Due to her father's success in the jewelry and diamond trade, Jane Wallingford enjoys a privileged lifestyle as part of Cincinnati, Ohio's upper class. At nearly twenty-five years old, she's more interested in horticulture than marriage and children. When she finally falls in love with Martin, a mild-mannered jeweler, she's faced with harsh disapproval from her parents, and Jane's plan to marry and bring her grand ideas for a garden estate to society is shattered. With an arranged marriage looming, she endeavors in her studies of the plant world while she nurses her broken heart and ambitions. Tragedy strikes and Jane can marry Martin, but he has his plans, and she soon finds herself in a small northern California town where a rundown homestead and sheep farm await her. In Clermont City, and the society of San Francisco, Jane meets people from different social standings, including Martin's cousin, Harry. She's drawn to the handsome, down-to-earth man who doesn't take her as seriously as she takes herself. Using her substantial dowry, Jane sets out to turn the farm into her dream estate, while Martin engrosses himself in farming sheep. Even with the help of Harry, a fellow sheep farmer, Martin struggles to make a living at it. Unconcerned with money, Jane continues her passion for horticulture, and the running of her household until news from back home suddenly changes her way of life. The family's fortune is bankrupt and now Jane and Martin must make the farm work or lose everything. Secrets come to light that will shake Jane's faith in Martin, drawing her deeper into a scandalous relationship while her role on the farm changes dramatically. What was once a hobby, now becomes a lifeline. A heartfelt story of fortunes lost and gained and a woman's journey to find love and success on paths unknown.