A Lasting Legacy
OSGF
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.”
“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. ”
“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. ”
“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.”