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Blog Posts

Filtering by Tag: plants

Rokeby Meadow Restoration: Then and Now

OSGF

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.

Starting from scratch

Early Spring

Summer transitioning to Fall

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.

categories Biodiversity
tags Biodiversity, biodiversityconservationteam, native plants, meadow, plants

Hiding in Plain Sight: Exciting Plants Found at Oak Spring

OSGF

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.

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tags Biodiversity, Conservation, plants, PlantStories, biodiversityconservationteam, carex, sedge

The Science Behind Evergreens

OSGF

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. 

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tags plants, PlantStories, Holidays, chickens, evergreens

Around the World in Flowers

OSGF

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.

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tags plants, PlantStories, botanical art, ethnobotany, library

Inviting in Nature: The Rokeby Habitat Garden

OSGF

Summer is a time that’s bursting with activity. The landscape is full of soaring butterflies, buzzing bees, and a host of birds and other critters. In this guest blog post, written by our Biodiversity Conservation Manager, learn about the creation of the Rokeby Wildlife Garden, which supports Oak Spring’s flora and fauna, and get a few tips on how to start your own wildlife garden.

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categories Garden, Biodiversity
tags native plants, plants, wild, gardens, garden, wildlifegarden, Biodiversity

Nature's Thieves

OSGF

As we enter into late summer, the landscape and gardens of Oak Spring are lush and green. There are a few exceptions emerging right now however that defy all our assumptions of what a typical plant looks like. These opportunists are dependent on other plants (or in some cases mushrooms) to get their nutrients and thus don’t produce chlorophyll. In our latest blog, read about some weird and fascinating parasitic plants that thwart conventions in order to survive. 

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categories Biodiversity
tags plants, PlantStories, Nature, native plants, natural history, Biodiversity

Growing Through the Cracks

OSGF

Bunny Mellon once said “every rock has its purpose” and “every plant has its purpose.” Inspired by French styled parterres, the terraced gardens of Oak Spring are the perfect marriage of the two sentiments. The rock in this case is local fieldstone which was hand laid by Oak Spring’s stonemasons, and the plants are a smattering of herbs and other perennials which were first sprinkled out as seeds by Bunny during the garden's construction. Today, the cracks of the fieldstone spill out with plants that thrive under the beating summer sun. Learn more about the history of the terrace garden and some of the plants that thrive there in this blog.

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categories Garden
tags plants, gardens, garden, gardening, horticulture, gardenhistory

Historic Plantswomen

OSGF

The gardens we know today are inspiring– the designers who created them took many approaches, influenced by their upbringing, travels, or their inner circles. Many of our modern notable gardens have inspirational roots in gardens from the, some of which were historically designed by women. While many did not receive formal training, it didn’t stop them from convening in their own ways to radically change the way we view gardens today. It’s no easy task to pair this list down to just four, but to usher in National Garden Month, learn about the lives and legacies of several plantswomen.

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categories Garden
tags gardening, garden, history, plants, plantpeople

8 Films Starring Plants

OSGF

Plants are such a central part of our lives, it’s unsurprising that they also find their way into our entertainment. For those of us staying in this weekend and in need of a little relaxation and distraction, we’ve compiled a list of eight (mostly family-friendly) films and documentaries in which plants play starring roles.

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11 Comments
tags plants, entertainment