Skip to main content

Featured

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...

Snow Day


After weeks of near hits and misses, we finally got our snow day. And it was a significant one. We got about 3 inches but areas to the south of us got up to 10 inches. It arrived late in the day and continued through the early evening. It is beautiful. However, I guess I am just getting old but I had no desire to get out in it. In fact, all of these photos were taken from the windows inside the house! 

The sun is out this morning and it is falling off the trees. I suspect it will be gone by this afternoon. I still do not want to get out in it. These photos will have to suffice!

























Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Your garden is pretty in any season.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gorgeous, especially the night shot! We got no snow this winter.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful pictures Phillip. Snow is beautiful but ready for it to go!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am not a fan of snow but your photos are lovely, especially the one through window screen which is how I watch severe weather.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Welcome to my world. I have hopeful to see the ground after weeks of snow cover. Lucky you getting to stay in during a snow day. Those are the best days. I bet you cooked up something delicious. Love seeing your garden from your windows.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your garden looks marvelous in its winter finery.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment