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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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First Day of Summer

 

Today is the first day of summer and it certainly feels like it. We are under a heat advisory with temperatures predicted to be in the 90s. Tomorrow will be even warmer when we will be near the 100 mark.

I hate it and much prefer the weather yesterday when the high was 80. We also had the marine layer of clouds in the morning (that is when the above photo of the front border was taken).

I hope the heat doesn't ruin the flowers. The front gate is smothered in clematis and roses at the moment. I've never seen so many blooms.

Clematis 'Jackmanii Superba' on the left and 'Madame Julia Correvon' on the right. The roses are 'Dublin Bay' and 'Veilchenblau'. Salvia 'Caradonna' is right outside the gate on both sides.

 

This is the front pathway closer to the house (there are two pathways in front, one gravel, one grass). 



Snapdragons and Evening Primrose blooming in the front border outside the living room living.

 


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

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  1. Kris PetersonJune 20, 2021 at 9:14 PM

    Your garden looks spectacular, Phillip, and I share your hope that the heat doesn't spoil it. We were lucky this week. Our top temperature hit 93F but the subsequent days were in the low-mid 80s. Our morning marine layer held and kept the temperatures from soaring higher here. The inland areas didn't fare as well.

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  2. Lisa at GreenbowJune 21, 2021 at 8:55 AM

    I would be stopped in my tracks when approaching that floriferous gateway. My! That is one for the books. Your garden is such a treasure. I bet your neighbors are envious. I bet they stare and drool over the fence.
    I hope your blooms survive the heat. I bet they will with all your tlc.

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  3. danger gardenJune 21, 2021 at 9:33 AM

    Beautiful Phillip! Have you seen the extended forecast? Even more heat next weekend...

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  4. Barbara H.June 21, 2021 at 9:38 AM

    You have outdone yourself with your new garden. The Alabama garden was wonderful and I was so glad I got to see it but oh my, this one is stupendous. Congratulations, Phillip.

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  5. chavlinessJune 22, 2021 at 10:10 AM

    Stunning garden photos. It seems that my garden too has been more robust than usual. I'll take it! Hopefully the plants in our gardens are happier with heat than I am.

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