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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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Fall has arrived





After a few weeks in Alabama, I returned home earlier this week to find that autumn was in full swing. Temperatures are in the 50s and 60s during the day and it has been damp.

 I've got a lot of chores to catch up on, mostly getting the pots inside and some pruning.

 A quick look around the garden - 
Persian Ironwood (Parrotia), much more colorful this year than last. 


Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica), planted last fall. 

Mountain Gordlinia, just planted about a month ago, showing vibrant red leaves. 

Ginkgo 'Princetown Sentry', planted last fall in the front garden, just gets better and better. 

Another view of the gingko, with the Sourwood (Oxydendrum) in the foreground. 


Acer 'Sango Kaku' (Japanese Maple)

Japanese Stewartia


Burning Bush (Euonymous 'Rudy Haag') under the Sourwood tree

One of the potted Japanese Maples - 'Dancing Peacock' 

Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii)

Dwarf Birch (Betula 'Trost's Dwarf') 

Geranium 'Rozanne' and Pennisetum 'Hameln' 

Snakeroot (Eupatorium 'Chocolate'), Aralia 'Sun King' and hydrangea
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'Catawba')

Japanese Blood Grass ( Imperata cylindrica)



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. Jane StrongOctober 18, 2019 at 4:25 PM

    So much beauty. Best ever pictures of fall color I've seen this season, maybe ever. You must collect these trees that show color?

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    1. Phillip OliverOctober 19, 2019 at 7:49 AM

      Jane, fall color is a chief factor in selecting a tree for me.

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  2. Lisa at GreenbowOctober 20, 2019 at 4:04 AM

    Your fall color is spectacular. What a beautiful sight to come home to.
    I did cringe a little when I saw the Burning Bush. It has become an invasive in our area. It pops up in the woods and along roadsides here. Scary.

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