An Afternoon with Mark Catesby led by Henrietta McBurney

The Oak Spring Garden Foundation is an operating foundation dedicated to sharing the gifts and ideas of Rachel "Bunny" Mellon.  Its mission is to support and inspire fresh thinking and bold action on the history and future of plants, including the art and culture of plants, gardens and landscapes.

Oak Spring Garden Foundation

Oak Spring Garden Library

We are delighted to announce the next installment in the Treasures of the Oak Spring Garden Library series. This small group experience is for those interested in learning more about some of the spectacular treasures in Bunny Mellon's library. The pioneering English naturalist, explorer, artist and author, Mark Catesby (1683-1749), lived and worked at the dawn of the modern era of natural science. He spent two prolonged periods in Virginia and in South Carolina and the Bahamas during which he explored, collected, painted, and sent plants and animals back to England. He was the first to show the interaction of plants and animals in what we would now call ecological terms, he painted and described several species which are now extinct and developed original observations on bird migration. But he is best known for his magnificent two-volume The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands (1731-1743), the first account of the flora and fauna of North America, published a century before the works of John James Audubon. Catesby’s majestic volumes reflect the excitement, drama, beauty and extraordinary detail of the natural world he explored. Henrietta McBurney is an independent art historian and curator, formerly curator at the Royal Library, Windsor Castle, and an expert on Mark Catesby. Together with her and Oak Spring Librarian, Tony Willis, guests will be able to examine Bunny Mellon’s magnificent first edition of Catesby’s Natural History, alongside related works of art in the collection.No previous knowledge is required - just a fascination with art, books, history, or the natural world. Schedule: 1:00pm - 2:30pm: Illustrated lecture by Henrietta McBurney followed by an examination of objects in the Oak Spring Garden Foundation Library2:30pm - 3:00pm - Coffee and Conversation in the Gothic Room of the Mellon Residence. Ms. McBurney will be available to sign copies of her recent book, Illuminating Natural History. The Art and Science of Mark Catesby (which will be available for purchase).COVID-19 Policy: The Oak Spring Garden Foundation is committed to the health and safety of our on-site staff and visitors. OSGF strives to comply with CDC, state, and federal recommendations and guidelines, acknowledging that these guidelines are changing rapidly as new information becomes available and further research is conducted. The Oak Spring Garden Foundation reserves the right to modify this policy at any time to adapt to changing circumstances and business needs. At this time, OSGF requires all guests be vaccinated including a booster (if eligible) prior to visiting our site. Masks are required to be worn when indoors. Guests are requested to be mindful of safe distancing whenever possible.

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