A cock up at the dentist

 This is a rather tortuous story and nothing like you would expect from the title, so keep up.

As part of the redesigning of the "old white bed" (which is now no longer white) I had decided that we needed a silver birch so that there would be some interest in the winter. However despite extensive searching we have not been able to source one, apart from a couple of rather spaggy specimens. Of course in my head I envisaged a mature tree of about 20 years old which would cast just the right amount of shade on the other plants. Well that was not the reality.

Enter visit to the dentist. We arrived a bit early for the appointment to be greeted by the receptionist saying that we were early. "Yes" we said "we know but we are happy to wait". To which he retorted "you know that you will have to wait an hour and a quarter!!" Much discussion followed about the time we had noted in the diary but what could we say. As it was impossible to go and have a coffee (Covid lockdown restrictions) we decided to see if the garden centres were open to while away the time. To our amazement they were. So much for the lockdown restrictions that only allow shops to be open if they are selling essential items!!

Surprisingly our mooching  brought success as we found not a silver birch but a snake bark maple. Unfortunately it is not 20 years old but probably about 3 and the bark is pink although we are assured it will turn white as it ages. As gardeners we are ever optimistic that we will be around for a few years yet to see it mature.

Return to dentist. We were greeted by a very 'umble receptionist grovelling on the floor. He had got us confused with another patient. I was ushered in for my treatment and copious apologies from the dentist. "No worries" I said with excitement "we have bought a tree". She looked at me as though I was completely mad. Some may agree with here!!

Furthermore some plants I had ordered arrived yesterday so that I can finish planting up the "old white bed". Like the stachys bed a couple of years ago it does resemble a drooping cabbage patch, but the optimistic gardener says "you wait until next year".

The results of the Under gardener's rock-breaking efforts to dig the hole.

Tree and plants duly planted, we retired indoors for a well deserved rum and coke!