From the notable garden at Cranbrook in Michigan, inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, to the extravagant displays of color at Cantigny, near Chicago, to a simple prairie garden where a nearly extinct landscape is preserved, this captivating history and traveler's guide lavishly portrays for the first time the diverse gardens of America's midwestern region.

In all, thirty gardens open to visitors are illustrated in 215 specialy commissioned, dazzling photographs and described in a lively, informative text.

The author, Laura C. Martin, leads readers on a memorable tour of the celebrated gardens of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, and Kentucky. The variety is astonishing, ranging from gardens that feature spectacular beds of flowers and magnificent trees to those with more modest plantings that are important for their key role in the development of gardening in the heartland.

Arranged by type of garden from botanical and historical to parks, great estates, and arboretums, the narrative traces the history and design of the gardens with an emphasis on the dedicated people who created them. The text also guides the visitor to outstanding areas and plant collections in each garden.

Supplementing the narrative, the appendices provide practical advice for the traveler, from suggested tours to seasonal displays; notes about cultivating some of the gardens' inviting plants; and tips for the garden photographer.