Legacy in Bloom: What Two Gilded Age Icons Teach Us About Joy, Purpose, and Summer Adventure

As we “Sail… Waltz and March into Summer” through Tribute Together’s latest seasonal series, celebrating music composed for yachting adventures during the Gilded Age, we’re reminded that true legacy stems from vision, joy, and personal dedication.

This spring, Tribute Together brought residents from our partner communities to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in MA and Ladew Topiary Gardens in MD. These outings, part of our “Spring into the Garden” series, were filled with conversation, laughter, and inspiration. But beyond the beauty of blooming hedges and world-class art, we found something more lasting: the stories of two remarkable individuals who created spaces of joy that still resonate today.

Two Bold Visions from the Gilded Age

Isabella Stewart Gardner and Harvey S. Ladew were born into privilege during a time of great social and cultural change. Isabella received a significant inheritance; Harvey was born into a successful manufacturing family. But while their circumstances gave them access, it was their ambition and imagination that left a lasting mark.

Isabella pursued art collecting with unmatched passion, eventually creating her own museum—a Venetian-style palace nestled in Boston. She oversaw every detail, from the placement of each painting to the lush indoor courtyard, often working in secret to avoid criticism and ensure her vision remained pure.

Harvey, feeling confined by city life, purchased land in Maryland to pursue his love of nature. He traveled the world collecting furniture and curiosities, building themed rooms to house them. And when he wasn’t preserving open land, he was outside—pruning hedges and sculpting whimsical topiaries by hand.

The Joy of Surprise

Though their mediums differed—art and horticulture—Isabella and Harvey shared a love for delighting others. Isabella once hosted a concert where mirrors concealed her courtyard’s vibrant greenery, only to dramatically unveil the view at the finale. Harvey, ever the humorist, tucked playful characters and garden jokes throughout his grounds, transforming a walk through his estate into a game of discovery.

These were not passive collectors—they were creators, curators, and stewards of joy.

A Legacy of Pleasure and Purpose

Their personal mottos reveal what drove them:

At the entrance of the Gardner Museum:
“C’est mon plaisir.”
This is my pleasure. This is my delight.

Etched into stone at Ladew:
“If you would be happy for a week, take a wife.
If you would be happy for a month, kill your pig.
But if you would be happy all your life, plant a garden.”

These sayings remind us that joy, when nurtured and shared, becomes legacy.

A Reflection for Our Time

At Tribute Home Care, we believe the most meaningful legacies come from moments of connection, wonder, and delight. Whether we’re listening to the lilting notes of a Gilded Age waltz or walking among topiary animals, we’re reminded that beauty is an act of generosity—and that it’s never too late to ask:

What kind of joy do I want to leave behind?
What legacy will I share with the world?

As we continue through our Tribute Together summer series, we invite you to reflect, engage, and be inspired—just as Isabella and Harvey intended.