Why you need garden markers
Optimistic gardeners might think they will remember where they planted such and such seeds, or which containers contain seeds. Hah. Experience quickly teaches that it is easy easy easy to forget what you buried in the ground and where. Just ask any squirrel. To help your memory, why not make some weather-proof garden markers?
How to make your own garden markers using rocks and acrylic paint
I had some luscious acrylic gold paint from a previous project where I was painting picture frames. But nothing says gardens can't use a bit of bling! So I got out the paint and a pen, since I didn't have any paintbrushes at the time.
At first I tried to use the tip of the pen dipped in the acrylic to 'write' on the rocks by dragging the tip of the pen across the surface. This worked poorly on the uneven rock surface, the words were legible but the letter were uneven and blobby. Then I thought about some painted rock mandala images I'd seen and thought about trying to using dots to make the letters. That worked out muuuuuch better, and also led to some other fun dot-based designs.
Fair warning, this activity is addictive and soothing!
At the end of it I had some painted rocks with words for labeling the various seeds I had acquired to date: spinach, cilantro, and basil, along with some other freeform designs I could use for decoration while there was mostly bare dirt in the pots.
Conclusion
The easiest part is that you can just set the rock inside whatever pot you just planted up. No worries about it falling over or blowing away in a stiff breeze. Here is the garden label I made for some Thai basil seeds I got on sale because they were from last year. Hope they germinate! Happy freestyling!
Update - the basil seeds took a long time to sprout, but they did eventually make it.