Clearly, many of us put a good bit of thought and time into keeping track of our plants. Some use various kinds of labels in the garden; others prefer to keep their planting records on paper. Still others use a combination of these options, or have come up with something totally different. We’ve gotten an exciting variety of ideas for garden labeling and record-keeping this month, so let’s get right to the posts.
Garden Bloggers’ Design Workshop – Labeling and Record-Keeping (Nan at Gardening Gone Wild): The kick-off post for this month’s topic. Be sure to check out the comments on this one, because there are lots of ideas that didn’t get blogged about separately.
Addendum to GGW Design Workshop on Labeling and Record Keeping (Fran at Gardening Gone Wild): Fran shares two unique labeling options from the Tel Aviv University Botanical Gardens.
Happy New Year (Lisa at Greenbow): Is starting a garden journal one of your resolutions for 2009? You’ll be interested to see Lisa’s various approaches for keeping track of her planting and planning projects.
Bouquet of Bloom…Tags (Gail at Clay and Limestone): Not sure you could keep up with a formal record-keeping system? Gail’s Bloom Tag Bouquets might work for you too! Be sure to check out the comments here too; there are several more great ideas.
Cataloging Plants: Part 1 (Linda from Each Little World): Linda has given up on plant labels and turned to a system she finds much handier: an extensive card catalog, which is featured in her part 1 post. Part 2 covers some additional ideas.
Garden Plan, Garden Map or Garden Photos? (Cameron at Defining Your Home Garden): Any of you who have struggled with your own garden plans will get a sympathetic chuckle at Cameron’s record-keeping adventures. She seems to have come up with a good solution, though!
Using Temporary Botanical Names (Carol at May Dreams Gardens): Trust Carol to come up with fun stories that are packed with useful information too. In this post, she shares some tips on botanical nomenclature and makes a good argument for the benefits of labeling. Plant Catalog Update covers her ambitious attempt to keep track of all of her plants, as well as the handy catalog page template that she came up with. Thinking about starting a garden journal? Don’t wait! But first, check out Carol’s tips in Embrace Garden Journals for a Happier Life.
An Invaluable Tool: How to Keep a Garden Journal (Heirloom Gardener): Budding journal-keepers need to check out HG’s post too, for more great pointers on starting and organizing a garden journal. And don’t miss How to Keep Track of What Plants You Have Bought, Where They are Going, and What You Still Need to Buy: The Garden Planning Binder – the title says it all!
I Try to Avoid Labeling (Jim at Art of Gardening): Jim may try to avoid labeling, but with thousands of visitors viewing his garden during Garden Walk Buffalo, it’s nothing less than a survival strategy.
Tagging My Garden (Veg Plotting): VP is another gardener willing to share the progression of labeling (or labelling, if you prefer) techniques she’s used over the years in her own garden. Want to know how the pros keep track of their collections? Don’t miss her post Garden Tagging the National Trust Way. And for all you vegetable gardeners, check out Veg Plotting – 2009 Style.
Not What – But Where? (Frances at Fairegarden): If it comes from Fairegarden, you know it’s got to be good. Go drool over the photos, but be sure to read Frances’ story and the extensive collection of comments as well!
I’m pretty sure that covers everyone who contributed a link on the kick-off post. I think I remember seeing a few others this month, though, so if you wrote a related post or know of one I missed, please leave a note and/or link below. Thanks, everyone!