Hi Prof: I love your raised beds. I made one myself some years ago with wood from some discarded kitchen cupboards and hinges from Lee Valley sold for that purpose. I started doing sq. ft. gardening with some of the same veggies you use: radish, lettuce, etc. and beans along the back growing on stakes. But alas, the cedars have grown and shaded the bed, and this year, it's all rotting and I need to replace it, but the thought of doing it myself is a bit overwhelming. It is now filled with several types of lamium, luxiuriant bleeding hearts, geraniums, solomon's seal, and columbines, so maybe I'll remove the rotted wood and leave it. We have wild violets here but quite a different type. They have underground stolons which can survive standing water. They also produce a gazillion seeds each year, so they are a problem. I spent several hours last week clearing a patch of my backyard of them so I can plant some squash. Once they get started for the year, you are stuck, unless you want to use a pesticide which I don't. I envy your order and straight clean lines but I'd need a ton of help to achieve that. Keep it up!!

I do labels similar to Markiz except I use black letters on a clear tape. It then looks like the letters are directly printed on the metal. I don't use the extra strength adhesive labels because the regular strength hold up just fine. The only problem is the shiny metal markers are kinda distracting in the garden. Ideally I would like to find something like the paw paw labels only in black. Then I would do white lettering on a black background. But I haven't found anything that's affordable. Spray painting the labels black is waaay too Martha Stewart for me (as if making all these labels isn't? lol). Best prices for Brother label tapes are online.

I tend to stick my tag markers at about 2 o'clock, behind the plant and to the right.. mine tend to be about 8-10 inches due to the type of tag I'm using. I found a slew of the copper tags at Target last year in the dollar spot area. These tags are about three incehs long and one inch wide. I bought a punch set of letters at Harbor Freight and "stamped" the names of most of my Hosta, making my own stands out of thin steel rod I bought at Home Depot. The tag hangs down from the stand which I've bent at the top to accept the tag. The copper tarnished to a ruddy brown and the stands rusted something awful even after one winter. While not readily visable when I have the need to read them, I just have to look a little closer to see the embossed name, which I don't mind as I'd rather the tags "blend" in rather then stick out. Just a personal thing, I just try and keep the placement of my tags standard, I think that's the imporant part. Shannon

Seaside - I hope it works! :) :) Kristine - I am so in love with your Lavender Crush. I hope I can find one next year! Beautiful Twilight zone color. :) :) I hate it when the camera won't take the right color from the rose...very frustrating. I'm so glad that you saved Sweet Madame Blue...she's a beauty...and the color is wonderful.