Trips to the dentist's office have changed a bit since I was a child in the fifties. Back then, my Mom practically had to drag my siblings and me to the car if we knew we were bound for the frightful lair of the diabolical Dr. Head (who actually had a farm he called Tooth Acres). I don't ever remember a dental appointment when the sun was shining.   

Entering his office was a step back in time, even then. The walls were not just drab, they were downright morbid; there was very little light. The prevailing sound was the incessant grinding of those miniature jack hammers that were used to torture and maim small children, interrupted only by their inevitable moans and whimpers. Even the nurse looked as if she had just escaped from the laboratory in a Boris Karloff movie.

Fast forward fifty years: The dental profession is on the cutting edge of customer comfort and anxiety control.  The offices are bright and cheery, the receptionists and assistants are young, perky, and attentive to your every need.  

There is a private TV in each patient room complete with a remote so you can surf channels while waiting for the next procedure. If you prefer, you could strap on noise canceling headphones and tune in to your favorite XM station.  

In many offices, the crowning touch (pardon my pun) is the huge ceiling to floor window strategically placed directly in front of the patient's chair with a panoramic view of plants, birdfeeders, and the glory of Mother Nature. That, my friends, is where the dental industry meets the green industry!

This week, I was contacted by a customer in Harrisburg, PA, who is working with a dentist. The dentist has asked my customer to design a landscape for this very same view, which I think, makes for a very interesting and challenging project.   

The criteria is as follows:

• All the windows in the patient rooms AND the waiting room look out into a steep bank (50 degrees).   
• The soil is poor, with a mix of clay and rocks.   
• The slope is sunny in the morning and shady in the afternoon.   

My customer would like suggestions on a mix of plants that would not only survive there, but would also KNOCK THE SOCKS OFF of those who are viewing from inside the office!

I would like to use this opportunity to tap into the vast knowledge and experience of our loyal customers and newsletter recipients. If you email your suggestions to us, we will pass them along. We value your time and your participation, so we will reward each person who responds with a $25 Credit towards your next purchase of $100 or more.  Remember, we are not asking for design advice, only plant suggestions.

We are curious to see what you guys will come up with so let us hear from you now!