The Oak Spring Podcast

In this episode of the Oak Spring Podcast, we sit down with botanical artist and plant ecologist Lara Gastinger to explore the deep intersection of art, science, and nature observation. From her early days exploring Virginia’s landscapes to illustrating over 1,300 species for the landmark Flora of Virginia, Lara shares her journey into becoming a full-time botanical artist. She dives into the origins and philosophy of her signature "Perpetual Journal" practice—a simple, weekly ritual of documenting the changing seasons over 25 years. Lara offers practical advice on overcoming the pressure of perfection, building a sustainable sketching habit, and using nature journaling as both a tool for personal mindfulness and a form of advocacy for local biodiversity.

Later in the conversation, Lara takes us behind the scenes of her recent Supertrees Expedition to the American West, where she served as the official traveling artist documenting ancient Bristlecone pines, massive Sequoias, and towering Redwoods. She reflects on the creative challenge of capturing the immense scale, age, and beauty of these living giants using a custom accordion-style sketchbook. Whether discussing the vibrant sap on a pinecone or the joy of recognizing repeat seasonal shifts in your own backyard, Lara inspires us to pause, look closely at the natural world, and start recording the beauty around us today.

Lara's book is avaiable for purchase here.

Host: Chris Stafford
Oak Spring website: https://www.osgf.org/
Subscribe to the Oak Spring Newsletter:
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @oakspringgardenfoundation
Twitter: @oak_spring
Facebook: Oak Spring Garden Foundation

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the dynamic ecological management of Oak Spring’s 700-acre landscape with our Head of Native Plant Conservation Charlotte Lorick and Wildlife Conservation and Management Specialist, Josh Rector. Josh shares his background in wildlife conservation and how techniques from studying deer impacts and trail management inform his work today—from monitoring over 60 fledged kestrels and tracking barn owls to utilizing aerial drone footage for 2D/3D mapping and tracking seasonal bloom patterns. Together, they explore how deliberate land-use choices, such as delaying fall haying to protect grassland birds, maintaining native milkweed populations, and observing unusual rainfall trends, directly foster a thriving habitat for over 2,300 documented species on site.

The conversation offers a fascinating look at how aerial technology and ground-level field monitoring work hand-in-hand to reveal hidden plant communities, guide long-term tree plantings, and adapt to changing climate cycles. Charlotte and Josh also share actionable wisdom for listeners and home land-stewards—highlighting the importance of winter box maintenance, setting achievable native planting priorities, and taking the time to truly observe the native birds, insects, and flora already present on your property. Whether you are managing two acres or several hundred, this episode illustrates how tuning in to the natural rhythm of the land can shape a more resilient, biodiverse future.

Host: Chris Stafford
Oak Spring website: https://www.osgf.org/
Subscribe to the Oak Spring Newsletter:
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @oakspringgardenfoundation
Twitter: @oak_spring
Facebook: Oak Spring Garden Foundation

In this episode, we sit down with director and producer Halina Dyrschka to discuss her documentary Beyond the Visible: Hilma af Klint, which offers a fresh perspective on the history of modern abstract art.

Halina shares the fascinating journey behind the film—from her initial reaction to seeing af Klint's work in 2013, to overcoming funding hurdles, learning Swedish, and discovering historical evidence that proved af Klint exhibited her work during her lifetime. We also delve into Halina's time as an interdisciplinary resident at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, where she researched her upcoming documentary on Maria Sibylla Merian, the pioneering 17th-century naturalist, entomologist, and artist. You can learn more and support the film here.

Host: Chris Stafford
Oak Spring website: https://www.osgf.org/
Subscribe to the Oak Spring Newsletter:
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @oakspringgardenfoundation
Twitter: @oak_spring
Facebook: Oak Spring Garden Foundation

What can a centuries-old landscape painting tell us about the health of a historical ecosystem? Quite a lot—if you know how to look.

In this episode, we sit down with Dana Warren and Marlyse Duguid to dive behind the scenes of a recent conference at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation. This unique gathering served as a dynamic launchpad to spark conversations and bridge the gap between two traditionally separate worlds: art history and ecology.

Ecologists have long used historical artwork to infer what past environments and climates looked like. However, by collaborating directly with art historians, scientists can unlock an entirely new layer of context. Together, Dana and Marlyse explain how understanding an artist's specific techniques, intentions, and historical constraints reveals whether they were accurately documenting a specific plant in a specific place, or exercising creative license.

