In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, beginning with a conversation with Clif Brown, who has been stewarding the land since 1988. Clif reflects on his early years working for Mrs. Mellon, when the property was still shaped by horse meadows and Thoroughbred breeding. He shares how Mrs. Mellon taught him to see trees not just as plantings, but as sculptural forms—guiding him in pruning techniques that shaped light, avoided harsh silhouettes, and prevented heavy, dark spaces in the canopy. His stories offer a rare glimpse into a historic landscape in transition, and into the horticultural philosophies that continue to inform Oak Spring today.
The episode then turns to landscape architect Thomas Rainer of Phyto Studio, who collaborated with Peter Crane and the Oak Spring team to design the ambitious Oak Spring Arboretum that will grow to contain over 400 trees. Since 2024, more than 150 trees have been planted on Rokeby—about 80% of them native to Virginia. The remaining selections include East Asian disjuncts, close relatives of North American species with shared evolutionary histories. Thomas discusses his plant-centric design approach, the ecological thinking behind the arboretum, and the emotional framework he brings to his work—one rooted in both grief for environmental loss and optimism for what thoughtful stewardship can cultivate. Together, these conversations illuminate Oak Spring’s past, present, and future through the voices of those shaping its living landscape.
Host: Chris Stafford
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