FONA & THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM
Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) was founded in 1982 as an independent 501(c)(3). FONA serves as the primary private partner of the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. We support and celebrate the science, beauty, and community impact of the U.S. National Arboretum through education, engagement, and access to nature.
Photo courtesy of the National Arboretum
Past Accomplishments
We were instrumental in bringing the Capitol Columns to the Arboretum in the early ’90s. We funded the Flowering Tree Walk surrounding the meadow so all people can enjoy its beauty regardless of ability. Our volunteers planted over 30,000 native plants along the Springhouse Run creek to improve the Anacostia River’s water quality.
Current Work
Our Washington Youth Garden is the Arboretum’s largest community outreach program. Revenue from our venue rental program funds the Arboretum Director’s Fund which pays for things like consultants, supplies, and maintenance projects. Our plant sales and seasonal festivals support our mission and connect visitors to the Arboretum.
Future Plans
We developed a new Core Master Plan that provides a blueprint for future projects around the Arboretum. We invest in the future of horticulture by funding internships that support the collections. Our Meyer Kidder Fellows will increase the Arboretum’s research capacity and connect the Arboretum with world-class post-doctoral researchers.
Donate to Join
Make a donation of any amount to become a FONA member. Or give monthly to become a Sustaining Member and support our work all year long!
Donate to Renew
Make a one-time contribution of any amount to renew your FONA membership. Or give monthly to become a Sustaining Member and support our work all year long!
David Fairchild Society
A passionate community of supporters with membership starting at $1,200.
Other Ways to Support
Support FONA through securities, donor-advised funds, planned giving, bench donations, and more.
Restricted Gifts to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
Make a restricted donation to support to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. For other giving options, please contact Claire Alrich at 202-918-1868 or calrich@fona.org.
NATIONAL ARBORETUM’S SCIENCE, BEAUTY, AND IMPACT
The U.S. National Arboretum is a world-class center for horticultural research, education, and innovation. It spans 451 acres in Northeast Washington, D.C., and is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. The National Arboretum serves as both a horticultural research facility and a public garden.
For almost 100 years, the National Arboretum has played an important role in preserving germplasm, developing and introducing improved plants for the American nursery industry, bridging cultural connections through plant collections, restoring habitat, and more. Learn more about key accomplishments that highlight the Arboretum’s science, beauty, and impact.
Photo courtesy of the National Arboretum
STEWARDING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL BONSAI & PENJING MUSEUM
Friends of the National Arboretum is honored to carry forward the legacy of the National Bonsai Foundation (NBF), which concluded its operations at the end of 2025 after more than four decades of extraordinary service.
Since its founding in 1982, NBF has been essential to building and maintaining the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum, fostering international goodwill and a deep respect for the art of bonsai.
FONA extends its sincere gratitude to the NBF Board and supporters for their enduring dedication to this living art form. We are deeply mindful of the trust they have put in FONA to sustain NBF’s mission to preserve and promote the art of bonsai in America. The bonsai and penjing collections will continue under the expert care of the U.S. National Arboretum’s staff, as it has since 1976. As part of this transition, NBF will transfer the majority of remaining assets to FONA to directly support the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum and ongoing bonsai education. These funds will be specifically dedicated to the continued care, growth, and improvement of the museum.
This transition was the result of a request from Dr. Richard Olsen, Director of the U.S. National Arboretum, to consolidate nonprofit engagement under Friends of the National Arboretum. This unified approach will streamline communications, expand community engagement, and enrich the visitor experience, while allowing the U.S. National Arboretum to focus on horticultural excellence and discovery.
FONA embraces this new expanded role to support the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum and the U.S. National Arboretum, helping them flourish in the decades ahead. If you are interested in making a restricted donation to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at this time, you can do so online through this form. For other giving options, please contact Claire Alrich at 202-918-1868 or calrich@fona.org.
AWARD-WINNING EDUCATION PROGRAMS
With a focus on serving under-resourced communities, FONA nurtures curious minds and healthy bodies by connecting youth to food, the land, and each other. Our youth education programs take place at Washington Youth Garden on the grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum and in partner schools across Washington, DC. They work with DC educators to create strong, sustainable school garden programs and connect students to garden education. Our programs also provide year-round employment opportunities and green career paths for DC high school students.
