Located in Auburn, Alabama, the Forest Ecology Preserve is an outreach program of
Auburn University's School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. Its mission is to
provide natural habitats for education and research and to foster community interest
in the natural world through expert-led nature programs.
According to Margaret Holler, the preserve's coordinator, they rely primarily on
private donations and a volunteer staff to fund and run the organization. "The
majority of our volunteers are Master Gardeners that come to us through the County
Extension Service," she says.
A LABEL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: THE FOREST ECOLOGY PRESERVE USES LONG-LASTING P-TOUCH
LABELS TO IDENTIFY PLANT SPECIES
Unless you spend your free time moonlighting as a plant naturalist, you probably
can't tell a Dryopteris marginalis from a Cystopteris fragilis (in English, that's
a Marginal Woodfern from a Fragile Fern). But don't feel bad. Even commercial horticulturalists
need help keeping their stocks of flora properly identified and labeled. Plant professionals
and institutions alike - from nursery, greenhouse and landscape managers to arboretums,
botanical gardens and even universities and pharmaceutical research facilities -
use plant markers to distinguish one species from another. The staff at one such
institution, The Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve, found a way to improve the
longevity and visibility of its plant markers: They use a Brother P-Touch®
Electronic Labeling System. FAST FACTS
Holler cites several key frustrations
when it came to labeling the various plants and trees on the 110-acre facility.
Handwritten labels - whether written in Number 2 pencil, grease pencil or indelible
ink markers - were difficult to read. And with the nondescript markers tucked in
among the plants, the visiting public frequently couldn't see the labels for the
trees. What's more, the tags faded quickly and had to be replaced regularly - a
lengthy project for a time-strapped volunteer staff. Holler wanted an easy-to-read,
durable label that could withstand changes in the weather and that visitors could
spot without difficulty, as they walked along the preserve's miles of self-guided
Holler first learned of the P-touch
labelers while flipping through a gardening magazine. An ad caught her attention,
but she recalls being skeptical about using the labels outdoors. It wasn't until
she saw labeled plant markers in use at an arboretum in North Carolina that she
decided to give P-touch labelers a try, purchasing the PT-1800. "I was surprised
that you could use the labels outside. But the laminated labels at the arboretum
didn't look faded or weathered at all."
She began using the P-touch labeler in August 2002. The device fit into the busy
routine easily, and Holler liked that she and her team of volunteers didn't have
to spend a lot of time learning how to use it. The first labeling project involved
identifying the varied species in the Preserve's wildflower and native plant gardens.
Other projects included new labels for the fern and azalea viewing areas, the butterfly
garden, and new signage for the plants and trees along the many hiking trails.
At the Forest Ecology Preserve, spring
- which typically means fair skies and spring blossoms - used to mean a lot of time
spent replacing faded, damaged or otherwise illegible plant markers. But this spring
is different. Holler says the durable P-touch labels held up remarkably well through
the winter - a simple fact that saves valuable time. The Preserve's volunteer staff
is responsible for many aspects of its upkeep, from trail and land maintenance,
facility repairs and educational programs, to public relations and fundraising efforts.
The hours the staffers would have spent re-labeling hundreds of plant markers can
now be applied to the countless other tasks that demand their attention.
Since they started using a P-touch labeler, Holler says she's received lots of positive
feedback from visitors. "The white tape with black lettering provides an attractive
look, but more importantly, it makes the labels extremely visible. Ultimately, it's
easier for people to read and learn about the different plant species. Our hope
is that by improving the public's overall experience, we'll increase the number
of people who come here to enjoy nature and to support the Preserve."