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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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On the cover!

A photo of our fall garden is on the cover of the October issue of Alabama Gardener. I don't have the issue yet but there should be a story inside about our fall garden.  I hope you will take a look. We usually receive our copy around the 15th and I'm not sure when the issues appear on the store shelves.





Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. scottweberpdxSeptember 12, 2011 at 3:58 PM

    OMG...congrats!!!!! That's amazing...and a beautiful shot, as well!

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  2. KynaSeptember 12, 2011 at 3:58 PM

    Phillip!!! How thrilling! :D Congratulations on getting on that magazine cover. The only magazine cover I think I'd have a chance in hell at getting onto, is the kind that resides in plastic at the very back of the shelf. My garden would never make it. Yours is beautiful! :D

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  3. Phillip OliverSeptember 12, 2011 at 4:01 PM

    Thanks Scott.

    Kyna, never say never!

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  4. FeliciaSeptember 12, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    Awesome, congrats! :)

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  5. debsgardenSeptember 12, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    How exciting! Congratulations! Because of you, I now subscribe to Alabama Gardener, and I always look forward to each issue. Now I am doubly excited about the October issue. Can't wait!

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  6. NicSeptember 12, 2011 at 5:34 PM

    Congratulations! That is a beautiful picture...

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  7. Dirt PrincessSeptember 12, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    That is awesome!!! I can't wait to get my copy. Beautiful photo. Congrats....very exciting

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  8. JessSeptember 12, 2011 at 7:39 PM

    How super cool and exciting!

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  9. Pam/DiggingSeptember 12, 2011 at 8:31 PM

    Congratulations, Phillip!

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  10. BridgetSeptember 13, 2011 at 12:47 AM

    Nice one!

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  11. DarlaSeptember 13, 2011 at 3:02 AM

    Awesome Phillip!!

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  12. Lisa at GreenbowSeptember 13, 2011 at 4:04 AM

    Congrats on being published again. Love the photo. It won't be long and there we will be looking at scenes like this.

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  13. Randy EmmittSeptember 13, 2011 at 4:23 AM

    Phillip,

    What a great way to see fall arriving with your garden on the cover! KUDOs!

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  14. Randy EmmittSeptember 13, 2011 at 4:25 AM

    Phillip,

    I once had the inside back cover(monarch photo) on NC Wildlife magazine, this is a lot better!

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  15. Rainy Day GardenerSeptember 13, 2011 at 11:39 AM

    Congrats! What a wonderful compliment to all of your hard work!

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  16. Becca's DirtSeptember 13, 2011 at 1:45 PM

    Congrats Phillip. You deserve the cover. I've got to find me a mag now. I 'liked' the facebook page for the mag and left a comment.

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  17. EveSeptember 13, 2011 at 6:49 PM

    I can't wait to get it Phillip! Way to go! I hope this fall turns out ok. We are so dry, two of my dogwoods are losing their brown leaves at this time! Keep up the great work!!

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  18. AnonymousSeptember 13, 2011 at 6:59 PM

    What a wonderful honor Phillip! I wish I could see the article, but not likely I'm going to run into Alabama Gardening here in Ohio!

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  19. UnknownSeptember 13, 2011 at 10:56 PM

    Congratulations on the cover. That's kind of like a musician making the cover of Rolling Stone.

    I was looking for information about various roses and googled Madame Plantier. It led me to a web site called A Southern Garden and a photograph with the name Phillip Oliver on it. Ah-ha, that's the guy who posts Dirt Therapy.

    Looking through the photos of your 20 year project it seems that you are no ordinary amateur gardener. Keep it up. You are an inspiration to the rest of us.

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  20. GailSeptember 14, 2011 at 4:12 AM

    ...and what a beautiful cover it is! I am thrilled for you and that others are getting to see how splendid your garden is...gail

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  21. AnonymousSeptember 14, 2011 at 4:24 AM

    Congratulations! Well deserved.

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  22. sweetbaySeptember 14, 2011 at 7:48 AM

    Congratulations Phillip!! And a beautiful shot for the magazine cover.

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  23. GinnySeptember 14, 2011 at 10:22 AM

    Fantastic! Congratulations!

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  24. LesSeptember 15, 2011 at 4:26 AM

    Way to go!

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  25. Benjamin VogtSeptember 15, 2011 at 7:26 AM

    Sooo freaking fantastic! Looks awesome! I feel a framing coming on....

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  26. Rosedale GardenSeptember 16, 2011 at 3:52 AM

    As one who has visited your garden, it is a well deserved honor for all the work you have put into your garden. Congrats. Mary

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  27. CarolSeptember 16, 2011 at 5:16 AM

    How stunning . . . I would say the magazine was lucky to have found you! Lucky readers too! Is that your photo?

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  28. Phillip OliverSeptember 16, 2011 at 6:01 AM

    Carol, it is my photo and actually I wrote the story. I've being writing stories for them for years - mostly on other gardens.

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  29. rebeccaSeptember 16, 2011 at 9:44 AM

    Congratulations!!!!!!!

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  30. serial tillerSeptember 16, 2011 at 9:05 PM

    That is such a blaze of color! You do such amazing things...how do you find the time for it all? I am so looking forward to this issue. Way to go!

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  31. AnonymousSeptember 17, 2011 at 7:13 AM

    Fabulous and so richly deserved!
    Congrats!

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  32. DavidSeptember 23, 2011 at 2:59 PM

    Just got my copy of Alabama Gardener. Great cover picture and article. Congrats!

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  33. Gardener on Sherlock StreetSeptember 27, 2011 at 5:29 PM

    Wow. Congratulations. Love the photo.

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