wow! you rawk!
i was expecting long stakes & couldn't figure out where you were going with the 45/45/90 triangles until i saw the pics with the hanger - slow on the up-take, i guess
thanks for showing us - now to convince the DH . . . :-)
~ freshair

Fantastic idea!!!!!

Alexa

VERY INVENTIVE!
Cool idea.

Just a thought.... try using clear tape. It'd kinda keep with the artful nature of the project!

Very cute!

Karen

What a smart idea! Thank you for the step by step instructions.

Great idea and they look beautiful! I am a not so crafty person so I will have to stick with the metal ones!

WOW!!!!!!!!
Have you concidered selling them?
I would be interested,send me an e mail.
Very impressive indeed
cAROL

I really like those. Great job!! Thanks for sharing.

nice work!

I'm reminded of the old joke...
"Would you like me to teach you how to get rich?"
"Sure... teach away!"
"Well... first you scrape together a million dollars, then you..."

You may have started with a zero budget - but for most of us, the materials, tools, and technical training would be quite an investment! Even if I had the rest of the stuff, the idea of putting together that jig for drilling - wouldn't have come to my mind in 40 years!

Definitely - consider selling them to the more technically challenged! Get some good zinc wire and a jig for bending it... you've got a good product that might have a profit in it...

my DH created a guard for the front-side of our treadmill with a clear-but-coffee-colored piece of acrylic

so if you are interested (if you're thinking about multiple variations) in a more visually blended-in look, as opposed to creating a piece of garden art (as indicated in your ideas for future design change), you might consider acrylic other than clear - green, light brown, etc

i'm working on my DH - wish me luck :-)

~ freshair

Thank you everyone. I am considering the copper wire since slugs don't like it and it will turn a nice green color naturaly. Clear or colored glass pendants that are edge wrapped with lead cane might work as well. I used to do stained glass. I also do acrylic repair on aquarium equipment. My skills in a few different trades also helps when it comes to making things. While others see a pile of junk, I see potential projects that can be done.

I'll be working on coming up with other markers. I like the rock idea but if I did that I would have to drill a hole in each rock to put it up on a rod.

I like this... I like this a lot(said like Forrest Gump)

EXCELLENT!! I am mechanically challenged and am blown away at the creativity I see on these forums every day. I hope you do decide to make these for sale. I would also be interested in purchasing them if you do. Great job, VERY professional. How are the hosta names attached? Thanks.
-Sprout

I love these markers. The best I have ever seen. Nice job and very creative. The copper idea is great. So many markers rust and pit. For these reasons I have invested in all stainless steal markers. Your markers are definitely marketable!!!

i-like-to-grow:
"I like that marker . . . that's a nice marker." [said like Donkey]

franknjim:
my DH loves to play with stained glass - he makes Christmas ornaments & window hangings (up to about 12")

~ freshair

Excellent idea! Lets the beauty of the hostas show thru without seeing just a bunch of signs in the flower beds. And, I love that you used items that were just on hand.

Great idea and so economical. You did a awesome job. And yes, I think you have a sellable product.

Love your plant markers, they're wonderful. The copper with leaves is a cool idea, and very pretty, too. There might be one thing to think about with the copper-- copper thieves... Think the price of copper is still pretty high.

Your markers are wonderful. Very attractive.

i think your markers are absolutely gorgeous! love the triangular design. let us know when you are going into business. andi

just super.. if you have the tools.. lol ...

you ought to make a couple thousand.. and come sell them at hosta college and at the national convention ...

think about a jig and stainless steel standards ...

i have used hangers to hold irrigation pipe.. and they only last a few years.. before they rust off in the ground ...

i suspect you will find copper too soft ....

below is pic of some that phil lisik makes in his garage ... stainless plate.. but i am not sure of the standard .... that one is 10 years old ... [you should be able to find him in the hosta soc phone book]

ken

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The solid heavy gauge copper wire used for grounding breaker and meter boxes is very stiff. The key to this is to make different types of markers as inexpensively as I can. Recycling when possible. A friend of mine buys out store display fixtures and always has a ton of unusual acrylic that would normally end up in a dumpster.

