Oak Spring Garden Foundation - Margaret Stones and Mrs. Mellon

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.

When acquiring books, a lifetime task she began at just 10 years old, subjects ranged from early European herbals to instructions on garden construction. Another main focus was placed on championing works completed by women. Whether it was a series of volumes done by two sisters (whose significance at the time of purchase was not yet known), or Europe’s first ecologist Maria Sybilla Merian, Mrs. Mellon placed a strong emphasis on women and their legacies within botany, garden design, natural sciences and art. Those close to her noted Mrs. Mellon was particularly fond of the works done by Australian botanical artist, Margaret Elise Stones.

Margaret began her training at Swinburne Technical College pursuing a degree in industrial art. In 1945 she contracted pulmonary tuberculosis and was bedridden for over a year. It was during this period of extended bedrest that she began to draw flowers that were gifted to her by visitors. This unfortunate health incident ultimately had a positive outcome: it led to her first solo show in Australia, botanical excursions throughout the country and sparked the decision to move west and further her training in botanical illustration at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

For the next five decades Margaret worked as a freelance illustrator for Kew Gardens. Within that time she became a principal contributing illustrator for Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, the longest running botanical periodical. While working with Kew, Margaret was contracted by Lord Talbot de Malahide to produce illustrations which were incorporated into The Endemic Flora of Tasmania. A Tasmanian species, Stonesiella along with the genus Stonesia were named in her honor.

Later in her career she was contacted by Louisiana State University (LSU) to commission six botanical illustrations in celebration of the United States bicentennial. This project soon evolved to encompass flora statewide with Maragret traveling annually with botanists on collection trips. Some of the plants collected were either rare or endangered to the state and, thanks to the project, were the first instances of these species being documented in the state. The over 200 drawings she produced are now housed in the E. A. McIlhenny Natural History Collection at LSU and were used to illustrate the Flora of Louisiana.

Click through the slideshow below to view Margaret’s works.