Tune in to hear how this conference is just the beginning of exciting, cross-disciplinary collaborations and future conversations aimed at understanding our natural world through a beautiful new lens.

Host: Chris Stafford
Oak Spring website: https://www.osgf.org/
Subscribe to the Oak Spring Newsletter:
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @oakspringgardenfoundation
Twitter: @oak_spring
Facebook: Oak Spring Garden Foundation

Right here at Oak Spring, in the spaces where Rachel Lambert "Bunny" Mellon cultivated her world-renowned garden, an equally intimate creative partnership blossomed. In the 1960s, Mrs. Mellon met legendary Tiffany & Co. designer Jean Schlumberger, forging a lifelong kinship rooted in a shared love for the natural world. In this episode, host Chris Stafford sits down with Dr. Sylvain Cordier, Paul Mellon Curator at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, to explore how the plants, birds, and landscapes surrounding Oak Spring today were transformed into private, wearable masterpieces. The primary aim of this breathtaking collection was not public inquiry, but instead, these objects were forged out of pure reverence and a deep sense of spirituality derived directly from the natural world.

While Mrs. Mellon was notoriously discreet, the jewelry she and Schlumberger created served as a vivid, hidden diary of her life and passions. Dr. Cordier unpacks the profound philosophy behind these quiet masterpieces, tracing their journey from the private rooms of Oak Spring to their ultimate home in the VMFA holdings. Tune in to discover how this breathtaking collection—now preserved for the public—continues to radiate Mrs. Mellon's original intent: to transcend mere status and serve as an enduring, democratic source of artistic and ecological inspiration for generations to come.

Host: Chris Stafford
Oak Spring website: https://www.osgf.org/
Subscribe to the Oak Spring Newsletter:
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @oakspringgardenfoundation
Twitter: @oak_spring
Facebook: Oak Spring Garden Foundation

In this episode, we sit down with Anne "Dede" Neal Petri, the Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, whose lifelong passion for history has led her to the helm of one of America’s most storied landscapes. As Mount Vernon looks toward the monumental 300th anniversary of George Washington’s birth in 2032, Dede shares how the organization is balancing a deep reverence for the past with a forward-thinking commitment to community engagement and land stewardship. We explore the intensive research currently being conducted on the grounds—a process that is unearthing new insights into how the estate functioned not just as a home, but as a living laboratory for conservation and preservation.

We dive deep into the fascinating, "hands-on" legacy of George Washington the farmer. Long before the term was coined, Washington was practicing what we now call regenerative agriculture—experimenting with composting, soil health, and the strategic use of manure to sustain the land. Dede introduces us to the "George Washington and the Nation of Farmers" exhibit, a versatile resource designed to bring this unique history into libraries and community centers. Join us as we discuss how Washington’s impact on farming continues to inform our relationship with the earth today, and how Mount Vernon is ensuring his 300-year legacy remains rooted in the very soil he worked to protect.

The exhibit is free to download here.

Host: Chris Stafford
Oak Spring website: https://www.osgf.org/
Subscribe to the Oak Spring Newsletter:
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @oakspringgardenfoundation
Twitter: @oak_spring
Facebook: Oak Spring Garden Foundation

In this episode, we’re joined by Allissa Montgomery, Head Gardener at Oak Spring Garden Foundation, for a conversation about what it means to care for a historic garden that is both deeply rooted in the past and constantly evolving. Allissa reflects on the legacy of Rachel “Bunny” Mellon and the thoughtful design principles that continue to shape the landscape today, from plant selection to the subtle interplay between structure and spontaneity.

At the same time, she shares how gardening at Oak Spring requires an ongoing responsiveness to changing climates, shifting ecological conditions, and new understandings of land stewardship. From navigating extreme weather to reconsidering traditional horticultural practices, Allissa offers insight into how a garden can remain true to its original vision while adapting to the realities of the present. This episode is a thoughtful look at gardening as both preservation and transformation—an act of care that unfolds over time.

