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Hello Reader,
Gardening is a memory game. What seeds did you plant where and what exactly was that cultivar again? Some of us, disgracefully, have the memory of the koi fish in our ponds. Luckily, there is a way to help remember what you planted. Copper plant tags can help you remember or label plants in your vegetable garden or ornamental beds. Used sparingly they can look like a design choice, rather than an encyclopedia botanica. Like most gardeners, they look better with age and – like most gardeners – develop a nice patina from the elements over time.
Today, I’ll teach you how to do this simple garden craft with a few simple steps. Just follow the instructions below and you’ll be able to add a little charm to your garden. It’s a small task for a hot or rainy day, and an easy way to make your garden 1% better. Links will be provided for the materials used below. I’m using these in my own vegetable garden, where I think they add a touch of charm.
Finished copper garden tags after following the steps below.
Materials:
Hammer - I’ll assume you have this. If not, then grab a big rock from your garden.
Step 1:
Grab a copper tag and cut a strip of the painters tape. Tape the tag to a sturdy surface to stop it from moving. Use an old magazine if you need to work on a nice desk or table.
Step 2:
Pick out the letter punch you need and place it on the copper. Give it a sturdy whack with the hammer. Not too soft and not too hard. Space the letters evenly and write the name of the plant.
Step 3:
Fill in the grooves of the letters with the fine tooth sharpie to add depth and make the letters pop.
Step 4:
Remove tape and add to your garden.
I recommend this YouTube video if you are looking for a visual guide.
Field Notes:
It’s a late planting start for me after my trip to Japan. Luckily I finished planting my home vegetable plot, and am planning to plant flower seeds in my community garden plot this weekend. There’s so much garden work to do, that I’m considering cancelling my gym membership.
Japan had such a distinct garden design from US gardens and I wanted to share a note from my trip. Notably, a lack of an herbaceous layer in some gardens. Instead of varying herbaceous ground covers, I noticed a canopy of trees and a groundcover of moss with a few small shrubs. In other cases water was used prolifically or in it’s place a Zen rock garden. Some flowers gardens leaned hard into blooms, while other gardens had barely any flowers and focused on having good structure.
Did you catch the photos from last week? Lots of eye candy with Mt. fuji and flowers.
Plotter’s Commons:
Do you have your garden planted yet? I’d love to see some progress pics shared in the Facebook group!
Bulletin Board
May giveaway time for our founders! I’m giving away two seed packets from Seed Savers Exchange. The winner will be announced in the next issue. Winners are chosen randomly from the pool of founders, and its a small pool, so you‘ll have great odds each month if you choose to upgrade.
Written for 489 gardeners wondering where they planted those cucumbers. 💌
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Until next Thursday,
Ken Welch
Ken Welch is a garden writer with a very serious degree in Horticulture. When his city lacked a community garden, he helped build one. He teaches new gardeners how to grow their own food.
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