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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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Hydrangea "Angel's Lace"



Another new line of hydrangeas is the "Halo" series. They were originally bred in Japan in the early 90s by Hiroshi Ebihara and later marketed in Europe as the "Frau" series. Now they are available here in the U.S. with names like "Angel Eyes" and "Angel Smile". We have "Angel's Lace" and it is quickly becoming one of our favorites.

Described as the first picoteed lacecap in the world (that is when the flower color has one basic color with a margin of another color), it is bred to be compact with sturdier limbs and larger flowers. It is marketed as being suitable for containers. It can grow to be 4 to 5 feet so it is certainly fine in the ground, as ours is. It is very hardy (to zone 6). So far, this has been a spectacular addition to the garden and one that I would highly recommend.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. GrannaJune 3, 2010 at 4:37 AM

    I love it!

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  2. Lisa at GreenbowJune 3, 2010 at 4:44 AM

    That bloom is unusual with the white edge around the bloom.

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  3. JenJune 3, 2010 at 5:17 AM

    does it have any fall color in the leaves?

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  4. BenJune 3, 2010 at 5:38 AM

    The white edge is awesome, and really makes the bloom pop

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  5. Dave@TheHomeGardenJune 3, 2010 at 5:58 AM

    Nice!

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  6. GinnyJune 3, 2010 at 6:01 AM

    It's beautiful. I adore hydrangeas and it's great to learn about these.

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  7. AnonymousJune 3, 2010 at 6:41 AM

    It's a keeper.

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  8. Roses and LilacsJune 3, 2010 at 7:10 AM

    Absolutely beautiful. What I wouldn't give to be able to grow lacecaps.
    Marnie

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  9. F CameronJune 3, 2010 at 2:34 PM

    Hot pink--love the 'halo' on the edges, too!

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  10. DavidJune 3, 2010 at 2:51 PM

    Absolutely stunning! Can't wait to see it in person.

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  11. KynaJune 4, 2010 at 6:40 AM

    I love picoteed flowers. That lacecap is so pretty!

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  12. Monica at Garden JunkiesJune 4, 2010 at 7:54 AM

    Hydrangeas are one of my favorite shrubs, mostly because of the gorgeous blooms. So it's nice to see a completely different look in a lacecap - that white edge sets off the bold pink beautifully. I bet it stands out in the garden like no other! Yet another plant I'll have to track down and add to the garden....

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  13. AnonymousJune 4, 2010 at 5:47 PM

    Phillip I have heard of this series but never saw them. Stunning!! Keep those hydrangea shots coming.
    Sandra

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  14. debsgardenJune 4, 2010 at 8:33 PM

    Beautiful! This is one i would like to add to my own garden. it is quite interesting.

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  15. compost in my shoeJune 4, 2010 at 9:20 PM

    And what about powdery mildew on the foliage. Many of these have major problems with this leaf problem.

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  16. WayneJune 5, 2010 at 7:37 PM

    Awesome! But of course........only zone 6. I'm barely a 5......

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  17. GailJune 6, 2010 at 4:16 AM

    Phillip, You are surely increasing the sale of hydrangeas everywhere! This one is stellar! gail

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  18. How It GrowsJune 6, 2010 at 7:14 PM

    Nice...I haven't seen that variety before.

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  19. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)June 7, 2010 at 8:27 AM

    The comments say it all. Beautiful shrub.

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  20. Roses and LilacsJune 7, 2010 at 2:35 PM

    Absolutely beautiful!!! Love the white outlines around the petals.
    Marnie

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  21. Catherine@AGardenerinProgressJune 7, 2010 at 5:05 PM

    It's beautiful, I love the color.

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  22. AnonymousJune 8, 2010 at 4:32 PM

    Okay Phillip, how long do we have to wait for more hydrangeas?

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  23. Chandramouli SJune 12, 2010 at 11:00 AM

    Whoa! I never knew Hydrangeas come in so many colors! I learnt a lot about them from your posts on Hydrangeas. Thank you :)

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