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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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March flowers

Edgeworthia (Chinese Paper Bush)
Tulips 
Carolina Jessamine
Epimedium 




Hellebore
Hellebore




















Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. LarryMarch 24, 2011 at 9:56 PM

    What a delight to see these lovely photos... I love your photography and your plants! Larry

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  2. Chandramouli SMarch 25, 2011 at 2:17 AM

    As always, I admire the photos of your blooms. Waiting for your posts on roses. I am a fan of your roses!

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  3. DarlaMarch 25, 2011 at 4:19 AM

    Your March blooms are wonderful..things will be blooming all over before you know it.

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  4. Lisa at GreenbowMarch 25, 2011 at 5:08 AM

    Beautiful spring blooms Phillip. I see several I can't grow here. It is fun seeing them. A little frustrating too.

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  5. rebeccaMarch 25, 2011 at 5:13 AM

    lovely flowers Phillip. Your blog looks different. Did you change the banner? Where did you get your mulch?

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  6. Dave@TheHomeGardenMarch 25, 2011 at 5:56 AM

    Nice! Our tulips have just started blooming. A frost got us last night though which may delay things.

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  7. Mr. McGregor's DaughterMarch 25, 2011 at 6:04 AM

    Spring looks great in your garden. Those hellebores are wonderful. What are they?

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  8. C. C.March 25, 2011 at 6:18 AM

    LOVE the epimedium! I have one, not as far along here as yours is ... they're so sturdy and reliable yet so delicate and fragile-looking.

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  9. Phillip OliverMarch 25, 2011 at 6:19 AM

    Thanks for the comments everybody!

    MMD, not exactly sure. They were from a hybrid collection mix.

    Rebecca, I changed the Blogger template. Not sure if I'm happy with it. The mulch came from the landfill over by the Tower.

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  10. Phillip OliverMarch 25, 2011 at 6:20 AM

    C.C., I am loving them too. I planted more varieties last year but I haven't seen blooms yet. They are very tough and very drought tolerant which is also a big plus.

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  11. ConnorMarch 25, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    Chinese Paper Bush, that is a new one to me! To bad it is zone 7 or I know what my next purchase would be!
    If you have more photos of your I would LOVE to see them!

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  12. UnknownMarch 25, 2011 at 11:53 AM

    Piękne ciemierniki Phillipie .Moje już tez pokazały swoje kwiatki ,ale bardzo podobają mi się o kolorze bordo .Pozdrawiam Bogusia

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  13. AmandaMarch 25, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing! Can't wait for it to warm up here. We're getting snow. :(

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  14. scottweberpdxMarch 25, 2011 at 3:29 PM

    Lovely post...especially fond of the Epimedium...what a wonderful, versatile plant!

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  15. sweetbayMarch 26, 2011 at 7:07 AM

    Beautiful! Epimedium is yet another plant that's been on my to-get list (getting longer every day). It looks so dainty but I've read that it's very tough.

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  16. EveMarch 26, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    Just stunning!!!!

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  17. MashaMarch 26, 2011 at 10:28 AM

    March looks beautiful in your garden. Great photography, I enjoyed looking at your pictures.

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  18. serial tillerMarch 26, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    Love seeing the bright colors in your garden. I have blooms on my Alabama snow wreath you gave me. It is a lovely shrub and seems to like it's spot. Thanks for being the nice garden friend you are. Oh and I'm loving the Alabama Gardener magazine too!

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  19. LesMarch 26, 2011 at 4:05 PM

    Magazine worthy they are!

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  20. AnonymousMarch 27, 2011 at 6:10 AM

    The hellebore looks similar to one I have called Red Lady. My dwarf iris are blooming. The tall bearded one I planted at ECM should be in bloom by Monday.

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  21. Annie in AustinMarch 28, 2011 at 12:21 PM

    Beautiful as always, Phillip - love the colors, especially the sweet Epidemium blossoms.

    Changing the template sounds like a very spring thing to do!

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  22. KelseyMarch 30, 2011 at 12:39 AM

    Love the tulips!

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  23. Dee @ Red Dirt RamblingsMarch 31, 2011 at 10:31 AM

    Goodness Phillip, I envy you those double hellebores. I only have one double, and she's taking a long time to get going. This is her third year in the garden. Viburnum 'Mohawk' is a beauty too. Happy Spring. I've got so much to do. How about you?~~Dee

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