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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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Back to the garden


I have been looking forward to today all week with the promise of sunshine, 50 degrees, and no wind or rain! Yipee for gardeners! 

 Signs of life are apparent everywhere. The crocus is starting to bloom (the little bunch above is right near the entrance to the driveway, underneath a Dwarf Red-Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Kelseyi'). 

 Other newly planted bulbs are also coming up and of course, I don't remember what they are -

I got a lot of tasks accomplished today. I pruned a few roses, more ornamental grasses and the hellebore foliage.

 I planted some new things, including this Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus), which was a favorite in the Alabama garden.

And five new roses arrived from Antique Rose Emporium ('Cl. Pinkie', 'Lamarque', 'Red Cascade', 'Sea Foam' and 'Veilchenblau'). I planted 'Climbing Pinkie' today on the new pergola.

And, last but not least, I got 2 more loads of pea gravel spread over the quarter minus in the new courtyard area. That should be all the gravel I need so a major portion of it is completed and I can start concentrating on adding the plants.

A few plants that are really beautiful right now -
Juniperus conferta 'All Gold'
Sedum

Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' (Red Twig Dogwood)

Another nice day is forecast for tomorrow. Maybe I can get the remainder of the roses planted!


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. Lisa at GreenbowMarch 11, 2019 at 3:28 AM

    Doesn't it feel great to be able to get outside and accomplish something in the garden!?! Your new courtyard area is really coming together. I can't wait to see all the plants you put around and in it. We are to have some decent days this week too. I hope the weather holds so we can be outside.

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  2. http://whatsitgarden.blogspot.comMarch 11, 2019 at 6:00 AM

    It was beautiful yesterday ! You even got gravel down . I got most of the back garden tidied up , but still so much to do.

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  3. chavlinessMarch 11, 2019 at 11:31 AM

    A fresh canvas is so much fun. I can't wait to see the climbing rose on that fantastic pergola!

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  4. A Casa MadeiraMarch 12, 2019 at 1:58 PM

    beautiful photos
    I loved knowing your blog.
    janicce.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hoover BooMarch 12, 2019 at 7:48 PM

    Fringe tree! That will be lovely.

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