
helenium autmnale, helen's flower, autumn flower, sneezweed
Joe pye weed (eupatoruim) purple boneset
lemon balm- melissa
lychnis coronaria- rose campion, bloody mary, bloody william, silene
monard bee balm oswega tea
mullein (greater) arron's rod/staff, witch's staff
nasturium- watercress
oxalis- wood sorrel
passionvine- maypop
peony- paeony
polemonium- jacob's ladder
portulaca- moss rose, purselane
pulmonaria- lungwort
soapwort- bouncing bet
violet- heartease
woodruff(sweet)- our lady's lace
yarrow- woundwort
I know there are some discrepancies in the plants names such as arron's rod for mullein and goldenrod so I will go with witch's rod for mullein. Other names are for specific plants such as cranesbill vs bloody cranesbill. But I think its fun to know the common name and the "cottage" name in addition to learning the latin names. Lots of times the name will describe the puppose of the plant like yarrow = woundwort. It was used as an antiseptic for wounds. But what is really surprising is how many of these plants are poisonous and were used for food or medicinally. I guess if it can make you purge that does get rid of the toxins. Shannon/Dirtrx

I don't know if you have these, but...
epimediums - fairy wings
dianthus - sweet williams
I think your markers will be great! Much more romantic than my metal markers with their latin names :) I'm probably too anal about my plants, but I might copy some of the ideas here and paint little stones with sayings on them and maybe let the kids paint some. Then if they move them around it won't matter. -Ais.

my winter reading included an Elizabeth Lawrence book entitled, "Gardening for Love - The Market Bulletins" ... there's a lot of old-fashioned plant names & plant histories in there. the book is a compilation of Lawrence's correspondence with hundreds of mostly farming folks who advertised seeds/plants/cuttings in the Market Bulletins of the day. Lawrence was intrigued with the unusual names given to plants, and went to great lengths in corresponding with these sellers, purchasing their wares, and figuring out what the plants actually were.

a few names from your list i found in a quick run-through of the book:
cleome - grandfather's whiskers, spider legs, spider flower.
datura meteloides - moon lily.
monarda didyma (bee balm) - firecracker plant.
echinacea purpurea (coneflower) - king flower.

Thanks everyone for the great info. I stopped by Lowe's on Capital and picked up some tiles for .32, AC Moore's for craft supplies, and a used Elizbeth Lawrence book. This is going to be a great weekend!

Head's up Lowe's has their bulbs on clearance! Still a pretty good selection right now.

My friend just bought a house with a well-established flower garden, etc. One of the plants was identified by the previous owner as a "deutsey bush" or "dootsie bush" but we cannot figure out what this might be? any clues?

deutzia?