This collection of essays investigates the intricate and often paradoxical relationship between human activity and the natural environment. Roger B. Swain, a trained entomologist and long-time contributor to horticultural literature, utilizes his expertise to examine how human intervention shapes landscapes and ecosystems. Through a series of observations, he argues that understanding the biological realities of our surroundings is necessary for sustainable coexistence with the natural world.

Critics and readers frequently note the accessibility of Swain's prose, which balances scientific observation with a conversational tone. Experts often cite this work as a standard example of nature writing that bridges the gap between academic biology and the casual gardener's experience.