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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...

Wednesday Vignette


The amaryllis finally blooms, after the holiday of course. I have never gotten them to bloom in time for Christmas. This one seemed to be especially slow but they are always worth the wait.
 
Wednesday Vignette is hosted by Anna at Flutter and Hum.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. This is a good photo. It is almost 3D. I feel like I could touch it. I agree that these blooms are worth waiting for. I know a lady that kept them for her garden. She had a space full of them blooming in summer. Also a pretty sight.

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  2. Beautiful bloom!

    How are you (and your garden) faring in the below normal temps?

    Happy New Year!

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  3. What a gorgeous closeup of an Amaryllis, the color is so rich. Some year I'm going to try growing them.

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  4. Beautiful! Maybe next year I will get one.

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  5. A beautiful flower, indeed. I usually let the bulbs recoup in the garden over the summer, and they quickly adjust to their non-forced state. They seem to want to bloom in April or so, naturally. Anyway, they are so lovely, I'll take them whenever they are ready. :)

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  6. Gorgeous! Will you be able to plant this outside? I was surprised when I found I could plant potted amaryllis in my Alabama garden after they bloomed, and they would come up and bloom the next year! Just catching up with your previous post, and your garden is looking good.I love your choice of the Katsura tree! Best wishes for 2017!

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  7. Oh that's gorgeous. I just bought one of that color for the garden (50% off!). Here outdoors they bloom in April.

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  8. Just lovely! Mine has been extra slow too, but now I can see the petals, so it won't be too long now. I think I bought Apple Blossom this time.

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