Book Review - The Rock Garden by Gail Harland

When I was growing up in the 1960s/70s (yes I am that old) a rock garden was a desired thing to have in your garden.  It is fair to say that my parents were not the keenest of gardeners, but a rock garden was something that had to be had.  So when I was asked if I wanted to review this new book from Gail Harland called 'The Rock Garden'  I was not going to say no.

I have not paid for this book nor have I been paid to write this review.  My words and opinions are, as ever, my own.

I was interested in this book not only because of childhood memories: rock gardens come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.  I enjoy rock gardens size and majesty of those at Chatsworth and also the small moments of gardens in the more everyday settings.  Gail covers the spectrum of these.

The book itself is not big, it is a nice A5 sort of size which makes it a nice comfortable read.  It is packed with information.  Gail takes us across history and across cultures.  From how rocks are revered in Japanese gardens to how they started to be popular in Europe.  From the moment I started reading the book I was saying 'oh I did not know that and I have been there!' which of course means now I want to revisit and spend more time looking specifically at the rock garden.  Apparently the rock garden at the Chelsea Physic Garden is 'probably' the oldest surviving rock garden in the UK.  (I do love a 'probably' as much as an 'apparently').  I have been to the Chelsea Physic Garden many years ago so I am due a revisit and this made it feel more imperative to happen.

In Victorian times the rock garden was hugely popular.  From the wish to grow alpine plants to large public gardens.  The book is full of old photographs and postcards that make me wish I had seen these places at their peak.  Some are long gone but still some remain and yes Aysgarth Rock Garden, you are very much on.the.list.

Gail covers the use of Pulhamite to create artificial rocks and some of the gardens that used them to great effect.  I was also delighted to find reference to Lamport Hall and the link between gnomes and rock gardens.  Regular readers will know that I like a good gnome.

Of course you cannot talk about rock gardens without talking about the rocks and the plants that grow in them and Gail talks about these too: from the delights of Alpine plants to the need to be sustainable in how we collect rocks and plants and garden with them.

How we garden is our history, gardens are our history, our social history and Gail demonstrates this well throughout the book.  

I loved this book even more than I expected to.  Gail covers just about every aspect of gardening that you can think of.   I really enjoyed this book, it is truly interesting and informative.  I can happily recommend it.

The Rock Garden by Gail Harland is published by Amberley Publishing

Take care and be kind.

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