I keep accurate & detailed records on all my plants, though I have found a way to simplify the process and minimize the amount of time and effort it takes to keep these records up to date. I decided that for my purposes, there were only three areas that warranted the keeping account of what my plants were doing & when. The careful selection of these three areas was key in freeing up my time to pursue plant interests aside from record-keeping. Each time a plant leaves the growing bench without authorization, I mark it down. I strictly enforce the "three strikes & you're out" rule - I simply don't have time to be chasing after plants all day. The "three strikes" strategy seems to be working as the incidence of AWOL plants is very low this year. 2) When a plant pitches a fit & stops transpiring until it turns brown, I make a mental note of it. Before placing a "black mark" on the record, the plant is first put on notice that if it doesn't mend it's ways, it will be discarded, along with its own special page in my book of records. Often, just one quick trip to anywhere in the near vicinity of the compost pile is all it takes to correct this aberrant behavior. 3) Plants that pretend they are suffering for trite reasons (like lack of water or fertilizer, insect infestations or pesky diseases) will be threatened with the same three strikes rule as outlined in example #1. I remind them with something like "There are millions of starving plants in China - so you don't have it so bad". I often tell them if they don't straighten up they will have to wait until spring to be fed. At this time, I still don't mark anything down, choosing instead to put the plants and their records from example #1 in plain view; the obvious implication here being "You could be in their shoes". This usually gets them (and me) through 'til spring without having to mark anything down - but I would if I had to!!! Let me know, please, if you have need of additional aid in structuring your own set of records. Al

A poster on the conifers site had metal tags made with the name of each plant and painstakingly wired them to each tree. Shortly after, his small child went by clinking as she walked. She had just as painstakingly removed each tag and made jewelry for herself with them! I make a list of plants I bring home, sort out their height, width and light requirements then insert them in diagrams I have for my different beds after planting. I also keep the tags from the plants in a notebook so I know the latin name, where I got the plant and what I paid for it. If I ever add it all up I'll be shocked, I'm sure! I like the tag stands and the spreadsheets are a great idea! Barb

Robin, I got my stone at Kitchen Collection at an outlet mall. I checked but they are not showing it online. I know I paid $3.99 for it. Amazon has a toaster oven stone but it is much more expensive - if you have a Kitchen Collection near you, call them and see if they have it, if not, I'd go with an unglazed quarry tile. The quarry tile will work fine, you just won't have as much area to work with but it will be large enough for a couple of rolls or a small loaf. I hate heating my large oven for just a small bit of any food. Sharon, I have combined the techniques of the ABin5 and the NY Times no knead recipe. When I bake an ABin5 loaf, I preheat a covered 2 or 2 1/2 quart cast iron oval roaster for at least half an hour. Let the dough do it's rise after shaping on a piece of parchment (or not, it's just easier to get in the pan with the paper) and lift it with the paper into the heated pan and cover. The dough does not stick if you bake it in a preheated pan without parchment, it's just easier to handle on the paper. No water or ice is needed in the oven, the hot covered pan keeps in the steam that is released from the dough. When the loaf is half baked, take the cover off. The pan contains the sideways spread of the dough and you get a much higher loaf. You get a nice crackled crisp crust this way too. Don't put a preheated cast iron pan on a stone or you will probably be cleaning up pieces of your baking stone - I know! Lee

None of you who keep track of plants seem nerdy to me, I do it too. I have them recorded in books, one for each plant type, citrus, apples, plums pears, cherry, peonies ( I have 80 varieties of these) and the annual flowers I start from seed etc. . I record the name, date, nursery I bought from, rootstocks, zones, and columns for each season in which I record growing notes for that year. I like to flip through my books and re-read my notes on long winter evenings. Then I add copious little papers with my wish lists (stuck between the pages) that are constantly revised and crossed out and new varieties added. I love the metal tags, they look sturdy and long lasting. I will have to look for some of those.