Mary McMurtrie (1902-2003) was born in Aberdeenshire. Her flower paintings have been widely exhibited in Scotland, England and Europe. The publication of this book symbolizes the tradition that she and her small circle maintained for many years as the only keepers of garden until the foundation of the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens. This book, using the paintings that Mary McMurtrie left to illustrate an unpublished book on cottage garden flowers, records how she created the garden at Balbithan and used her nursery to distribute the double primroses and cottage garden plants which her husband, John McMurtrie, bequeathed to her. Mary Mcmurtrie belonged to the small band of enthusiasts, which included Margery Fish and Gladys Emmerson, who grew double primroses during the period after the Second World War. At a time when every fifth day a house of some architectural importance was being demolished, these enthusiasts, along with fellow gardeners, preserved many of the plants from our gardening heritage of the previous centuries. ILLUSTRATIONS 120 colour & 50 b/w illustrations