Glenn you win the prize for originality! I would say the biggest problem with labels is making ones that last for 10-20 years. It is surprising all the bad things that can happen over a long time of being out in freezing cold, roasting heat, and sizzling sun. For your designs, the black paint may chip off or fade and the glue will probably eventually give out, but as long as you have the wire holding the beads on you should be able to make the name out.

Scott

They look like those old newborn bracelets at hospitals.

Looking good Glenn!
Like Scott...I fear for things fading, falling off, ultraviolet sunray deteriation of plastic etc.

In the nursery I use masking tape marker and pencil,... did you know that pencil stay longer then permanent markers?
I re - do them every spring because things always change frequently. Old Venation blind / pensil would stay for many years, they are already treated for UV ray.
Some trees in the orchard I have labels with aluminum strips, over 15 years old and still good. Used roof flashing material from home depot, comes in a roll, cut with sheet metal snip, find it's heavier then pop cane metal and makes nicer tags. Have used a electric engraver, next time I will try a dremmel. As for wires...old motor windings work well, it's free!
You can punch a hole with a nail....years ago I used to punch with a punch I build, it worked great, similar to a paper punch but sronger, somehow it desapeard.

Konrad

Draw little numeric point values on the beads, then claim you are a hardscrabble farmer.

Very Nice, Glenn! And mebbe they would have the added benefit of discouraging birds?

Geologists have something similar to the aluminum can trick, except that there's two layers of aluminum separated by a piece of paper, I think. They write on the aluminum with ball point and it impresses very easily. I imitate that with folded pieces of can and it works OK. I use aluminum wire (leftover from electrical work) to hang them.

Nowhere near as pretty as Glenn's beads, though. Now if you could just find a ten year old girl to do it for you you'd be all set.

FWIW, I never close the loops completely, so that as the limb grows it won't be girdled.

:-)M

I've used these aluminum tags. They work well and last forever. Just write on them with a pen (and a heavy hand to emboss the letters) and hang them where you want.

Here is a link that might be useful: Aluminum Plant Tags

Thanks guys!

Yeah, photodegradation is what I'm most worried about. The letters are recessed, so I don't think you'd loose the information (for a while anyway), but they might become harder to read. I do also have my yard-plant-map as a backup source of the info. If they do fade quickly, I'll report back here. Time will tell!

myk1 - In a way, aren't these trees are babies too?!

marknmt - Right... I'm aware that overtime, they might girdle the branch. But, I have to walk by this tree a few times a day, so I'll be sure and keep a lookout for that.

If it turns out this idea doesn't work out, I'm sure I'll just go with the aluminum tags.

Have a good one guys...
-Glenn

Brilliant! I've been trying to figure this out for years, while my wife makes name bracelet after name bracelet. How it could not have occurred to me sooner is beyond me.

My wife has some like this http://www.namebeads.com/lettercubes.html that have the letter carved into them. I think hers are pewter. Here is another kind that are acrylic http://www.guildnav.com/chainable-black-and-white-letter-cubes-for-diy-apparels-7mm-a-p-14899.html Even if they fade, they will be legible.

You can get these at most craft stores like Michaels very inexpensively.

I would suggest not writing the whole thing out. You don't need to spell out "yellow transparent"- "ylw tnspt" or even "yt" is cheaper and more discreet.

Hi Pat-
Glad you like the idea.... I've never played with beads... it just kinda came to me. Good thought about the abbreviated labels using pewter! (I knew someone might be able to improve on the idea!)

For the plastic, I actually like seeing them fully spelled out. If, for no other reason, it's nice that the wife no longer has an excuse to say "Now which tree was that one again?"!!

-Glenn

You're right Glenn, sometimes when I cut it short, I can't figure out myself down the road!...LOL

Konrad

Glenn wins hands down! I use copper signs with the names written in forcefully with a ballpoint pen, so the name remains after the ink is gone. Works well. The signs go into the ground. I have not figured out a way to name my five combo pear until I saws Glenn's glass letters. Will the black ink wear off of the beads? Mrs. G

Hi MrsG47-
Thanks!
I've seen no signs of photo-degradation, nor ink fading since I put them on. So far so good here!
-Glenn