The inimitable Rachel “Bunny” Mellon was many things in her lifetime: a trendsetter, a socialite, a designer, a horticulturist to name a few. Her most enduring legacy is that of her incredible generosity of spirit, her philanthropy and the compassion and aid she provided to others throughout her lifetime. Her home in Upperville, Virginia is now the center of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation that stands as a testament to the many facets of her life and the impact they had on the people around her. It functions to further her mission as a humanitarian and to continue the important work she did during her own lifetime.
Bunny Mellon, The Kennedy Family and the Wreath
Among many other prominent people of the age, Mellon was a good friend to President John F. Kennedy and his family. During his tenure in the White House, and later under Lyndon B. Johnson, she oversaw the design and planting of the White House’s famous rose garden. She was particularly close friends with Jackie Kennedy.
Within the walls of Mellon’s famously beautiful garden was a cottage (seen below, bottom right) built and made available to Mrs. Kennedy whenever she visited. It was that friendship that led the First Lady to ask Mellon for help in implementing a special memorial to commemorate her husband after his assassination in 1963. She tasked the architect in charge of designing the memorial to reach out to Mellon, trusting her input to help make the site unique and meaningful. Mellon agreed and became an integral part of designing the final site.
In 2024, the Oak Spring Garden Foundation helped unearth an historic treasure that had previously been lost to time. After discovering what appeared to be a recreation of the gravesite on the Oak Spring grounds and speaking with a key member of staff who remembered its creation, volunteers discovered that Mellon had also been involved in the commissioning of a special piece of artwork: a metal sculpture in the shape of a wreath that was meant to be laid at Kennedy’s final resting place. The wreath sculpture was intended to evoke images of the ring of military hats that famously bedecked President Kennedy’s original gravesite.
Although the archives at Oak Spring Garden contain sketches and proposals for this sculpture, the final product never appeared in public and ended up lost to history. However, in 2020 a chance comment from a man who had worked as a stoneworker at Oak Spring around that time—who happened to have seen a component of something that sounded remarkably like the sculpture—sparked curiosity in the Foundation’s members, and a hunt was born–one that would eventually lead to them finding the final product in unarchived boxes at the JFK Memorial Library in 2024.
Bunny Mellon and Jean Schlumberger
The wreath itself was designed by master jeweler Jean Schlumberger of Tiffany & Co and executed by renowned sculptor Louis Féron. Mellon had a long history of appreciating Schlumberger’s work in jewelry, but he only produced two sculptures in his esteemed career, both of which were commissioned by Mellon.
The first such sculptures Schlumberger created was the stunning floral finial (seen below) that once sat atop Mellon’s famous greenhouse. Today, the masterpiece is protected and on display in the Oak Spring Gallery while a replication of it now rests on the roof of the greenhouse (seen below). The stunning sculpture is a testament to the love of nature they both shared. The second sculpture the master artist created was the JFK memorial wreath, which was also commissioned by Mellon, and only recently rediscovered.
Mellon’s extensive collection of Schlumberger’s work merited its own exhibition at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in 2017. Although much of Mellon’s assets were auctioned after her death in 2014, with the proceeds going to fund the research and mission of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, she left over 140 pieces to the VMFA. Because of this extraordinary gift, the museum now holds the largest collection of Schlumberger pieces in the world.
The JFK Wreath Memorial Exhibit
In honor of President John F. Kennedy’s memorial, the Oak Spring Garden Foundation has curated a special exhibit within the Oak Spring Gallery dedicated to the memorial wreath and the long journey to its discovery. The gallery now includes a beautiful exhibit that unveils the unusual story of this special sculpture, its mysterious disappearance and its rediscovery. The exhibit illustrates in a model (shown below) where they intended to install the wreath, elements of the memorial itself and a poignant video explaining the wreath’s story, which can also be seen online at OSGF.org.
Visiting Oak Spring Garden
Oak Spring is a horticultural masterpiece. While the Oak Spring property is generally closed to the public for tours, the Foundation maintains a rich rotation of exhibits, special tours and workshops that welcome the public by reservation during specific times of the year. Visitors to these events are often allowed access to the Oak Spring Gallery where they can now see the JFK Memorial Wreath exhibit and the chronicling of the many aspects of the Mellon’s legacy.
About the Biocultural Conservation Farm
One particularly special aspect of the Oak Spring property is their Biocultural Conservation Farm, originated as a place to preserve the agricultural heritage of the Appalachian region. The farm uses organic and minimally invasive techniques to cultivate these heirloom varieties. While a portion of their harvested produce is used in Oak Spring’s kitchen, most of it is donated to local food banks and underserved community members.
Bunny Mellon’s legacy lives on through the Oak Spring Garden Foundation. Her love of nature can be found in each lovingly tended plant on the property, her interest in art and heritage in the many collections the Foundation has preserved and displayed. Her philanthropy lives on through their education programs and commitment to aiding in food provision. The discovery of the JFK memorial wreath is just one more important step in cementing her importance to not only our Commonwealth, but our country’s history. ~
R. L. JOHNSON is our Co-Publisher and Creative Director. Bethke studied at the prestigious ArtCenter College of Design and began her career as a professional photographer in Los Angeles. She moved into graphic design and art direction when she relocated to Charlottesville in 1994. As our company’s co-founder and visionary, she enjoys all aspects of storytelling.
