Here is a picture of the back sides while I was painting them. I stuck cork into the pvc 45 degree elbows so the paint wouldn't get in side.

{{gwi:141367}}

Fortunately these elbows fit on electricians pvc conduit which is gray, so I don't have to paint the posts.

I'll post more when I'm done. Will probably put a tutorial on my blog if anyone is interested. I'll let you know.

Kathy

Those look like they were professionaly done. I would love to see the tutorial when you get time. Your shelter group is lucky to have you. Great job.
Frou

holy mackerel....those are really cool!
I also want to see the tutorial/pictorial on them...
how'd you think of that idea?

I know if I show my cousin, who is heavily involved with the fuchsia society in town, she's going to want to know, cuz they have a volunteer party coming up, for getting the hardy fuchsias all groomed for the season at a little town park, along a river. it's a great tourist location.
they don't have pretty labels like you have, for sure.

I especially like the part about who grew them in the past..that's special ancestry/history information.

Think of them as plate flowers with writing. But the plate in this case is a metal blank switch plate with the screw holes filled in. I never would have come up with this idea without this forum and having made plate flowers.
Kathy

Those are great! I love all the information on them. I like that you have included the Latin name and family. I am trying to learn about the different older roses I have and I have found this a good way to do it. It's almost like a flashcard. If you always see all that information together with the name, pretty soon it is just second nature to you. You've learned it without even trying. (well, it works for me anyway) You did a real nice job with these.

LOVE THEM!!! What a clever idea to use switch plate blanks! Now I've gotta know how you did the writing? I am pretty sure you didn't hand write them that neatly. If so, are you for hire? LOL! Are they stick-ons?

My daughter is studying holistic nutrition and is creating a "teaching garden" to use with her future clients. She would LOVE labels like yours!!! Do give us details...and for slow thinkers like me, detailed details, OK? Thanks!

Those are really great...look like they might cost a mint in a garden catalog! I'm waiting for the tutorial too!

Very professional, crete! Those will look great in the shelter's gardens. Hope the lettering & ink will not fade too quickly!...the pvc conduit is a wonderful idea & should last for a long time! Always hard to find signage materials that will withstand the weather! You did GREAT! TFS & looking forward to your tutorial! Jeanne s.

What an awesome idea! And all for a great cause too! They almost look ceramic so I was surprised to read that you used switch plates. I'm looking forward to your tutorial too.

Very professional looking! I like the history lessons too. How do you attach them to the pipe? If you just slip them in they would be easy to remove. If that is the case I would use some sprinkler goop or weld Bond or GE II as harder to walk down the street with a pipe plus the signs!! First class job!! Hope you have a big turnout sat. Jan

Do you share the info you put on your labels? I love the historical information and would really enjoy getting a copy of what you wrote on each of the tags...care to share???

They are fantastic.

You are very talented.

I did a lot of research when I was assigned the task. - What they wanted that was hard to achieve was enough space to be educational. I offered lots of options including writing with paint pen which I really thought they would choose. But they liked the look of the printed labels and chose that even tho the vandalism risk is higher.
In my research I found testamonials by people about LASER (not inkjet) printing on avery clear laser labels lasting for years in the garden in sun, snow and rain. In particular one woman said her labels had been out for 2 years and she had copied a friend whose had now been out for 5 years. I only had time to test for 2 weeks in my own garden, but it did snow! So that is what I used for the description area. I have a cutting machine (similiar to crikut but uses data from the computer) at work that I bought to make signs, and I recently bought some outdoor rated vinyl. That is what I used to make the Common Names. We've had a sign outside for almost 20 years and the (professonal) vinyl letters are still good (tho not perfect - just replaced most of it). I was shocked to discover that the outdoor vinyl is thin, no thicker than what I use indoors and just as peelable.
So the bad news about these signs is that with effort everything could be peeled off. The shelter is staffed 24/7 and the signs will be in flower beds, so I think its worth the risk. I probably wouldn't use the clear labels downtown or near a school for example. I am a bit anxious about this issue. But anything that gets peeled can be replaced! The same contraption can be made and writing done with a paint pen. (not sharpie, which fades).
The plumbing pvc pipe fitting is very tight on the electrical conduit probably because they were not made for each other. So I will not glue it. the weak point is the elbow to switchplate which I attached with automotive goop.
I will hammer rebar in the ground then the conduit, then carefully twist on the 45degree elbow. If it was downtown I would probably use cement in a coffee can and bury it or something like that. But I'm counting on the constant presence of staff to make such measures unnecessary.
Thank you for all your comments. And yes I'll share my information from the signs (just hope its accurate,lol).
Kathy

I hope you all don't mind me getting this allout of my system. It will help me to be shorter when i do the tute. (maybe)
The piece that I pull away from the vinyl cut out letters is actually a stencil for the words. It just occurred to me it could be USED as a stencil, der. So now I wish I'd kept them and I will try to keep the ones that I make from now on. BECAUSE if there is a problem with someone peeling the vinyl letters, I could use the stencil and paint to make the exact same word/letters. (have to save the little pieces from the centers too.)
Doing it that way on purpose (using my cheapest vinyl)may be my solution for populated and un supervised areas.
Kathy

Thank you so much for sharing this project! I try to put signs to identify the various plants in my yard so if something doesn't make it and I want to replace it, I'll remember what was there...OR if I LOVE something, I can remember what it was so I can add more to my yard. Right now, I buy wooden plaques from Michael's Crafts, paint them with acrylic paint and write the words on with Sharpie...then I finish them with a great sealer.

Your idea looks so much nicer! I really appreciate your giving us the details so we can "borrow" your idea! Thank you!

Hello Kathy,
I am new to this forum. I love your markers. If you do post your tutorial on your blog could you please post a link?
I know I will be making something like this for my garden.

Hi oldalgebra,
What a curious and interesting user name.
Yes I will post a link when I've posted the tute.
The event went well with 40 volunteers planting in the pouring rain and mud. I was wet through to my undies half way through. Quite a few people used sweatshirts from the clothes room to stay warm! At least we figured out where the drainage problems are.
The shelter and the committee and all the people did an awesome job at getting things done. Exciting to be part of something like that. Several churches sent volunteers, and a master gardeners group participated, as well as random people like me.
And people liked my signs. One of the main organizers who is also a landscape contractor told me he'd to know where I got them because he needed them for another job. That was a compliment!
Kathy

Just had to share...my daughter loved your markers so much she bought 20 plate covers this weekend to make her own! She says "thanks for the great idea!"

That's awesome! good for her. I'm trying to write a tute for my blog to post on Friday.
Kathy