modjeska came to america with her husband count karol bozenta chłapowski in 1876 from poland, and created a retreat for when she was not performing on stage. to design a large victorian country house, she hired one of america's leading architects, stanford white. they named it "arden" after the forest setting of shakespeare's play "as you like it" and planted gardens with olive trees, palms, english yews, white lilac, and crown of thorns. it was their home from 1888 until 1906.