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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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Heronswood

 
What a thrill to finally get to see this garden! After a ferry ride (another first for me), we arrived in the beautiful town of Kingston. Heronswood was the home and nursery of Dan Hinkley and Robert Jones. They started the garden in 1987 and lived there for thirteen years. The nursery was eventually sold to Burpee who filed bankrupcy shortly after that. The abandoned garden was purchased again in 2012 by the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe who have been working since to restore the gardens.


The garden is filled with many rare plants that were collected by Hinkley from all over the world. 

Our tour was conduced by Assistant Director Ross Bayton who was wonderful. Here he is telling us about the fern table in the woodland garden -
 

 
The woodland garden (a newer section) was the first garden we toured -






Leaving the woodland garden, we walked back past this totem pole with the iconic Heronswood logo -



Entering the original part of the garden. This area is also a wooded area with many shade-loving plants and a renowned collection of hydrangea, like this one -

And the largest hebe I've ever seen -

 


The towering trees were covered with climbing hydrangea-



Moving into a sunnier area, there were many Dierama ("Angel's Fishing Rod"). I loved this combination and unfortunately do not remember the name of the plant in the background. A purple oak?



 
A series of gardens lead around the original house -
 



 









Moving back away from the house and back toward the parking lot, we made our way through another series of shade gardens -





Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

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  1. danger gardenJuly 22, 2021 at 9:12 AM

    Wonderful! I haven't been since the early days of the tribe's ownership. When they were just starting to put the garden right again. I really need to make it back up there soon.

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  2. chavlinessJuly 22, 2021 at 10:11 AM

    I'm glad you finally to your first ferry ride (aren't they fun?) especially when you were on your way to Heronswood, it is an inspiring garden. I visited just once, for a spring plant sale, shortly after the tribe took over. I believe Dan Hinkley is still serving in an advisory capacity. I wonder if visiting 3 amazing gardens in one day leave you dizzy... your post motivates me to visit again.

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  3. GRACE PETERSONJuly 22, 2021 at 4:49 PM

    That piano...every time I see photos of it, I can't help but chuckle. I have never made the trip up there. Someday... Thank you for sharing.

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  4. Lee@A Guide to Northeastern GardeningJuly 27, 2021 at 4:59 AM

    Fabulous photographs and tour! The woodland garden is wonderful!

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  5. CanadianGardenJoyJuly 27, 2021 at 4:00 PM

    This would be my idea of heaven Phillip .. you took wonderful photos of this amazing place.
    I can't imagine almost losing such stunning plants set in such a perfect back drop.
    I have a weakness for woodland gardens and this was chicken soup for my garden soul, thank you !

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  6. AlisonAugust 3, 2021 at 2:52 PM

    I'm so glad that you got to tour Heronswood. I absolutely adore Heronswood!

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