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In December of 2023, the Biodiversity Conservation Team cleared and seeded two acres of land on Rokeby Farm. This was part of an ongoing project to restore portions of the pasturelands of Oak Spring to native grassland meadows. After clearing, a seed mixture of native perennials, annuals and grasses were sown. The typical period of establishment is two to three years but in just one season there’s already been signs of success— from the initial seed mix of 20-25 species, 18 were recorded!
Click through the photos below to see the progress of the meadow over time in its first year of growth.
Throughout the season, Biodiversity Conservation intern, Sarah Krementz helped to conduct vegetation surveys to understand what species were present in the meadow.
All photos by our Head of Biodiversity Conservation, Charlotte Lorick.
Cypress-knee sedge (Carex decomposita) and false hop sedge (Carex lupuliformis) are two incredibly rare species in the state, with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) listing them as at highest risk of being extirpated. This was the product of our Biodiversity Conservation team's ongoing efforts to compile a comprehensive snapshot of the species diversity on the property.
Read on to learn more about the plants and communities previously unknown since the formation of Oak Spring.
The landscape of Oak Spring is humming with activity as we step into the final days of summer. Sounds of cicadas buzzing from the trees, grasshoppers darting in the fields, and butterflies flocking to flowers. Some of these insects leap onto the pages of a rare three volume manuscript completed by Moses Harris for the entomologist Dru Drury. Read on to learn more about the partnership between the two and hear from our Ecologist and Collections Specialist, Dr. Rea Manderino.
Out of the notable interests in Mrs. Mellon’s life, the one that exceeded all others was her love and appreciation for plants. This is of course most embodied in her personal gardens which are a culmination of her ever-evolving design influence and style. This love was also reflected in other aspects such as the touches in her home at Oak Spring and in the collections of her library. In honor of our founder, Rachel “Bunny” Lambert Mellon, this blog we touch on an equally enduring legacy of botanical illustrator Margaret Stones.
Few species of plants have captivated people for centuries quite like orchids. Taking the world by storm, orchids of every size and color are now readily available and can be kept alive by even the most novice gardeners. Thanks to our archives and garden records, we know that Mrs. Mellon also was swept up in the orchid craze. Read on as our Horticultural Apprentice, Julie, dives into the history of orchids and their history at Oak Spring.
Today we're sharing a painting of a special memory at Oak Spring Garden Foundation. On November 10, 1985, HM King Charles III (the former Prince of Wales) and Diana, Princess of Wales, came for a visit to Little Oak Spring.
The Oak Spring Garden Library holds books from vast parts of the globe. You can take a tour of the flora of Australia, China, Brazil and more. There are other volumes that take the focus to a more local scale, like Wildflowers of Georgetown. This work highlights the spring plants found in Georgetown, DC; some of which are in flower right now across the region. Read below to learn more about this latest digital introduction and to hear from our Head of Biodiversity Conservation on why it’s a gem of a resource.
One woman who was instrumental in the shift towards ecologically accurate illustrations was Maria Sibylla Merian. Born on this day in 1647, Merian created striking works and is regarded as the first ecologist of Europe. Learn more about her work and to watch a video by Merian scholar Dr. Kay Etheridge.
If the Brontë sisters are celebrity siblings of the writing world, then sisters Elizabeth and Margaret Wharton are the unsung stars from the “golden age” of botanical illustration. In honor of Women’s History month we are highlighting two sisters, whose works underscore the importance of women’s place in the formation of botany and scientific illustration. Read on to learn about their contributions and to view these women’s works in full as part of our ongoing digitization project.
The beauty of the landscape can be a source of inspiration for artists, writers, scientists, anyone really. Bigger elements like mountains, rivers or the topography of the Bull Run and Blue Ridge mountains which border Oak Spring can even be incorporated into garden design. Read our latest blog post written by our Horticulture Apprentice, Claire, to learn about the history of a design philosophy which first originated in 17th century China and encourages us to look to the landscape.
Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon—horticulturist, philanthropist, designer—died March 17th, on St. Patrick's Day, in 2014. For those close with Mrs. Mellon, the anniversary of her passing is filled with emotions as fond memories of her and her lasting impact are shared. Bunny, as she was fondly referred to, led a remarkable life characterized by her deep love of plants, philanthropic efforts, and keen eye for design. As we reach the 10th anniversary of Mrs. Mellon’s passing, we share reflections from OSGF President Sir Peter Crane and legacy staff members to commemorate Mrs. Mellon and her lasting promise.
“I never had the privilege of meeting Mrs. Mellon but her hand and spirit are still very evident here at Oak Spring, through her notes, the memories of those close to her, through her library, and through the beautiful landscape she crafted here during her long life. It is the honor of a lifetime to help steward her legacy. I hope Mrs. Mellon would be pleased by how the Oak Spring Garden Foundation has developed in the decade since her passing, and to see that her legacy of love for art, beauty, and the natural world still remains.”
— Sir Peter Crane.
“The greatest pleasure and satisfaction is seeing that we are fulfilling Mrs. Mellon’s aspirations and dreams when it comes to the library. The residency show is another good example of that, each resident came here and all of this, the library, landscape, the gardens, was inspirational to them. It’s an honor to show the pieces they created and I know Mrs. Mellon is very pleased about that because she was all about inspiration, and how it can fuel someone’s artistry. ”
— Tony Willis, Head Librarian
“She was a wonderful mentor to me, and she saw something in me that I didn’t appreciate at that time. I was into books and gardens and she helped fuel that interest, which helped me get established here and therefore she was a big inspiration to me. I owe a lot to her. ”
— Tony Willis, Head Librarian
“I feel happy to be here now as we’ve transitioned into the Foundation, which is really her legacy. I certainly feel like we are headed in the right direction and feel she would be thrilled about what’s going on here.”
Learn about the Stacy Lloyd III Fellowship for Bibliographic Study, Eliza Moore Fellowship for Artistic Excellence, Plant Science Research Fellow, and our Fellowship in Plant Conservation Biology for 2024.
The students at Foxcroft School had the opportunity to visit and learn about the curative power of plants. They dove right in with an informative lecture led by Educational Outreach Director, Ginger Anderson. Several of the students also came in the fall to harvest and process the herbal materials that were used for this class.
After the lecture, the students rolled up their sleeves and crafted their own remedies from scratch. Read the blog for recipes you can make at home.
Over the past several years, select rare books, manuscripts, paintings, and other objects have been professionally digitized. In honor of this exciting new project, we’re kicking things off with a work by Flemish botanist, Carolus Clusius, whose birthday also just so happens to be today. Clusius is regarded as one of the most influential botanists of pre-Linnaean times, having contributed nearly 600 descriptions of plants and overseeing the formation of one of Europe's first botanical gardens, Hortus Botanicus Leiden.
We are pleased to announce the newest exhibit, Oak Spring: A Place to Grow. This exhibit features over 80 works created by alumni of our Interdisciplinary Residency, Botanical Artist in Residence, and Fellowships. The opening was held on January 24th and hosted a number of residency alumni whose works were featured in the exhibit as well as a presentation and reading.
After a recent snowfall, our Communications Apprentice, Sarah Goolishian, shot a series of beautiful photos from across Oak Spring’s landscape. Bundle up with a hot drink and enjoy a look at this Oak Spring winter wonderland!
Yuletide abounds with celebrations and decorations for the season. Whether they are bundled in a wreath on our door or standing out amongst the dormant landscape, evergreens are the shining stars of the winter season. Evergreens like pines, fir, spruce, and holly are common staples this time of year and represent the promise that spring and the green it brings will return again. Read below to learn about how some of our common holiday greenery came to be and learn about the science behind how some of these plants remain evergreen.
The western hemisphere is currently in the final stages of fall– trees in the landscape have reached dormancy and much of the garden has been tucked away for winter. On the other side of the globe, countries in the southern hemisphere are awaiting the arrival of summer and with it a beautiful array of flowers. Read on to take a botanical tour through the plants of the Southern Hemisphere without ever having to set foot in an airport.
