On the eve of what would be Bunny Mellon's 108 birthday, the operatic voice of Thomas Dreeze fills her library at Oak Springs Garden Foundation's closing celebration of their first artists-in-residency program. Pianist Matthew Umphreys' accompaniment is equally entertaining and flawless. If Oak Springs is nothing else, it is about our lives seen through plants and the arts, here in the serenity of the Piedmont, and most certainly Mr. & Mrs. Paul Mellon's legacy comes true.

This memorable evening has yet only just begun and I am experiencing a fairy tale. Dreeze and Umphreys lightheartedly take this intimate group through numbers which tickle the fancy of OSGF's mission, with the likes of Harvey Schmidt's Plant a Radish from "The Fantastics" and a joyous piano duo of Chaudrée au Poulet. For visual delight, a flock of barn swallows dazzles us with their acrobatic skills through one of the library's large picture windows. Applause is followed by cocktails in the Mellon's residence, which graciously moves to dinner, humorously spirited conversation, topped off by a desert of brandied peaches, peach cinnamon ice cream, brandy syrup & sugar-coated mint. "Be still, my beating heart." Our hosts, Sir Peter Crane, OSGF's renowned botanist and President, his cheerfully amusing wife Elinor, and staff make this intimate group feel right at home.

Upon their first arrival to Oak Springs, the four artists, Andrew Myers (illustrator), Annie Varnot (painter), Donna Cooper Hurt (photographer), and Maxim Loskutoff (writer) were all invited to visit the National Gallery of Art. Generously founded and given to the nation by Andrew Mellon, along with giving much of the art on exhibit there, The National Gallery was carried through to its completion, by his son Paul Mellon in1941. It is hard to imagine any way better to help set the compass for these four artist's month-long visit to OSGF.

Having visited the Piedmont for the first time from all over the country, the artists were inspired, dutifully created, and are now saying goodbye. They are the first of a pilot program OSGF was trying out and will be now putting into place for 2019. The program is directed by Elizabeth Quinn of Caldera Arts located in Oregon and Ben Shockey who was with the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, also based in Oregon. Also upcoming for 2019 are new programs which will include the $10,000 Eliza Moore Fellowship. More news on this to follow. For more information on this and other programs offered by OSGF, please contact Program Officer Marguerite Harden at www.osgf.org/programs.