Reginald Farrer: Finding Solace in Nature
This is a moment to pause with my latest book post and spend some time with the person behind it — Reginald Farrer (1880–1920).
I’ve always felt drawn to his story, not only for his influence on gardening, but for everything he overcame. Born with a cleft palate and facing significant barriers to conventional schooling, Farrer spent much of his childhood in solitude. He found refuge outdoors, exploring the Yorkshire cliffs and developing an early fascination with alpine plants.
What began as solace became a calling. By his early teens, he was already publishing botanical observations, and that devotion to plants grew into a life shaped by writing, travel, and exploration.
Farrer went on to author more than a dozen books and became one of the most distinctive voices in early twentieth-century gardening. His writing blends practical horticulture with reflection, opinion, and deep attentiveness to the natural world. Through his work—particularly on rock gardening—he helped move gardening beyond elite estates and into everyday landscapes.
The books shown here are a complete two-volume set of English Rock Garden, published in 1928. Handling these volumes—especially their thick, uncut pages—feels like holding a tangible trace of the life behind the words. They carry not only horticultural knowledge, but also resilience, curiosity, and a deep relationship with nature.
For me, Reginald Farrer’s life is a reminder that when someone finds solace in the natural world and follows it with devotion, something lasting can grow.
The two-volume set shown here is available to view here:
https://ashtreebooks.com/product/1928-english-rock-garden-by-reginald-farrer-complete-two-volume-set-fourth-impression
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You may also enjoy browsing other titles in the Nature, Gardening & Wildlife section:
https://ashtreebooks.com/product-category/everything-nature
