The book contains 14 chapters which are essentially broken down into four main topics: the history of orchids, care for orchids, growth patterns of orchids, and miscellaneous topics such as picking your first orchid, pest control, and repotting. There are also color photos in the book and two tables which can serve as reference guides: Orchid Characteristics and Troubleshooting Guide.
The author is an instructor for horticultural societies, botanical gardens and universities, such as the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society, Cornell University, the New York Botanical Garden, the U.S. Botanic Garden and the Smithsonian Institution. She has a secondary science teaching degree and has been raising and showing orchids for over 15 years. Her orchids have won a variety of awards, including first place ribbons at the Philadelphia Flower Show. This combination makes her uniquely qualified to author this book.