The message
from "David Hill" contains these
words:


I find that if the plant dies then the label stays legible for years, but if
the plant lives then the label fades inside a year, making me wonder if
there is something that the plants give off that helps to fade the ink.

Personally I use "bog standard" HB pencils on plastic labels.

LOL. For anything I hope will be a permanent fixture, like azaleas or
clematis, I use a thin but indestructible copper label (sold by Lakeland
Plastics) indented by a biro. Anything else like seeds or cuttings gets
a plastic label and pencil. Pencil lasts far longer than "indelible"
marker pens ime.

However, I'm so mean and idle I use each plastic label four times
(both sides, both ends) before cleaning them off with a brillo pad and
starting again. Unfortunately, the plastic usually breaks during their
second lifespan :-(

Janet

"Rod" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 02 Jul 2004 21:53:24 GMT, Kate Morgan
wrote:


I am planning on making some wooden ones and burning the names on.

I like it ;-) I think Pyrography pens are not all that expensive
now.
If your artistic side takes over you can embellish them to your
hearts
content.

How does a pyrography pen work?
What do you call expensive in this context?
Where does one get one?

Franz

"John" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 3 Jul 2004 10:44:47 +0100, Kay
wrote:

In article , Franz Heymann
writes

I have taken the bird by the horns and have made a number of
8"
long prospective labels from 1 cm half-round hardwood moulding.
So
far I have painted the working surface white with a waterbased
primer.

Now comes the problem of putting the name on the label. In
days
of yore, one used to buy a bottle of Hartleys black ink and wrote
the
name, using an old-fashioned steam pen. The labels used to last
for
many seasons. I don't see the ink for sale any more, and the
rubbish
which garden centres sell as waterproof pens produce neat writing
which does not survive the first winter. The stuff sold as Indian
ink
for use in draughtsmen's pens also wash off as soon as you spit on
it.

So here is my question: What do I do to write on my
well-designed
labels which will last for at least three seasons?

What about sing one of those pyrography pens which people use to
burn
designs on to wood? They're not outrageously expensive nowadays.
=============================================
The Pyrographt Pen seems to be a good idea. I looked them up on
the internet and found - what I consider to be a cheap source - at

http://www.axminster.co.uk/default.asp?part=020301

To go a step further though; I wonder if the pen will
work on plastic?

Thanks for the URL. I have just ordered one, and will post my
experience with it soon after it has arrived.

For a long time I've used sliced up washing-up liquid bottles for
labels - to the appropriate shape - and written on them in
'permanent' marker.

To combine the two methods may be worth trying, but experience
of this news group has shown me that most things have already been
tried by some other 'Urg.' So I'd appreciate your input.

Franz

In article , Franz Heymann
writes

"Rod" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 02 Jul 2004 21:53:24 GMT, Kate Morgan
wrote:


I am planning on making some wooden ones and burning the names on.

I like it ;-) I think Pyrography pens are not all that expensive
now.
If your artistic side takes over you can embellish them to your
hearts
content.

How does a pyrography pen work?

I think it's basically a mini soldering iron - presumably with better
tip and good heat control.

What do you call expensive in this context?
Where does one get one?

A good craft shop. Try John Body (not sure of the spelling but the sound
is the same) at Boroughbridge.

--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

In article , Rod rodcraddoc
writes
On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 10:26:34 GMT, John
wrote:


The Pyrographt Pen seems to be a good idea. I looked them up on
the internet and found - what I consider to be a cheap source - at

http://www.axminster.co.uk/default.asp?part=020301

Since you mention it, Axminster are excellent suppliers for a very
wide range of tools and machines. Been using them for years for my
woodworking tools. Good stuff, good service and some of the best
prices in the business.

And supplement with Screwfix for all the bits and pieces
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

In article , Janet Baraclough.
.. writes

LOL. For anything I hope will be a permanent fixture, like azaleas or
clematis, I use a thin but indestructible copper label (sold by Lakeland
Plastics) indented by a biro. Anything else like seeds or cuttings gets
a plastic label and pencil. Pencil lasts far longer than "indelible"
marker pens ime.

However, I'm so mean and idle I use each plastic label four times
(both sides, both ends) before cleaning them off with a brillo pad and
starting again.

I find spit and a firm rub with a finger works perfectly well.

--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , Franz Heymann
writes

"Rod" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 02 Jul 2004 21:53:24 GMT, Kate Morgan
wrote:


I am planning on making some wooden ones and burning the names
on.

I like it ;-) I think Pyrography pens are not all that expensive
now.
If your artistic side takes over you can embellish them to your
hearts
content.

