In this work, Georgina Burne Hetley attempted to capture the beauty and scientific details of New Zealand's flora. It presents accounts of her journey around New Zealand to acquire live specimens. She collected plants from the North Island and traveled to the South Island to collect samples from Nelson, Greymouth, and Arthur's Pass. Hetley spent a few weeks in Christchurch, sketching the plants in their botanical gardens, which came from places she could not travel to.