Rachel Lambert Mellon

Date of Birth: August 9, 1910

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: March 17, 2014

Biography

Rachel Lambert Mellon, often known as Bunny Mellon, was an American horticulturalist, garden designer, and philanthropist. Born into the wealthy Lambert family, she was the granddaughter of the founder of the Listerine mouthwash fortune. Rachel became a prominent figure in American society through her marriage to Paul Mellon, one of the wealthiest men in the U.S. Bunny Mellon is best known for her contributions to landscape design, including the redesign of the White House Rose Garden during the Kennedy administration. Her work extended beyond the Rose Garden to various other significant projects, including the gardens at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Throughout her life, she was an avid collector of art, furniture, and rare books. Bunny was known for her understated elegance and commitment to privacy, often shunning the public eye despite her high-profile social status.

5 Interesting Facts about Rachel Lambert Mellon

1. Rachel Lambert Mellon was a close friend of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and designed the White House Rose Garden at her request.

2. She was an avid art collector and owned pieces by renowned artists such as Rothko, Degas, and Cézanne.

3. Bunny Mellon had a keen interest in botany and horticulture, which she studied extensively despite having no formal training in the field.

4. She lived to be 103 years old, maintaining her passion for gardening and design well into her later years.

5. Mellon was instrumental in the founding of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, which focuses on the study of plants, gardens, and landscapes.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Rachel Lambert Mellon

1. “Nothing should be noticed.”

2. “One should never be the oldest thing in one’s house.”

3. “Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow.”

4. “Elegance is innate. It has nothing to do with being well-dressed. Elegance is refusal.”

5. “A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At her peak, Rachel Lambert Mellon’s net worth was estimated to be around $1 billion.

Children

Rachel Lambert Mellon had two children from her first marriage to Stacy Barcroft Lloyd Jr.: Stacy Barcroft Lloyd III and Eliza Lambert Lloyd. Eliza Lambert Lloyd tragically passed away in 2008.