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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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Little Prince Of Oregon Nursery visit

Plants ready to be shipped out
On Sunday, I had a chance to visit the Little Prince of Oregon greenhouses for a behind-the-scenes look at their operations as well as a delicious lunch and a chance to buy plants. Mark Leichty, Director of Business Development organizes an annual event for garden writers, bloggers, photographers, etc. I wanted to go last year but could not but I finally made it this year. 

 The Little Prince of Oregon headquarters are located in Aurora, Oregon in the beautiful Wilamette Valley. After getting off the hectic freeway (it drives me nuts even on an un-busy Sunday morning), the drive is pleasant. There are numerous farms in the area and the greenhouses are surrounded by a horse farm.


For the past twenty years, Little Prince has supplied plants to Oregon and Washington nurseries. Gardeners are well familiar with their labels which feature the crown-wearing frog logo. There are 70 greenhouses which are full of plants.
Some plants are labeled and ready to go...
But many are not.

 From Abutilon to Yucca, Little Prince grows a wide variety of plants but they are particularly known for their large selection of agave, ferns, heuchera, sedum and sempervivum. My haul? My very first Grevellea (Grevellea rosmarinifolia), Uruguayan Firecracker Plant (Dicliptera suberecta), Epimedium 'Amber Queen', Cotoneaster 'Mooncreeper', Cotoneaster 'Lowfast', Arching Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium fortunei var. Clivicola), Tradescantia 'Blushing Bride' and 4 varieties of Chinese Ground Orchid (Bletilla) including a yellow-colored one. I think I actually got more than this but I can't remember them all.
A mix of succulents
Acorus
Some very tiny Japanese maples
Mahonias
A fun day, great shopping opportunity and I also got to meet some blogger friends in person for the first time. Thank you Mark and Little Prince of Oregon!

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. GRACE PETERSONMarch 23, 2018 at 7:38 PM

    I remember you taking a photo of these fern and Carex pots at the same time I was. Weren't they fun? It was really nice to get to meet you Phillip. I know what you mean about that freeway. I hate it. But the back roads are so nice. I'm glad we didn't have today's shivering weather last Sunday!

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    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverMarch 23, 2018 at 7:41 PM

      It was great to meet you Grace! Today was miserably cold and windy. I was working in the greenhouse all day and it was even cold in there.

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  2. LesMarch 24, 2018 at 4:08 AM

    Sounds like you came away with quite a haul.

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  3. Lisa at GreenbowMarch 24, 2018 at 5:55 AM

    It reads like you hit the jack pot there Phillip. Can't wait to see what and where you plant everything.

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  4. outlawgardenerMarch 24, 2018 at 9:13 AM

    That fern/carex combo is really cool. Sorry I couldn't make the open as it would have been nice to finally meet you in person. It's just as well, though as my pot ghetto is already full. Glad you had a good time!

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  5. Hoover BooMarch 27, 2018 at 11:24 AM

    What a beautiful setting for growing plants. That must have been a fun day. Enjoy your Grevillea! I hope it does well for you.

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  6. RobinLMarch 27, 2018 at 5:56 PM

    Oh my, that is exactly my idea of a fun day! And to come away with plants too, heaven!

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