The Herbaceous Border from 1951

The concept of a herbaceous border, full of different types of perennial plants, is understood by every gardener, but in the history of plant cultivation it is quite a recent phenomenon. It started with a man called George Nicholson, who worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey, who came up with the idea in the 1890s, when AG was just a few years old.

The magazine wrote about the concept, and promoted ideas, plants and colour schemes throughout the late 19th century and the entirety of the 20th. In 1951 Frances Perry, a frequent AG contributor, wrote the definitive book – for its time – on the subject (see above). It was published by the London firm of W.H. & L. Collingridge, started by two brothers who, back in 1884, also founded AG.