How to Start an Herb Tree
Emily Ellis
Learn how to start your own miniature topiary, or herb tree, from one of OSGF’s experienced gardeners.
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Blog Posts
Celebrating Women Environmental Activists
Emily Ellis
Throughout history, women around the world have been at the frontlines of environmental activism. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment, we’re highlighting several inspirational women who defend the environment and their communities.
Read MoreRemembering Bunny Mellon
Emily Ellis
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.
Read MoreMeet our Fellows: Q&A with Flower Book Researcher Jessie Wei-Hsuan Chen
OSGF
Meet one of our 2020 Stacy Lloyd Fellows, Jessie Wei Hsuan-Chen, and learn about her research into seventeenth-century flower books and historical color remaking.
Read MoreMeet our Fellows: Q&A with John Bradby Blake Researcher Josepha Richard
OSGF
Meet one of our 2020 Stacy Lloyd Fellows, Josepha Richard, and learn about her research into botanist/trader John Bradby Blake.
Read MoreSummer Harvest Tips for the Garden
Caitlin Etherton
Did you, like many Americans, plant your first garden this spring? Knowing the right time to harvest can result in tastier produce and a more manageable shelf life. Read this latest blogpost for tips on harvesting your summer garden!
Read MoreConserving an Oak Spring Masterpiece
OSGF
Two art conservators discuss the process of restoring a piece of Oak Spring history.
Read MoreOf Birds and Meadows: Q&A with artist Kandis Phillips
OSGF
Read our Q&A with 2020 Botanical Artist in Residence Kandis Phillips.
Read MoreOak Spring Summer Daiquiris
OSGF
To celebrate the Fourth of July, Oak Spring staff show you how to make two refreshing summer daiquiris: one a classic recipe favored by Mrs. Mellon, and one a more modern recipe using fresh produce from our Biocultural Conservation Farm. Cheers!
Read MoreFlower Power: Flower Symbolism in LGBTQ+ History
Emily Ellis
To celebrate Pride Month, we’re exploring the symbolism of several powerful flowers in LGBTQ+ history. Click on the link to read more.
Read MoreThe Future is Bright
Emily Ellis
Our friends at the Biodiversity Heritage Library launched their Earth Optimism blog series today, and to celebrate, we’re sharing some of our own conservation success stories from 2020. Click on the link to read more!
Read MoreComing up Roses
Emily Ellis
June is the month of roses, a plant that has been entangled in human history and culture for millennia. Read several facts about the fascinating flower, and about the roses we grow in the Oak Spring Formal Garden.
Read MoreReading on Racism and the Environment
OSGF
Racism, environmentalism, and climate change are closely linked. Here is a reading list of article and essays we have compiled that examine these important issues.
Read MoreRaising Baby Chicks with the BCCF
OSGF
The Biocultural Conservation Farm talks you through the process of brooding baby chicks in this educational video.
Read MoreIntroducing Fantastic Flora
OSGF
The Oak Spring Garden Foundation is thrilled to introduce Fantastic Flora, a new digital educational exhibit that blends art, culture, history, and science to explore the fantastic ways that plants flourish in their environments. Read on to learn more!
Read MoreCommunity Food Systems Through COVID-19
OSGF
OSGF recently contracted with seven local farms to supply fresh, nutritious food to the Fauquier Foodbank. In this guest blog post, Rokeby program administrator Danielle Castellano writes about the farms we’re working with, and the importance of community food systems.
Read MorePlanning a Woodland Garden
Emily Ellis
Planting a woodland garden can be a great way to help control invasive species, as well as create a peaceful oasis on your property. Read our tips for getting starting in this latest blogpost.
Read MoreBooks for Plant-Loving Kids
Emily Ellis
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.
Read MoreEating Wild in Virginia
Emily Ellis
Whether you’re looking to hone your survival skills, or are simply curious about that weird plant sprouting in your backyard, learning to forage and cook wild greens – many of which are highly nutritious - is a fun activity that can help expand your palette and reduce increasingly fraught grocery store trips. Read our latest blogpost to learn more, and to get several downloadable recipe cards!
Read MoreFor the Birds: Virtual Birding at OSGF
Emily Ellis
Over 100 bird species have been observed at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, and in this blogpost, we tell you about just a few of them in anticipation of our Facebook “virtual birding” event.
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