I use an industrial-grade Dymo label maker (the same kind used with the laminated labels someone else mentioned, but heavier) and emboss the names on the strips of aluminum you can buy for it. A.M. Leonard Co. sells these. As long as the embossing wheel is not too worn, they are legible, and they are absolutely permanent. I affix them to the soil or pot with heavy wire or long groundcloth staples. However, they are not easy to read from a distance. I also bury plastic labels written on with #1 pencil, which can include more information and act as a backup in case a bird pulls out the metal label. Jane McGary Portland, Oregon, USA