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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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Finding an Old Postcard in a Gardening Book


I was browsing through an old book called "Azaleas and Camellias" by H. Harold Hume, copyright 1938, and out popped an old postcard. 

It appears that it was not mailed so perhaps it arrived in a separate envelope. 

The card is addressed to be "Mrs. C.G. Davidson" of Kosse, Texas although I'm not quite sure as it looks like there is an "S" in front of "Koss". In looking on Google Maps, I see a "Koss, Texas" located between Houston and Dallas. I do not find a "Klosse" Texas.

The note reads:

"Dear Ms. Carrie, I rec'd your letter and was sure glad to hear from you. I thought I'd get to come last week but couldn't. If I can get a buggy and we are all well, I'll come to see you next Saturday May 26. I have 10 chickens, 2 hens setting. My gardens not much good, beans look very well, worms eating up my cabbage. Well I hope to see you soon. Tell the kids hello. Your friend, Rebecca."

I love finding things like this!


 

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

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Comments

  1. Kris PetersonDecember 12, 2021 at 3:58 PM

    That's fun! Given the reference to a "buggy" I have to wonder how old that postcard is!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverDecember 12, 2021 at 4:15 PM

      I would love to know too. Unfortunately I could not find a date on it.

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