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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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Early Fall?


One of our local meterologists posted today that we are headed for an early fall. Music to my ears! It only got up to around 70 yesterday and we had an all-day marine layer. That hasn't happened in a long time. Today is equally tolerable and there has been some light rain showers.  Summer is my least favorite season so I'm happy to see it go.

On the minus side, August was one of the hottest on record for Portland and it is so dry that some plants in the garden are showing stress despite being watered. Relief is in sight - there is an 80% chance of rain on Thursday.

Some shots from the garden today -


Zinnias and Aster 'Kickin Purple'

Hibiscus 'Midnight Marvel'




Rose 'Buff Beauty'

Abelia 'Frances Mason' (a gift from Paul Bonine!)

Persicaria 'Blackfield'

Juniper 'All Gold'

Vernonia baldwinii (Western Ironweed) 



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. Kris PetersonAugust 29, 2023 at 4:59 PM

    Your garden still looks very summery (and absolutely beautiful!) but I hope the prediction of an early fall is true. Summer is also my least favorite season and it's stifling here at the moment - we hit 97F this afternoon. I envy you that chance of rain.

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  2. Hoover BooAugust 29, 2023 at 8:28 PM

    I see some toasted Hosta, but overall your garden still looks fabulous. 'Buff Beauty' yes she is. 70F! Ahhhh, lovely gardening weather! We had 98F today. Not so Ahhhh. Hope you get a good rain.

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  3. JeanetteAugust 30, 2023 at 5:23 AM

    You have a beautiful garden. I, too, am ready for fall. Summer in North Texas as been extremely hot this year.

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  4. Patricia CAugust 30, 2023 at 8:07 AM

    You sure know how to knit a garden. Love seeing your posts. They are inspiring. Cheers

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  5. AnonymousAugust 30, 2023 at 8:28 AM

    Those juniper berries are great!
    The Hosta shot illustrates how some are more tolerant of sun than others. I transplanted a hosta to a morning sun-dappled shade and it's toasted. Others with greater exposure look fine, just like those in your picture.
    LOVE the stone Morrell mushroomll!
    Chavli

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