This work investigates the historical and aesthetic significance of the floral landscapes within Colonial Williamsburg. The author, Joan Parry Dutton, utilizes her expertise in horticultural history to document the specific plant species and garden designs that define the colonial aesthetic. By pairing visual documentation with historical context, the book argues that the gardens are as integral to the site's preservation as the architecture itself.

Experts and enthusiasts of historic preservation identify this text as a valuable visual record of mid-20th-century landscape restoration in Williamsburg. Readers frequently note the descriptive quality of the prose which complements the historical imagery.