Oak Spring Garden Foundation

### Context Profile for Oak Spring Garden Foundation

1. **Organization Mission & Cause**:
   - The Oak Spring Garden Foundation (OSGF) is dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity and the promotion of sustainable land management practices. Their mission is to steward the Oak Spring estate, a 700-acre property rich in diverse ecosystems, to protect and foster wildlife communities. They aim to share their conservation efforts and knowledge with the public through educational programs and community engagement.

2. **Type of Activities**:
   - OSGF hosts various events, including guided biodiversity walks, educational workshops, and community programs focused on conservation and sustainability. The "Biodiversity Walk" is a recent event that invites participants to explore the estate's flora and fauna while learning about conservation practices. They also engage in fundraising campaigns to support their initiatives and promote awareness of biodiversity issues.

3. **Tone of Voice**:
   - The tone of OSGF's communication is friendly, informative, and inviting. They use clear and accessible language to engage a diverse audience, including novice and seasoned nature enthusiasts. The content is structured to provide essential information while encouraging participation and fostering a sense of community.

4. **Emoji Usage**:
   - The organization does not appear to use emojis in their communications, maintaining a professional and straightforward approach in their messaging.

5. **Key Facts**:
   - **Founding Info**: Established by Paul and Bunny Mellon, OSGF is committed to conservation and education.
   - **Scale**: The foundation operates on a 700-acre estate, focusing on biodiversity conservation.
   - **Impact Metrics**: Specific metrics were not detailed on the website, but their activities emphasize community engagement and educational outreach.
   - **Volunteer Info**: Information about volunteer opportunities is not explicitly mentioned, but community involvement is encouraged through events.

6. **Writing Guidelines**:
   - Use clear and concise language that is accessible to a broad audience.
   - Maintain a friendly and inviting tone, encouraging participation and engagement.
   - Structure content to provide essential details upfront, followed by additional context or instructions.
   - Avoid using emojis to maintain a professional appearance.
   - Include calls to action that inspire readers to participate in events or support the foundation's mission.

This context profile serves as a foundational guide for creating tailored content for the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, ensuring alignment with their mission, tone, and audience engagement strategies.

LXCL:Please register in advance to receive the Zoom link by email.

General Admission

Plants, Memory, Belonging Presented by the Oak Spring Garden Foundation and Plant Perspective Join us for a free virtual program exploring the connections between plants, memory, and belonging. Four speakers will share presentations, followed by a panel discussion bringing their perspectives into conversation. Please register in advance to receive the Zoom link by email. Time zones:This event takes place 4:00 - 6:00pm British Summer Time (BST).&nbsp;Conversions are as follows: 11 am&ndash;1 pm New York (EDT)10am - 12pm Chicago (CST)8&ndash;10 am Los Angeles (PDT)5&ndash;7 pm Paris/Berlin (CEST)7&ndash;9 pm Dubai (GST)8:30&ndash;10:30 pm Delhi (IST) Presenters: Maria Thereza Alves, artist, writer and poetSeeds of ChangeI see the earth as histories of site-specific accumulations of interactions between beings. In the process of colonization, histories are removed and some others added. Plants arewitnesses to these missing histories.&nbsp; Jessica Lee, author and environmental historianPlant BiographiesWhat would it mean to centre plants in our storytelling, and how might that effort allow us to reimagine conventional approaches to writing the more-than-human world?&nbsp; Marcello Di Paola, Philosopher, University of Palermo&nbsp;This One Is Not For Sale. Particular Plants and Meaning In LifeA Commercial Grower&#39;s Reflection on Memory, Belonging, and Pricelessness Goldie Poblador,&nbsp;artistThe Myth Behind&quot;My research behind the histories and mythology of plants and seeds in the Global South plays its role in my artistic practice and how this can lead to reimagining new approaches to decolonization, conservation and climate justice. I will go through what led me to tackle this subject matter, and how it is addressed by the work.&quot;&nbsp; Panel Members:Annette ArlanderIsis Brook, Plant Perspectives Deputy EditorDanielle Eady, Oak Spring Garden Foundation Program DirectorSusanne FehlingsMathew GandyKristan HansonSarah JohnsonJohn Ryan, Plant Perspectives EditorSophie Strand About Oak Spring Garden Foundation:&nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.osgf.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">The Oak Spring Garden Foundation</a> (OSGF) is a philanthropic foundation based at the former primary estate of the late Paul and Rachel Mellon, who were major philanthropists in the U.S. of the arts, humanities, and sciences in the second half of the twentieth century. OSGF is located in the northern Virginia Piedmont and Blue Ridge Mountains region (ca. one-hour drive from Washington, D.C.). Led by Sir Peter Crane, the Foundation&rsquo;s inaugural President, OSGF provides workshops, short courses and supports residencies for artists and scholars. Its celebrated Library comprises rare books, manuscripts and works of art relating to horticulture, landscape design, botany and natural history. It is becoming a new center of stimulation of all things botanical, from fundamental research in plant evolution and conservation, to horticultural and plant conservation practice, to the history and art of plants, gardens and landscapes. About Plant Perspectives:&nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://whpress.co.uk/PP.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Plant Perspectives</a> is an open access, new forum grounded in interdisciplinary plant studies, to explore plant-human interactions in all spatial, temporal and cultural contexts. Plants are the central actors here, and the journal encourages new directions in the study of sensory, instrumental and affective entanglements between human and vegetal spheres.

