Normally I don’t have the time for most of the nonsense the Martha Stewart cartel cooks up. But I came across this “good thing” in the May 07 issue of Living and thought this little stone herb marker project might actually be both realistic and useful.
I’ve never quite understood the need for herb markers. I mean, unless you’re a beginning gardener (fair enough) or have fourteen types of mint, herbs are easy to distinguish. Or so I thought. But my husband, the resident chef in our household, claims to be confused by coriander, baffled by basil, muddled by… well, you get the idea. (By the way, dear husband, I find this to be an extremely peculiar deficit on your part. Not only are you one of the most intelligent and proficient people I know, but you’re also a highly-accomplished chef. I am highly suspicious that this herb dyslexia is a cheap ploy on your part to avoid schleping outside. Which, I suppose, is fair play, and a small price for me to pay for amazing meals.)
But back to Martha. She advises to find “flat, smooth stones and label each one with the name of a plant using alphabet stamps and dye-based (permanent) ink (both available at craft stores).” I suppose you could also use a thin Sharpie – although it might not look as nice, you could avoid purchasing yet another craft item. There’s no reason why this couldn’t work for labeling veggies or perennials too.
Just be warned, dear husband, that the next time you try to claim ignorance of the subtleties between say, chives and thyme, you’ll find I’ve helpfully labeled them for you.
Kristi says
I ripped this page out as well! A cute and simple idea. Also great for marking where you put new seeds, bulbs or tubers so they don’t get stepped on.
Bev says
Love this idea. I have been using it for 2 years to mark perennials so visitors can see what they are looking at. I bury them under mulch in winter so I know what is there if I don’t remember. I had fun using fabric paint that comes in those plastic tubes with writing tips. Then I just “wrote” with them. Sprayed with clear varnish. Some have lasted better than others.
Ottawa Gardener says
Great idea!
Colleen says
LOL I was just going to do a blog entry about the exact same thing! I agree…most of the “Good Things” are things I’d never bother with, but these were a pretty clever idea.
Lisa says
Wow, this is a super-cute idea! Too bad I just bought a bunch of the metal/zinc markers from Gardeners Supply Co. The stones add so much personality.
Madeline says
Haha, this reminds me of when I kept telling my Husband I couldn’t go hiking in the pouring rain. He totally called me out by getting me rain gear and rubber boots for my birthday!
Anyway, I love these stone markers and followed the link from your current plant markers post. I really like the look of the Write-and-Erase tags from Allsop Home and Garden and I also like the Hairpin Style Rose Markers from Lee Valley. Thanks for all of the great links!
Anne says
After dropping $40 in supplies at a craft store last night I’m terribly disappointed in the outcome. Perhaps the stones I bought were too polished and the surface wasn’t natural enough but the ink (yes, I used dye-based permanent ink) did not adhere to the surface. I even added a sealant after stamping the stones. I’m not sure if it’s the humidity where I live (Houston) or the surface of the stones or a combination thereof but this was a waste. I’d recommend readers try this with completely natural stones, nothing even slightly polished. Good luck! I’ll keep trying and will post future results.
The Cage is the Rage says
Natural stones work best, the polish ruins the experience. Thank you Anne!