Host: Chris Stafford
Oak Spring website: https://www.osgf.org/
Subscribe to the Oak Spring Newsletter:
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @oakspringgardenfoundation
Twitter: @oak_spring
Facebook: Oak Spring Garden Foundation

In this episode of the Oak Spring Podcast, ceramic artist Frances Palmer joins host Chris Stafford for a conversation that weaves together craft, gardens, discipline, and creative evolution. A two-time visitor to Oak Spring—first as a participant and later as an instructor—Frances reflects on the profound generosity and understated elegance of the landscape, where artists are given both tremendous trust and deep access. Inspired by the topiaries, greenhouses, historic terracotta pots, and the legacy of Bunny Mellon, Frances designed a hands-on course that guided students from studying Oak Spring’s living collections and library holdings to building their own terracotta vessels. In a powerful full-circle gesture, she fired the pots in her own studio and mailed them back to her students, completing a process rooted in tradition, stewardship, and making.

Frances also traces her own winding path—from early ambitions in printmaking to studying art history at Barnard and Columbia, working at MoMA PS1, and ultimately building a ceramic studio at home after the birth of her daughter. A maker at heart, she speaks about the discipline of daily practice, the unpredictable magic of the kiln, and the deep parallels between tending a garden and working with clay—both require guidance, then surrender. With reflections on craftsmanship, mentorship, and the resurgence of interest in fine craft, Frances offers insight for emerging artists: repetition builds mastery, exposure helps—but long-term devotion to your practice is what sustains it.

Host: Chris Stafford
Oak Spring website: https://www.osgf.org/
Subscribe to the Oak Spring Newsletter:
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @oakspringgardenfoundation
Twitter: @oak_spring
Facebook: Oak Spring Garden Foundation

As the inaugural president of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, Peter Crane arrived from Yale University at a pivotal moment, shortly after the passing of Mrs. Mellon. The early years were both challenging and exhilarating: there were practical matters like establishing payroll and operations, as well as deeper questions about what programs the Foundation should offer and how best to steward an extraordinary property and collection. Crane reflects on the immense benefit of inheriting dedicated staff—particularly in the library—who had worked closely with Mrs. Mellon and ensured the collection was meticulously cared for. At the same time, he saw an opportunity to blend long-standing institutional knowledge with new expertise. Since 2017, the Foundation’s expansion from 250 to 700 acres with the acquisition of Rokeby Farm has transformed its capacity for residency programs and land stewardship, deepening its engagement with the region’s complex agricultural and ecological history.

Over the past decade, Crane has prioritized understanding before intervening—conducting ecological assessments, inventorying every tree via GIS, and carefully managing habitats to support native species, including migratory grassland birds and seasonal visitors like the Short-eared Owl. Partnerships with organizations such as the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Dumbarton Oaks, and the National Gallery of Art have extended Oak Spring’s reach, enabling loans, collaborative exhibitions, and increased digitization of the library’s holdings. The garden itself—once primarily a backdrop—has become an integrated teaching and research space, with programs that pair its living collections with the Foundation’s rare books and archives. A decade in, Crane describes an institution that has grown thoughtfully: rooted in history, attentive to landscape and legacy, and increasingly vibrant as a center for art, ecology, and scholarship.

Host: Chris Stafford
Oak Spring website: https://www.osgf.org/
Subscribe to the Oak Spring Newsletter:
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @oakspringgardenfoundation
Twitter: @oak_spring
Facebook: Oak Spring Garden Foundation

In this episode, we sit down with veterinarian John Mayo, who served as the primary veterinarian for Rokeby Farm, the legendary horse breeding and racing operation owned by Paul Mellon, from 1962 to 1997. Across more than three decades, Dr. Mayo played a central role in the care, training, and long-term health of some of America’s most significant Thoroughbred horses.

Drawing on firsthand experience, Dr. Mayo reflects on what it meant to practice veterinary medicine at one of the most respected horse farms in the United States during the golden era of American Thoroughbred racing. He shares stories from daily life at Rokeby Farm, insights into breeding and racing practices, and the evolving standards of equine veterinary care over the latter half of the twentieth century.

Listeners will gain a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on the relationship between veterinarians, breeders, trainers, and horses, as well as Paul Mellon’s approach to stewardship, animal welfare, and excellence. This conversation also touches on the broader cultural and historical significance of horse racing in Virginia and the legacy of Rokeby Farm. 

Whether you’re interested in equine veterinary medicine, horse racing history, Thoroughbred breeding, or the human stories behind iconic sporting institutions, this episode offers a thoughtful and compelling oral history from someone who lived it.

Host: Chris Stafford
Oak Spring website: https://www.osgf.org/
Subscribe to the Oak Spring Newsletter:
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @oakspringgardenfoundation
Twitter: @oak_spring
Facebook: Oak Spring Garden Foundation