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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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A quick look around Portland Nursery


This morning we went to Portland to go to a sewing business and we got there an hour before they opened (here is a good tip - NEVER trust business hours posted online). Anyway, the initial plan was to drop Michael off and I would go three blocks down the road and walk around Portland Nursery. So, we both ended up going to the nursery to kill the hour.  

 Although sunny, it has turned cold again and I mean chillingly cold. Michael had on a light jacket and he went back to wait in the car. 

The witch hazels were blooming all over and I regret not planing one. They get so large and I'm not sure where I would place one now. They are certainly stunning when in bloom.






 Another stunning winter plant is the 'Pacific Fire' vine maple. I do have one of these. 


 The following maple is probably 'Sango Kaku' but I could not see the label.



 The rooftop garden over the little shed looks good -


 So many lovely conifers -













 They also have many beautiful pots and statuary. I love this tuteur but oh my lord, it was $300!







It was a bit of relief to step inside the warm gift shop to escape the bitter cold. They have quite the houseplant collection. When I got back to the car, Michael said that they could not have any houseplants left because he had watched so many people leaving with them. 








Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. debsgardenFebruary 2, 2020 at 7:48 PM

    Hi Philip, one thing I love about the Pacific NW is all the wonderful conifers. I could spend all day in a nursery like that, drooling over the selection. I would have to wear some extra layers, however!

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  2. Lisa at GreenbowFebruary 3, 2020 at 10:58 AM

    Strolling through those aisles chocked full of plants would be a major temptation to me, especially through the conifers. I love them when they are small like in that one picture. Just seeing the pictures makes my heart go pitty patter especially when it is 60F today. Crazy February weather here but I love it. We will pay when it dips back down to the 30's tomorrow night. It will be back to reality.

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  3. Hoover BooFebruary 4, 2020 at 1:50 PM

    Maybe everyone was buying houseplants because that is where it was warm. Nice place--thanks for the tour.

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