In this historically accurate biography, based on painstaking research, Paul Butler paints a vivid picture of Theodore Mead, his work, and the times in which he lived. Schooled in Germany and America, Mead traveled widely, saw much of Europe, and hunted butterflies in Colorado, discovering dozens of new species. As an early Florida citrus grower and tropical plant grower, with a passion for plants, he amassed a huge collection of orchids and imported ornamental plants from all over the world, cross-breeding them to produce new varieties.

Theodore Mead helped keep Florida a "Land of Flowers," and changed the face of ornamental horticulture in much of the southern States. But despite this success, a significant part of his life remained unfulfilled. Orchids & Butterflies is ultimately the story of one man's search for meaning in life.