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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...

Rambling Rector - the rose that almost ate our garden



The rose that almost ate the garden - Rambling Rector. You may recall I tried to remove it a few years ago and gave up. Severely pruning it back, it just came back with a vengeance and was back to the top of the pergola by the end of summer. They call it "Rambling" for a reason!




Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. What can one say, but "Wow!"

    Is it fragrant?

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  2. Aaron, actually no, it is not. The garden is very fragrant though with other roses and the privet scent is very strong. I love it.

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  3. The things we find out about our plants when it's too late to do something about it. It is beautiful, but how does one tame a rose?

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  4. Wow! I have heard of the Rector, and his reputation for devouring all that lies before him, but never seen him in action,so to speak ! He lives up to his reputation ! Mind you, what a handsome chap he is !

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  5. I can hear it lurking around trying to devour you too! Quick, run to the west coast and don't tell it where you've gone. It's the only way to save yourself!

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