Skip to main content

Featured

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...
5 comments
Read more

Grass Coming In


 The project that I've been working on during the past few months is finally coming to fruition. I put out the grass seed about 3 weeks ago. It took a full two weeks for grass to appear. I had been hand-watering it but then switched to a sprinkler and I think that made a difference. Of course, if we could get some rain, I'm sure it would go to town. 


The second portion is behind and the seed here was planted later. It has taken about 10 days to appear. At the last minute, I decided to create a step-down since this area was a little lower.


  Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Email Post

Comments

  1. Kris PetersonApril 21, 2021 at 12:51 PM

    The small victories are what keep us gardening.

    ReplyDelete
  2. chavlinessApril 22, 2021 at 8:42 AM

    That first photo gives a different and very beautiful view/perspective of the garden. Before you know it, you'll be able to practice your putting.

    ReplyDelete
  3. julesApril 22, 2021 at 2:01 PM

    Which grass did you use? No- mow or turf?

    ReplyDelete
  4. JulieApril 22, 2021 at 3:08 PM

    Not sure if my earlier post will show up. Just wondering if you used turf or no-mow grass.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lisa at GreenbowApril 22, 2021 at 4:31 PM

    This is coming together with the grass coming in. I like the step down.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AngieApril 23, 2021 at 7:34 AM

    That is going to look so pretty once it fills in. Your garden is looking beautiful already with all the colors.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment