There is also a line from the poem To the Rose by Robert Herrick: Goe, happy rose, and interwove With other flowers, bind my love “To me, this says it all. Keep love alive,” said Mangini. There are roses in the garden that are more than 100 years old, Italian marble statues, and lovely water features. Stroll down to the balcony bathed in light for a grand view of the classical rose garden in front of you, and behind, the shaded rock garden, with its moss-covered fountain and perennial plantings.
The Marriage The Yaddo Garden Association was founded in 1991 by Jane Wait to ensure the gardens were given the care and attention necessary to thrive. The gardens, like the Trasks themselves, lived a life with both tremendous moments of joy, and those of almost unimaginable hardship. Many well-known artists have fueled their creative endeavors with the vitality found in this inspiring and supportive environment.
Mangini recalled feelings of surprise and amusement when, one hot summer day, she was mowing the grass and a videographer approached her. He was fascinated by the bugs springing up from the grass as she mowed, and proceeded to film it as she worked. Photo shoots, engagements, and wedding ceremonies are common occurrences in the garden. Mangini has an image of the garden’s impressive columned pergola hanging over her bed, and a photo of her granddaughter taken within the garden, that is among her favorites, she said. Once, after passing through the main entrance, Mangini saw rose petals sprinkled atop the shrubbery leading all the way through the gardens up to the fountain. “You just never know what’s going to happen around here,” she said.
The Resilience Cultivating love is like tending a garden. There are beautiful blooms, but also tragedies that must be accepted and adapted to. The Trasks endured the loss of their four children and a fire that ravaged the original
Photo by John Seymour
Photo by John Seymour
board, and serves as the Yaddo Garden Associations public relations representative. “This place sucks you in,” she said, smiling.
The Courtship The Yaddo Gardens were designed in 1899 as a gift of love from financier Spencer Trask to his wife Katrina. The date and their names are engraved, along with an inscription, on the columned entranceway to the garden from the main house, which has served as an artists’ retreat since 1926. “She had this vision; she wanted to keep this going for people to enjoy, and she has,” said Mangini.
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