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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.
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.”
To celebrate our founder Bunny Mellon’s 110th birthday, we compiled a list of ten simple ways to remember and honor her kindness, intellect, and appreciation for the natural world.
Looking for new books to read as your family spends more time at home? Click here for our list of eight plant-centric classic children’s books from the Oak Spring Garden Library collection.
OSGF head gardener Judy Zatsick takes us through the main residence’s formal garden, and talks about what goes into bedding it down for the colder months.
