FONA hosts a variety of events throughout the year to benefit to our membership and constituents, raise support for and awareness of the Arboretum and FONA, and bring together our unique community to enjoy this green treasure. Links to FONA-sponsored events can be found on the left side of this page. Below, you will find a listing of events held at the National Arboretum during the months of May and June.

UPCOMING U.S. National Arboretum Events

For more information and for registration visit the U.S. National Arboretum' event page or call 202-245-4521.  

Power Plants Exhibit
June 1, 2009 through 2010, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Adjacent to the National Herb Garden

Walk through Power Plants to discover the wide variety of plants that offer alternative energy possibilities. This garden exhibit showcases living plants and provides educational signage about how they can serve as sustainable agriculture-based energy sources (note that during the winter, most of the crops are dormant or, if annuals, gone for the season). A scavenger hunt activity available at the information desk in the administration building will help school-aged children explore the exhibit. Free. No registration required.

Exhibit: Becoming a Bonsai
June 26 – September 12, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
Special Exhibits Wing

How do they do that? See the steps involved in creating a bonsai demonstrated in detail in this exhibit. Photographs show how a common crape myrtle is transformed into a charming bonsai through pruning, wiring, and repotting. Artifacts from the museum’s collection will also be displayed, including tools used by bonsai masters Toshio Kawamoto, John Naka, and Yuji Yoshimura. Free.

Solar Installation Workshop
August 10 - 13, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Administration Building Auditorium and Grounds

Take part in a solar power system installation from beginning to end. Participants will learn the fundamentals of planning, installing, operating, and maintaining a grid-intertie photovoltaic (PV solar electric) system. The workshop includes lectures and hands-on components, including instruction time each day on the proper understanding of the design, the system, and the installation process itself. The workshop will also include technical instruction on the site review, sizing calculations, and maintenance of the system. Instructors and students from Alfred State College will lead the installation, which will provide power for the Friendship Garden and the Arbor House located on the arboretum grounds. All levels of knowledge are welcome, from interested beginners to experienced installers. Includes all four days of the workshop and informational materials, including the textbook and instructional CD, Photovoltaic Systems. Lunch on your own.  Fee: $385.Register through Alfred State College at CCET Non-Credit Course Registration. For registration questions, call Alfred State College at 607-587-4017, or the arboretum at 202-245-4521.

Exhibit: Potomac Bonsai Association Members’ Trees
September 18 – 26, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
Special Exhibits Wing

Bonsai enthusiasts from local clubs display their creations during this exhibition of trees from their private collections. On Sunday, September 26 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm a club member will give a free drop-in demonstration and answer questions about how bonsai are created and trained. Free.

Drop-in Demonstration: Bonsai Training and Maintenance
September 26, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
Lecture/Demonstration Center

A Potomac Bonsai Association member will give a drop-in demonstration and answer questions about how bonsai are created and trained. Free.