Hi <span data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(42, 42, 196); padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;">First name , Thank you for registering for Plants, Memory, Belonging! The information to join the program on October 8th, 2025 at 4:00pm GMT is below: https://notredame-au.zoom.us/j/83920686623Passcode: 642735Meeting ID: 839 2068 6623 Best wishes,Oak Spring Garden Foundation and Plant Perspectives

Plants, Memory, Belonging Presented by the Oak Spring Garden Foundation and Plant Perspective Join us for a free virtual program exploring the connections between plants, memory, and belonging. Four speakers will share presentations, followed by a panel discussion bringing their perspectives into conversation. Please register in advance to receive the Zoom link by email. Time zones:This event takes place 4:00 - 6:00pm British Summer Time (BST). Conversions are as follows: 11 am–1 pm New York (EDT)10am - 12pm Chicago (CST)8–10 am Los Angeles (PDT)5–7 pm Paris/Berlin (CEST)7–9 pm Dubai (GST)8:30–10:30 pm Delhi (IST) Presenters: Maria Thereza Alves, artist, writer and poetSeeds of ChangeI see the earth as histories of site-specific accumulations of interactions between beings. In the process of colonization, histories are removed and some others added. Plants arewitnesses to these missing histories.  Jessica Lee, author and environmental historianPlant BiographiesWhat would it mean to centre plants in our storytelling, and how might that effort allow us to reimagine conventional approaches to writing the more-than-human world?  Marcello Di Paola, Philosopher, University of Palermo This One Is Not For Sale. Particular Plants and Meaning In LifeA Commercial Grower's Reflection on Memory, Belonging, and Pricelessness Goldie Poblador, artistThe Myth Behind"My research behind the histories and mythology of plants and seeds in the Global South plays its role in my artistic practice and how this can lead to reimagining new approaches to decolonization, conservation and climate justice. I will go through what led me to tackle this subject matter, and how it is addressed by the work."  Panel Members:Annette ArlanderIsis Brook, Plant Perspectives Deputy EditorDanielle Eady, Oak Spring Garden Foundation Program DirectorSusanne FehlingsMathew GandyKristan HansonSarah JohnsonJohn Ryan, Plant Perspectives EditorSophie Strand About Oak Spring Garden Foundation: <a href="https://www.osgf.org/" target="_blank">The Oak Spring Garden Foundation</a> (OSGF) is a philanthropic foundation based at the former primary estate of the late Paul and Rachel Mellon, who were major philanthropists in the U.S. of the arts, humanities, and sciences in the second half of the twentieth century. OSGF is located in the northern Virginia Piedmont and Blue Ridge Mountains region (ca. one-hour drive from Washington, D.C.). Led by Sir Peter Crane, the Foundation’s inaugural President, OSGF provides workshops, short courses and supports residencies for artists and scholars. Its celebrated Library comprises rare books, manuscripts and works of art relating to horticulture, landscape design, botany and natural history. It is becoming a new center of stimulation of all things botanical, from fundamental research in plant evolution and conservation, to horticultural and plant conservation practice, to the history and art of plants, gardens and landscapes. About Plant Perspectives: <a href="https://whpress.co.uk/PP.html" target="_blank">Plant Perspectives</a> is an open access, new forum grounded in interdisciplinary plant studies, to explore plant-human interactions in all spatial, temporal and cultural contexts. Plants are the central actors here, and the journal encourages new directions in the study of sensory, instrumental and affective entanglements between human and vegetal spheres.