The problem with a lot of plant markers is they're temporary; they fade or break down when exposed to rough weather. Not so slate. Here are two of our favorite collections of durable garden labels:

Above: A set of 20 smooth-surfaced slate markers of different sizes and shapes comes with a slate pencil. Made from castoff bits of slate from quarries in Wales, a Wood Box Set of Slate Labels is £49.50 ( or approximately $78.53 US) from Great English Outdoors.

Above: A Nutscene Slate Marker Set, quarried in Scotland and cut by hand, comes with eight markers of different sizes and shapes, two spools of three-ply twine, and a jute sack for storing everything; $39.50 from Wiliams-Sonoma Agrarian.

For more plant markers, see "Mini Blackboards for the Garden."