My new line of thought is going with all acrylic. Acrylic rods of different thickness for different heights. I am thinking 6", 12" & 18". I have a couple sizes out in the garage as well as some of the solvents for acrylic to give it a try.

Very cool. Have you ever seen the website etsy.com? If not, its a website kinda like Amazon where you can find a huge range of stuff but for homemade and craft items. A place like that would be great for selling any variety of markers you come up with.

My new and improved:
Disappearing Hosta Markers

6" marker is 12" tall with 3/8" acrylic rod
12" marker is 18" tall with 3/8" acrylic rod
18" marker is 24" tall with 1/2" acrylic rod

They have a triangle 6" up from the pointed bottom like a T-post. The name plate is at a 45 degree angle and measures 1.25" x 3".

I am liking how these look. They pretty much disappear. You can see the leaves right through the markers. Clear label tape with black letters would probably make them hard to read.

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I didnÂt push these markers all the way down into the ground as the joints have not fully dried yet and wonÂt for about a day.

I am still figuring up the logistics of what all it will take and cost to do plant markers. I am not even sure of what different types of plant markers sell for. I will have to do some research. I like these disappearing plant markers best and will still probably do some more artsy ones. When I look at the first set of markers I made that are all over out in the yard, I see the wires.

I just had another bright idea! Build a better slug trap. Along the lines of using beer, a reservoir for it with edges that would make it easy for slugs to check in and an easily removable roof to keep rain out. Sort of like a Little Shadey Slug Spa. I will think on that.

You will have to excuse my sloppiness. Some of my labels are less than straight as well as the markers not being in the ground exactly straight either. I currently have a bad head and chest cold that is closing up my ears and it has me slowed down and off kilter at the moment.

yet another fabulous design! - your innovation is exciting - please continue to keep us posted

watching a creative person work is often more interesting than the final product :-)

~ freshair

Just get one of the electric or battery etchers and write the names on the plastic. The sun won't fade it and the weather won't wash it off, and there is no tape to distract from the plants.
Great Job.
pa

Way Kool!!Get a patent!!Then make the heck out of them and sell them to us!!Judy

I missed this the first time around. Frank you are so creative! I'd buy them!

Beautiful work!! Judging by the number of comments by posters on this site you have a very marketable product there. Give us an idea on price point if you're interested in mass producing...I'd definitely order up a bunch here in Canada.

Awesome markers! I think everyone will want these, including me! Were you wanting a new job, cause I think it will keep you busy.

I still have my plans for these but I kind of let my hosta addiction get the better of me with 140 new varieties added this year while keeping a bunch of other projects in motion at the same time.

One of which is currently learning and setting up an automated online store for The Untied States Neapolitan Club which will come in handy for setting up an online store for my plant markers.

This will be a full time work at home job for me in addition to starting a breeding program of Neapolitan Mastiffs.

They look really nice, Jim. Wow, 140 hosta, you are definitely hanging with the wrong people!
Pam

Pam (wrong people),

You are so crazy! :^p

FRANK lol

I'm incredibly impressed. I don't use any markers in my garden because it's historic; my husband and I think markers make it look too commercial. But if I ever change my mind, I'd use yours with clear, not white, labels. That way the only thing you'd see is the name on the clear acrylic. The etching idea is also good, but I'd worry about mis-spellings which would waste the label. You've definitely got a winning product. One picture in any great gardening magazine would overwhelm you with orders. Nance

words cannot express....not much makes me jealous.. but my friend.....
thanks for sharing!
John

Cute! But NO FREAKING way those are gonna last!....:0) I've tried everything. Etching into metal works and is so labor instensive....I've started keeping internet files with pictures.....so I can identify it later. :0)

I love these markers! I also love the idea of the copper-twinned one, too.

Please add me to your potential mailing lists!

I am not sure if these markers will last, but they look nice.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nicki

Hey- I wanna see em!!

Please?

Here they are. I stopped using a web hosting company where I used to store all of my pictures so they all vanished.

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I got a new puppy right after I made these so she took up all of my time. She is still a puppy but is over 100lbs now. We have 1 large and 4 giant breed dogs that keep me running in addition to my hostas.