How does a pyrography pen work?

I think it's basically a mini soldering iron - presumably with
better
tip and good heat control.

That's right.
The URL which John gave had a good illustration.
In fact, in my working days I used to have a soldering iron which was
the twin of the one in the picture.

What do you call expensive in this context?
Where does one get one?

A good craft shop. Try John Body (not sure of the spelling but the
sound
is the same) at Boroughbridge.

Franz

"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , Janet
Baraclough.
. writes

LOL. For anything I hope will be a permanent fixture, like
azaleas or
clematis, I use a thin but indestructible copper label (sold by
Lakeland
Plastics) indented by a biro. Anything else like seeds or cuttings
gets
a plastic label and pencil. Pencil lasts far longer than
"indelible"
marker pens ime.

However, I'm so mean and idle I use each plastic label four times
(both sides, both ends) before cleaning them off with a brillo pad
and
starting again.

I find spit and a firm rub with a finger works perfectly well.

Which closes the circle: That is essentially why I am looking for an
actual permament method.
{:-)

To change the topic slightly, which urglers keep sketches of what is
where in the garden as a backup for the labels?
Who keeps them on a computer?

Franz

In article , Franz Heymann
writes

To change the topic slightly, which urglers keep sketches of what is
where in the garden as a backup for the labels?

I did start doing this, but it's way too much effort - when you've come
in with soil covered hands after a planting session, the last thing you
want to do is update your planting maps.

I rely on it all being in my brain ... which means every so often I have
to get the books out and re-identify ;-)

Who keeps them on a computer?

I put a plantlist on my web site, but I think it's about 4 years out of
date now ;-)
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

The message
from "Franz Heymann" contains these words:


To change the topic slightly, which urglers keep sketches of what is
where in the garden as a backup for the labels?

Ermm...I keep meaning to. I really do. Does that count?

I used to keep a list of every plant I'd bought, but it was too
incriminating so I gave up.

Janet.

In article ,
(jane) wrote:

Biro is pretty
hardwearing on the plastic tags, but the foxcubs like to bite them in
two

Surely the answer is a head-mounted GPS receiver connected to a belt
PDA?

- Plant the plant
- Stand by it and type in the name
- Can later find it even in snow

:-)

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

In article , Janet Baraclough.
.. writes
The message
from "Franz Heymann" contains these words:


To change the topic slightly, which urglers keep sketches of what is
where in the garden as a backup for the labels?

Ermm...I keep meaning to. I really do. Does that count?

I used to keep a list of every plant I'd bought, but it was too
incriminating so I gave up.

Do you remember David Poole's comment 'I never give up on a plant until
I have really and truly killed it three times'?
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

"Janet Baraclough.." wrote in
message ...
The message
from "Franz Heymann" contains
these words:


To change the topic slightly, which urglers keep sketches of what
is
where in the garden as a backup for the labels?

Ermm...I keep meaning to. I really do.

Me too.

Does that count?

It's the intention that counts..............


I used to keep a list of every plant I'd bought, but it was too
incriminating so I gave up.

Me too.

Franz

On Sun, 4 Jul 2004 06:45:39 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:

snip other quotes
~Which closes the circle: That is essentially why I am looking for an
~actual permament method.
~{:-)
~
~To change the topic slightly, which urglers keep sketches of what is
~where in the garden as a backup for the labels?
~Who keeps them on a computer?

Um. Me
I photograph everything with the digicam. The allotment pics usually
make it to my blog, and I've got plans for each plot on the PC so I
can keep track of the rotations.

They can also be printed out easily, stuck in a document wallet and
taken up there so I can see what needs to get planted where.

Garden's slightly different as it's such a mess this year and every
time I plant something the undergardener digs it up again and then
wonders why I'm shouting at her. But the photos are there,
nonetheless.

Least she can't dig the front. You need a pickaxe under the sycamores
to dig anything and even small cats don't tend to come with one of
those. :-)


--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!

Janet Baraclough.. wrote in
:

I use a thin but indestructible copper label (sold by Lakeland
Plastics) indented by a biro. Anything else like seeds or cuttings gets
a plastic label and pencil.

I use copper labels for everything. If you turn the label over and give
them a good hard rub with the rounded end of the biro, you can re-use it
almost indefinitely.

Also the copper annoys the slugs ;-)

Some copper labels seem to use 'harder' copper than others: I like the
squishier ones because they are easier to blank.

Victoria
--
gardening on a north-facing hill
in South-East Cornwall
--