This book details the history of orchids at the National Botanic Gardens. Individual chapters concentrate on the development of the collection from the Garden's beginning, a chapter on orchid hunting and one on Native Irish Orchids. There are 2 appendices listing the Glasnevin orchids that are described or named in the Kew Bulletin and the first published records of native Irish species. The book contains 25 illustrations, including Chinese ink portraits of the most notable people in Irish orchid history, by botanical artist Wendy F Walsh.