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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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Happy Plants & A Tiny Hortlandia Haul


Wet, wet, wet. This week another "atmospheric river" invaded us and it has been raining pretty much non-stop since Saturday. Today brought us a break but I think more rain is on the way. The good news is that the plants are happy.

Camellia 'Nuccio's Bella Rossa'

Camellia 'Magnoliaflora'

Euonymous albomarginatus


Fatsia 'Spider's Web'


Arctostaphylos 'Sunset' (Manzanita)


Pieris 'Little Heath'

Pieris 'Passion Frost'

Rhododendron 'PJM'

Rhododendron 'Taurus'

Saxifrage 'Touran White'

I only purchased 2 plants at Hortlandia and this was intentional. Knowing that my space is limited, I didn't want to be tempted. That, and the fact that I was mainly working the book sale, kept me in one spot. I did buy two plants -


The fern is a Japanese Painted Fern called 'Regal Red' (Athyrium niponicum). I got it for Michael, who has become rather fond of ferns.

And, lo and behold, there sat Hydrangea 'Fairytrail Bride'. I've been wanting this since seeing the photo (below) about two years ago. This is the first cascading hydrangea! Word is that we will be getting it at Yard n' Garden Land and I almost passed on it but thought I'd better grab it because if I didn't, we would wind up not receiving it at the nursery. Better safe than sorry!

Hydrangea 'Fairytrail Bride'



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. Kris PetersonApril 11, 2023 at 8:35 PM

    Your garden is looking very colorful and springy, Phillip. The Hydrangea looks interesting (not that that's a good choice for my climate unfortunately).

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  2. tz_gardenApril 12, 2023 at 8:05 AM

    The Hydrangea Fairytrail Bride is beautiful! I love how it cascades. Your garden is so lush, hopefully you get another nice break from the rain.

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  3. AnonymousApril 12, 2023 at 8:47 AM

    I also grow a small patch of the sweet anemone blanda. I was surprised when I saw a white bloom in a sea of blue, but now I see you got one of those curiosities too.
    Love that Hydrangea 'Fairytrail Bride'... I'll look for it in local nurseries (and worry about where to plant it later;).
    Your Camellia blooms are gorgeous, especially 'Magnoliaflora'. The rain usually turn them ugly quickly, so let's hope for a reprieve in the rain.
    Chavli

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  4. Lisa at GreenbowApril 17, 2023 at 2:58 AM

    I hadn't heard about a cascading hydrangea. It is a beauty. You have lots of color in your garden now. I love those little windflowers.

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