A Garden Legacy Project

From Director of STEAM Education and Fine Arts Department Chair Julie Fisher and STEM Faculty and STEM Lead Concentration Mentor Dr. Meghen Tuttle

The Kenan Grant allowed us to build upon our ongoing collaboration designed to bridge disciplines and connect students to their local environment. Over the past five years, we have celebrated the work of famous female photographers, botanists, and gardeners to provide a window into the past and to serve as a direct pathway to understanding Foxcroft’s founding and the land on which it is situated.

This summer, we cross-examined the archives at Foxcroft’s Audrey Bruce Currier Library and the Oak Spring Garden Library to explore Miss Charlotte’s early place-based lessons as well as the profound relationship she maintained with alumna Rachel “Bunny” Lambert Mellon, Class of 1929. These influential women upheld nature as a cornerstone in education, and their work has continued to inspire discussions around native species, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship. 

This research will be compiled in an exhibit and presentation alongside a book highlighting student work. We hope to bring new life to the memories of Miss Charlotte and Bunny Mellon for a new generation of students, alumnae, and community members alike. After all, in most educational settings, students move through school grounds without ever knowing the noteworthy people who laid the foundation, and these pioneering women still have lessons to teach us.