Herb Garden Markers

I potted up the herbs that I bought last week and made some herb markers. When we were at the flea market a few years ago, I came across a small letterpress set that I thought would be perfect to use for making plant markers. 

What I like about using the letterpress letters is that it is a more permanent way of labeling and you can easily fit in a long name like 'rosemary' or parsley on the marker. (click on the image to see a larger version)

All you need to make the markers is a letterpress or other labeling device, a hammer, a board to act as a cushion, and markers. I use copper ones, but you can also use zinc. I found some of the markers at Target a few years ago, but I also bought some through Gardener's Supply Company. I love the patina of the copper when it ages.

I also made some a few years ago using a nail and a template from Martha Stewart. These were also easy to make, although my fingers were a little sore after making a few of them and you would have to make really small letters in order to make longer names. I think they just get prettier over time and the great thing is I can reuse them.

Even if you can't find a letterpress set, or don't feel like taking the time to make the ones with the nail and template, it is nice to label your herbs so that you can easily identify them. Besides the ones you make will look much more attractive than those plastic ones that come with your herbs!

Here Comes the Sun

After all the rain we got last week, the sun is out and the skies are a gorgeous blue with beautiful white, puffy clouds. I have been itching to get outside and do some work in the garden and since I have a few days off of work that is just what I am planning to do.

I stopped by Whole Foods on the way home from work. I just love it when they put out their organic herbs and vegetables. I bought some flat leaf parsley, thyme, rosemary, and chives so I can have fresh herbs again. We had so many days of freezing temperatures that I lost most of the herbs I was growing and I felt double the pain every time I had to buy them at the grocery store for French Fridays with Dorie. It gets a little costly to keep buying them fresh at the store, so until the ones I am growing from seed are ready I thought I would buy a few of these in the meantime. There's just nothing like fresh herbs to cook with, is there?

Herb Markers

I was inspired by Martha on The Martha Show yesterday to discard the plastic markers that came with my herbs, and make beautiful copper ones that really do the plants justice. I bought the copper markers some time ago at Target, but didn't quite believe that the marker that came with them would withstand nature's elements and not wanting to redo them every year I decided to sit on them awhile. Luckily, Martha got me off my duff and now my herbs are clearly marked using a simple push pin, a cork board, and templates from her Web site. Now I just need to buy some more markers and try to squeeze the names rosemary, oregano, chamomile, and sorrel on the 2-1/2" surface space on the marker! Herb Markers - they are a GOOD THING!