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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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Autumn Leaves

'Dancing Peacock'

Someone needs to write a song... :)

With an atmospheric river and 30 mph winds predicted this past weekend, I was afraid the ginkgo, which had just started to turn color, would be stripped.  We were lucky though and it remains intact.

Gingko 'Princeton Sentry'

After the storm...



The Black Tupelo (Nyssa slyvatica) changes color from the inside out -


The above photo was taken last week. Here it is today -



'Wolf Eyes' Dogwood (Cornus kousa) has never had such pink color -



Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea', Crape Myrtle 'Dynamite' (Lagerstroemia), and Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica) -



Japanese Maple 'Beni Hime' -



Serviceberry 'Autumn Brilliance' (Amelanchier) with tree peonies -



Stewartia pyschocamellia starts the color show early. It has since faded to a much softer color -




Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Kris PetersonOctober 30, 2025 at 4:54 PM

    All gorgeous, especially that 'Dancing Peacock'.

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  2. AnonymousOctober 31, 2025 at 12:36 PM

    We are having a particularly beautiful fall. All the trees are really bringing it this year. Your trees are gorgeous.
    I'm starting to go virtual shopping to narrow down a replacement to a sad Raywood Ash that has to go. Fall color, so important in my criteria, this post is just what I needed. Which of your trees are the most low-water adapted/drought tolerant?

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    1. Phillip OliverOctober 31, 2025 at 11:04 PM

      Of the ones I showed here, I would say the Gingko, Redbud and Crape Myrtle would be considered drought tolerant. The Raywood Ash is certainly a beautiful tree. I don't have it but I've seen it around town.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousOctober 31, 2025 at 8:51 PM

    Love, love, love Dancing Peacock!!! Debbie

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  4. AnonymousNovember 2, 2025 at 8:04 AM

    Your Japanese maple 'Dancing Peacock', which I remember from previous autumn photos, is by far the most flamboyant! Truly a head turner.
    Chavli

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  5. JerryNovember 4, 2025 at 2:03 PM

    And the coleus under your Stewartia still looks good too! Happy Autumn!

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  6. tz_gardenNovember 6, 2025 at 8:55 AM

    WOW, Dancing Peacock is outstanding! The Gingko is always one of my favorites. How do you deal with all the leaves?

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