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The Gardens of Mien Ruys - a book review

I don't know how I missed her, but I was totally unfamiliar with Mien Ruys. A beautiful new book The Gardens of Mien Ruys details her life and work. Born in the Netherlands in 1904, she was the daughter of Bonne Ruys, who founded Moerheim Nursery in 1888. She grew up in a liberal atmosphere and encouraged to learn and study. She found great comfort in the natural world around her and learned all the plants in her father's nursery at a young age. After leaving school at the age of 19, she knew that she wanted to work in the garden center. The Moerheim Nursery, in addition to selling plants, had an on-site design studio where they published a detailed catalog and sold landscape design plans to customers. It was in the design studio where Ruys first began to work and she was soon encouraged to venture beyond her country and study abroad. Her father's connections helped her secure a traineeship with Wallace & Sons Nursery in Tunbridge Wells in England. There, she met Gertr...
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Christmas at our house



I promised to post photos of our house at Christmas earlier and here they are. We've had our decorations up for about three weeks now. We have to start early to get everything up in time. We have trees in almost every room and countless ornaments and other decorations. Michael is the Christmas fanatic, I'm afraid he suffers from OCD (Obsessive Christmas decorating). It is very beautiful though and magical at night. We always have a big party every year and share it with our friends and family.







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  1. RuralityDecember 1, 2007 at 6:25 AM

    Holy cow! OCD indeed. :) I feel like such a Scrooge with my one tiny tree that is not even as nice as your kitchen tree!

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  2. Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener)December 1, 2007 at 6:52 AM

    Now I don't ever have to worry about doing "too much."

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  3. AnonymousDecember 1, 2007 at 4:00 PM

    Wow, you've given new meaning to "over the top." That's an amazing display. I can certainly see why you must start decorating so early. And going to your party must be like going to a dazzling fantasy-land.

    Pam/Digging
    http://www.penick.net/digging

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  4. Annie in AustinDecember 1, 2007 at 6:44 PM

    My, oh my! It reminds me of some Christmas housewalks back in Illinois. The people in your neighborhood would pay to be taken on tour, I'll bet.

    Phillip, I love the outside stuff, too, like the decorated bench and arbor.

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  5. Carol MichelDecember 2, 2007 at 5:23 PM

    I'm very awe struck and wonder where do you store everything when it isn't on display for Christmas? The outside is just the kind of house I like to drive by on a cold winter night. It looks festive and inviting!

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  6. Phillip OliverDecember 2, 2007 at 9:19 PM

    Thanks for all the comments. Carol, we store the trees in a little building that is attached to the garage. All of the ornaments is boxed and stored in closets throughout the house.

    Pam, how did you solve your problem with Blogger?

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  7. Phillip OliverDecember 2, 2007 at 9:20 PM

    That should have read "All of the ornaments ARE boxed." I did major in English, believe it or not.

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  8. Digital Flower PicturesDecember 3, 2007 at 7:37 AM

    Re your older post:
    I work for a fellow with a pipe bursting company and it looks like it pays very well, if you know what I mean. He actually holds some of the patents on the newer technology.

    I can't tell how many times I have been hired to move the plants over something like this and then restore the area afterward. If the diggers are careful they can minimize the damage. You might try and use this as an opportunity to change things around bit and add a few new things.

    Quite a festive display. Very special.

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  9. Dirty FingernailsDecember 6, 2007 at 1:12 PM

    WOW!!! You should win a prize for all of that, or at least Michael should!! It is amazing. I can't even get up my lights that go over the bushes!!

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  10. JonDecember 8, 2007 at 6:31 AM

    Wow! Double wow!! Phillip, your beautifully decorated house is as lovely as a Christmas card or a feature in Southern Living. I am sure "Bah, Humbug" is never heard at your place. Best wishes for a very merry holiday season. Jon on 12-7-07 at Mississippi Garden, http://mississippigarden.blogspot.com

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  11. KC MO Garden GuyDecember 9, 2007 at 6:40 AM

    Awesome!! I usally do the house up this way too but this year I just didn't have emotional strength to put it all up by myself this year. You all did a fantastic job, I am envious!

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  12. chuck b.December 9, 2007 at 6:49 PM

    My kittens want to come play in your house.

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  13. AnonymousDecember 12, 2007 at 3:38 PM

    I have to agree with Rurality. "Holy Cow!" The Christmas decorations are fantastic, but how long does it take you to get them all up. I get aggravated just untangling the lights.

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  14. Phillip OliverDecember 13, 2007 at 12:21 PM

    Randy, it takes about 5 weeks. We start in late Sept. or early Oct. Michael does most of it and I usually take most of it down since I'm off during the first part of the year. Everything is labeled and we have a list on the computer of where everything is stored. We have down to a science!

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  15. KimDecember 27, 2007 at 1:54 PM

    Holy cow. Lured here by Rurality and I'm sure I'll be back... indoors and out, you have a lovely home.

    Tracked down your journal- $34.95, Lee Valley. Just in case other readers are wondering too. :)

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