Before my dental appointment this morning, I figured I had time to put in a few seeds and water them. As soon as I was out in the sunshine , I decided to 
see what the garden had been up to while I was asleep. My curiosity always gets the best of me.
My dental appointment all but forgotten, I tried to keep my excitement in check at seeing the amazing overnight growth of the Umbrella Plant (Astilboides tabularis), pictured at left.
Moments later, I came upon the variegated Solomon’s Seal, (below) in the early stages of blooming.
Several discoveries later, I suddenly remembered where I was supposed to be. Oops… off I bolted so that I would make it to my dentist’s office on time.
It wasn’t until I was sitting in the dreaded dental chair that I realised I had on my natty brown gardening clogs and worse, my fingernails were filled with dirt. Yikes … I have a suspicion that I am not the only gardener who wanders off to appointments and the like without even thinking of changing into better clothes!
in the autumn light 
Well I guess it could have been worse. You could have walked into the dentist’s office holding a watering can. :)I’ve been there too. Just let me run out to the garden for a minute…
An excellent way to tell if your dentist is also an avid gardener, Kate.tcS
Oh yeah, I get like that about my art.
I once arrived at the dentist’s in my slippers! It shows you are relaxed, that’s good. BTW I like the look of the variegated Solomon’s seal..a new one on me.
Oh, I can do better than that. I have had my massage clients have to come out to my vegetable garden to remind me that it is time for their appointment, only to find me in mud up to my eyebrows. I have perfected the art of shower/change to the point that I frequently can be ready to deliver the massage before they are ready to receive.Once I went off to my bank and did not realize that I had no shoes on until I alit from my vehicle and was saying “Ouch eech ooch this pavement is very HOT”. I decided to transact my business sans shoes, and noone even noticed. They were probably too distracted by my dirtstained tie-dyed t-shirt.
I think it’s great that you can lose yourself in the garden this way! And I like seeing gardeners and painters with dirt and paint on their hands — to me it’s the sign of creative and interesting people!
Kate, I’m a dental hygienist and I have to make sure I clean my nails before going in to work. And you know there are always those little areas that are permanently stained…I guarantee you that you are not the only one that goes to the dentist like you did. I love it when people come as they are!
haha, Kate, this is a gorgeous anecdote. I can just imagine it.Still, I don’t blame you for letting a dentist appointment slip into the background.
Hi Kate, I have that happen to me when I sit down for a few “minutes” to play the piano. Then I’m running around like a chicken without a head. Aren’t the varigated Solomon’s Seal a classy looking plant. They grow like mad in my loose garden soil and everyone always asks about them. Have a good weekend, Alyssa
Kate, Kate (shakes head) I dispair of you sometimes. 🙂 Isn’t it high time you bought a pair of stylish garden shoes? That way you’ll be always dressed for the occasion, whatever that might be.Thanks for the story, it made me laugh. BTW I covet that variegated Solomon’s Seal, so pretty!
Time in the garden always flies by. I’m constantly apologising for the state of my fingernails because I’ve raced off somewhere straight from the garden – I suspect we aren’t alone here:)
And here I thought I was the only one that gardens up to the last minute and then has to hurry to get somewhere and I’m not exactly properly dressed and my hands look dirty.
That is funny, Kate. I haven’t done that one, but have learned not to go out to the garden while I have something cooking on the stove!
I’ve done something like that, too — wearing my muddy gardening shoes into a grocery store a few times!
Hi Kate! I am so excited about getting to play in the dirt on your page!! This has totally made my day!! Thank you — and I hope your weekend is going great. 🙂
Kate,I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to pick up my kids or to the store with leaves sticking out of my hair, dirt smuged across my face or my knees covered in mud.Gardening is important.Even if your teeth fall out, you can still garden.
Very cool — hey…there’s always time for the dentist later!
I sure is easy to get caught up in the garden! Love your pictures!
LOL yeah I’ve gotten absent minded in the garden and then had to rush off to some place or anther without time to change or even at times thinking of changing! Oh well .. LOLNice to see how quickly plants can grow isn’t it?Visiting for Green Thumb Sunday
hahha awwwww i hope the dentist was painless. your garden looks so beautiful, we just returned from sonoma where many veggie gardens left me green with envy!
I am embarrased every time I hand something to someone because of the state of my nails and skin. The dirt seems to take up permanent residence despite my gloves until mid-winter!
Oh, I just love this, Kate! And, see how we all relate! You are not alone…not that you thought you were! I am sure I am perceived as the local wacky woman wherever I go because sometimes I just can’t be bothered…what’s a little dirt! lol! Although, having read this, yesterday when I dashed out to the cleaners (the one thing DH asked me to do…) before it closed (haha…guess where I was), I DID take a quick shower because I was covered in dirt…thought that was bit much…but, my hair was still wet! We gotta do what we gotta do!