Mildred and Arthur Byne explored exceptional Spanish gardens in the 1920s, sketching and photographing them in order to share design ideas with fellow enthusiasts in the United States. They focused on glazed polychrome tiles and green foliage as the the primary characteristic of a Spanish garden, in contrast with a "cool white house." They also turned their attention to patios as the embodiment of "indoor garden and outdoor salon."

This book is their legacy, and offers a multitude of ideas in the forms of architecture, hardscaping, and landscaping. It is also a wonderful tour of historic gardens, including the Alhambra, and gardens of notables including the Duke of Medinaceli, the Duke of Alva, Seville, and the Marques de Viana, Cordova. Regions covered include Granada, Ronda, Las Ermitas, Sierra de Cordova, and Majorca.