I have learned the hard way that not all permanent markers are permanent outdoors . And as for vinyl blind markers they are great if you live in a protected spot . Out here in farm country between the freeze thaw cycles which heave the vinyl blind markers out of the ground and the wild winds that have blown them, only the man upstairs knows where, I gave up on those a long time ago . I now make my markers out of old pop cans and a brother electronic label maker ( built to withstand the out of doors) very clearly ledgeable even after 4 seasons now . I get three labels that are approx 2 x 3 when complete with lots of room for name , and any other pertinent info I need to know ......with 700 different named daylily cultivars it is imperative to know who is who. Signet

I use Excel spread sheet to print labels on adhesive labels, then I put the labels on plastic plant stakes after i spray the labels with clear paint to water proof them. Why? 1. You will never have to write on labels again, unless you plant new verieties. You can print hundreds and hundreds. 2. The same data can be used to print on small labels for seed starting and later on big labels after you transplant the seedling in ground. 3. You can print many colors to help identify groups. 4. Once you have enter the seed data, you can eaily sort them by any category you want, ie. where you got the seeds from, where you have send seeds to, date of planting, date of seed starting, quantity of harvest, date of first blossom, fruiting, ripening,---- then keep the record year after year. 5. For those of you who sell seedlings, you know you can get more money if the labels look more professional. You can also add pictures to each veriety. You can alphabetize your seeds, you can sort the entire seed selection by height, by color, determinate, indeterminate ------ whatever. I have not had to write anything for many years now. dcarch

hi, I just posted about ABs on the Craft & Dec page (post about going away gift). I'm in a round robin right now. Each participant passes their book to the same person after a certain length of time (1 month in our case). Each time we get another book, we work in it and send it on to that same person. Eventually our books come back to us. We formed a yahoo group just for sharing about our progress, and to post pictures. And yes, I think the main thing is to have a theme. I was really scared to take part in one of these, but now I highly recommend a round robin. I've also heard of "Tip Ins" --a kind of swap where others send pages or spreads that you "tip in" to your book. You can attach the pages directly to other pages, or cut off existing pages leaving only a tab, and glue the tip-in to that.

I have used the big metal markers that reach out & cut your legs & look like a little pet cemetary in the winter. So I got rid of all them. I grows lots of daylilys, so I now get the 20'lengths of pvc pipe I think there 1.19 each. I use my jig saw to cut the pieces, I was cutting them about 12" but now cutting them about 7" just enough to stick out of the ground. I can write on the part that is above the ground with a magic marker. Or you may want to use a paint pen which will last longer in the sun. But I have an electric engraver they are about 20.00 & I use the plastic ware knives. I can engrave all the information on them like: Lavender Blue Baby Carpenter 96, 28" T, then I put my knife in the white pvc pipe sticking out of the ground, & if my name fades off from the sun, that is OK because you can get the knife & you still have all the info. The dirt on the knife makes them easier to read. Get the thinner pvc pipe so your knifes will go in them easier. When I go to the fast food places I save the knives. Most are the right size & with the engraver info. on them you can use any color. Some knives are to big to fit in the pvc pipe. Just take a piece with you when shopping for knives. Hope this will help you. May not be the prettiest markers, but you sure won't ever loose the names & won't cut your legs up.