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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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Autumnal Equinox 9/23/23


Today is the official first day of fall - the Autumnal Equinox when the sun passes directly over the equator and progresses southward.  Weather-wise, it certainly feels like fall with the temperatures only in the 60s today and our first major rain event beginning tomorrow.

The garden looks good considering it is soooooo dry. The rain is needed badly. I glanced through the Farmer's Almanac while Michael was shopping for fabric this morning and the winter forecast for the Pacific Northwest is colder and dryer. On a brighter note, next summer is supposed to be cooler.









Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. Kris PetersonSeptember 23, 2023 at 7:05 PM

    Your garden is looking very colorful on the first day of fall. Enjoy that rain! I'm envious.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Barbara H.September 23, 2023 at 9:38 PM

    Phillip, your gardens are always so beautiful. These pictures look like paintings.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Patricia CSeptember 24, 2023 at 8:48 AM

    So fabulous. Just love your garden and your posts. Always inspiring. Always gorgeous. Cheers, Phillip

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2023 at 10:10 AM

    I'm envious of your variegated Dogwood wolf-eyes. I fell in love when I saw it in your Alabama garden. The pink and gray phormium in front complements it beautifully.
    Chavli

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverSeptember 24, 2023 at 8:57 PM

      It has really gotten much bigger here than it did in Alabama!

      Delete
  5. AngieSeptember 25, 2023 at 10:28 AM

    Your gardens are always so beautiful. Our Equinox came with my favorite kind of fall weather-- rainy and cool. Perfect for reading. And after the drought we had, it was a welcomed change.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lisa at GreenbowSeptember 27, 2023 at 4:28 AM

    Your garden looks so lush even if it has been so dry. My garden is quite parched. Plants look wilted for the most part. I am looking forward to cool and rainy. I hope this fall brings the rain at least.

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