Stalking Bunny Mellon

THE VIRGINIA COUNTRYSIDE ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, AT 9:30 A.M.

When it comes to the classic 24 hour getaway, Washington is blessed with two distinct directions: East to the Bay and West to the hunt country. I'm just back from 24-hours in the Virginia hunt country. Upperville, to be precise. While I did not exactly stalk Bunny Mellon, I was practically her next door neighbor while on my visit and got to wander in the gorgeous surroundings created by her and her late husband, Paul Mellon, along Rt. 623, known to everyone out there as "the Mellon Road." For ten years Howard and I lived on that same road, about a mile over, and we always appreciated the stretch that belonged to the Mellons. A while ago I did a story on the church the Mellons built. (Worth a read). All the trees are groomed just so, and the stone fences are English and 18th century perfection. That there are 24 hour Secret Service-level security guards, and a jet landing strip built for a G-5, only make it more beguiling.

JUST BEYOND THE ROUND BUSH IS THE MELLON LANDING STRIP AND  A CHARMING TERMINAL
 

Bunny Mellon is 102 years old and coming to terms with age and life, if she hadn't already. Today most people know her name because of presidential candidate John Edwards or the late flower designer Robert Isabell. They are a small part of an epic personal story. Due to age and what not, Mellon is dealing with her estate, selling off large parcels of land (including the landing strip and terminal), while preserving her home and state of the art horticultural library, which will be protected by an endowment. Anyone who has serious money and an affection for the Virginia countryside should make a polite inquiry, though developers aren't quite the ideal buyer. There are easements to make the land unappealing to those who would just want to build on it and flip it. This is a slow and methodical process. However, the G5 is on the market now, and that sleek bird can go to anyone with the means.

ROUTE 623, AKA "THE MELLON ROAD"

 

My brief visit included a nice wander on some back roads, a couple of good swims, a couple of walks, a delicious and fun lobster and Champagne dinner with friends, but above all a lot of time to indulge in photography. My friend is next door neighbor to the Mellon estate and Bunny sold her the house and land after Paul died. The house had belonged to his personal secretary. My friend did a exquisite renovation and added gardens. Here are photos from an earlier visit. 

The above is a good example of a well-groomed Mellon tree.

And another.

How about this incredible garden? It is my friend's. Note the pool in the distance. The color and temperature of Lake Placid, which made it ideal. 

There were a few raindrops, which is when I snapped this reflection in the swimming pool. 

I'd like to joke that this was my room, but it's actually the pool shed. I could have posted only this photo and said I was in England and no one would have doubted me. btw, my room was this and then some.

A highback bench on the lawn. Sitting there, one looks across a large expanse of green toward the house and pool.

 

I couldn't resist this antique water pump.

My friend's garden features two of these dogs, facing each other.

This is a view of the terrace on the side of the pool.

One of the great pleasures of the good life: an outdoor shower. There's only one way to use an outdoor shower: au naturel.

A traditional photo of the sunset. In the distance: the Mellon jet runway.

...followed by a sunset shot.

My friends Sally Hosta and Jean Perin, above. We, and our husbands, (deceased and otherwise), go back decades. The ladies are dedicated equestriennes, and thus eternally fit. And, as you can tell from the photos, my host, Jean, is a master horticulturist and landscape designer. 

This would not be a complete photo story without a shot of food!

 

UPDATE: Bunny Mellon died on the morning of March 17, 2014. She was 103.