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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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Coleus "Kong"


Earlier this summer, I was looking for a colorful annual to go in a large pot next to our back door. The spot is shady and under a small porch roof. I was going to go with the old stand-by - impatiens - but saw this at the nursery and decided to try it. It has been spectacular.



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. debsgardenOctober 10, 2015 at 9:26 PM

    I plant to use more coleus next year. The coleus I planted in the arbor garden this summer, like your 'Kong,' is still going strong. It is shrubby and quite beautiful.

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  2. Lisa at GreenbowOctober 11, 2015 at 6:42 PM

    Those big colorful coleus are certainly worth growing. They are so sturdy, not a bit fussy about light or water. Just give them room to grow.

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  3. AnonymousOctober 12, 2015 at 8:04 AM

    I love all the Kong coleus series for the shade garden. They are simply the best.

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  4. AnonymousOctober 12, 2015 at 10:59 AM

    Wow. Very eye catching.

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  5. outlawgardenerOctober 16, 2015 at 6:55 AM

    Beautiful coleus. Will you be bringing a lot of your pots and garden ornaments with you to your new digs in P town?

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    1. Phillip OliverOctober 16, 2015 at 7:50 AM

      I don't think I will bring any plants. Some pots and one or two statues but I am leaving the majority. :(

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  6. RobinLOctober 17, 2015 at 5:55 PM

    I'm a big fan of coleus, but I don't grow this one very often. But when I did, it was huge and lovely! I've always had good luck taking cuttings of coleus over the winter, and they make pretty house plants while you wait.

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  7. Casa MariposaOctober 24, 2015 at 4:33 PM

    I've become a big fan of coleus lately. Such tough, undemanding plants. Kong is a beauty. :o)

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  8. HoehoegrowOctober 27, 2015 at 7:26 AM

    I keep meaning to try 'Kong' as I do love coleus, but, here in the uk they take so long to get going, and are still little toddlers in July, even when planted under heat in February. Kong is a lovely size, and looks so healthy. Coleus remains somehow under the radar , a lovely annual which gets overlooked. Is it just out of fashion, or does it get overlooked when it is compared to annuals with big, showy flowers ?

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