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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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Cucumber Sandwich Spread



We are beginning to get a lot of cucumbers. Our neighbors are sharing and I have a little plant in the employee garden at work that is just starting to produce. One of our favorite snacks this time of year is a cucumber sandwich. "Sandwich" isn't really the proper work since we like the spread on crackers (my favorite are Triscuits).

Although I had heard of cucumber sandwiches my entire life, it wasn't until I was an adult that I actually tried one.

The following recipe makes quite a bit but it can be refrigerated.

Cucumber Sandwich Spread

Cucumbers (sliced)
16 oz. cream cheese (2 8 oz. packages) (softened)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 TBS. Hidden Valley Ranch Dip mix (you can use the entire 1 oz. packet but we find that it is too strong and salty)
1 tsp. dill
1/8 tsp. Worcesthershire sauce

Blend the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, dip mix, dill and Worcestershire sauce together until smooth.

Slick cucumbers thinly.

Spread on bread or crackers. Enjoy!


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. AnonymousAugust 4, 2020 at 9:42 AM

    Phillip, I am so making this. Thank you!~~Dee

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  2. Lisa at GreenbowAugust 4, 2020 at 10:42 AM

    Sounds like a refreshing snack...

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  3. chavlinessAugust 5, 2020 at 11:58 AM

    The kind of a healthy snack I can eat all day, every day...

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