STAY IN THE KNOW
FONA’s publications and newsletters share the story of the U.S. National Arboretum and FONA with the world. Our FONA Field Notes newsletter is just one of the ways we tell this story. This award-winning weekly email newsletter that shares updates and insights about the U.S. National Arboretum, Friends of the National Arboretum, and the Washington Youth Garden. Sign up to receive FONA Field Notes in your inbox. See our Publications & Media page to see a full archive of all of our publications.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
Hosted by FONA
Hosted by the U.S. National Arboretum and other partners
RECENT SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
Friends of the National Arboretum Instagram: @FONArboretum
Exciting news💫 We're having a flash sale for teachers for our Music in the Meadow Concert this Friday! 🎤 Educators, use the code "TEACHER10" at checkout to get your ticket for just $10 (that's 60% off)! This discount can only be applied to general admission tickets. Get your ticket at the link in bio! We're passionate about making our events accessible to as many people as possible, and wanted to do something special for DC teachers, who do so much for their students every day. Be sure to grab your tickets now and get ready for a night of celebration with amazing go-go music by Scooby DaGodSon and @siriuscompany. This project is supported in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities @thedcarts, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. . . Alt text embedded. . . #outdoorconcertdc #outdoormusicdc #livemusicdc #dcconcerts #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretum #dcarboretum #arboretumdc #nationalarboretumdc #dcteachers #dmvteachers #dmvteacherappreciation #dcteachersrock
Discover the Japanese botanical art of kusamono during this three-day weekend event from June 19th to June 21st. Observe how wild grasses, wildflowers, and other small native plants may be artistically arranged to suggest miniature representations of natural habitats. Often displayed alongside bonsai as an accent, kusamono stands on its own as a complete expression, emphasizing simplicity, seasonality, and a sense of place. Come see the exhibit and watch free demonstrations every day in the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum’s Exhibits Gallery. Buy kusamono plants, soil, and ceramics from vendors on the East Terrace. On Saturday, June 20th from 10:30 AM to 12 PM, esteemed kusamono artist Young Choe will deliver a free lecture and demonstration in the Visitor Center auditorium. On Sunday, June 21st from 1 PM to 3 PM, Choe will offer a fee-based workshop ($100), in which participants will learn how to create kusamono to take home and enjoy! Register for the Workshop at the link in bio! . . Photo Courtesy of the U.S. National Arboretum Alt text embedded. . . #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretum #dcarboretum #arboretumdc #nationalarboretumdc #nationalbonsaipenjingmuseum #nationalbonsaimuseum #bonsaimuseum #kusamono
Have you checked out the beautiful new mural in the Washington Youth Garden? This mural is the culmination of many weeks of dreaming, planning, and painting by last summer’s participants of FONA’s Green Ambassador Program (GAP). Green Ambassadors are paid summer interns from D.C. high schools who spend six weeks in the Washington Youth Garden learning hands-on skills like gardening, cooking, and carpentry. The students were inspired by the landscape around them, and added illustrations of the Capitol Columns, the many trees at the Arboretum, and the delicious veggies they grew in the garden. GAP interns wanted the mural to be an interactive artwork that visitors could leave their mark on, so they painted the bottom of the mural with chalk paint. Be sure to stop by and leave a doodle or message sharing your love for the garden! Thank you to our Green Ambassadors for creating such a special piece of art — it will shine in the garden for years to come. . . Alt text embedded. . . #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretum #dcarboretum #arboretumdc #youthgarden #workforcedevelopment #dcgarden #nationalarboretumdc
Nothing says summer like outdoor concerts! Join us for a Music in the Meadow Concert on June 5th at 7 PM featuring an exhilarating go-go performance by Scooby DaGodSon and @siriuscompany The performance will take place in the Arboretum’s Ellipse Meadow, the perfect spot to watch the sweet light of sunset filter through the Capitol Columns. Don’t miss this chance to watch an award-winning band play at one of the most unique live music venues in the DMV. Adult tickets cost $25, with a limited number of $15 community access tickets available. Admission is free for children under 12. All tickets must be purchased in advance. Purchase Concert Tickets at the link in bio! This project is supported in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. . . Alt text embedded. . . #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretum #dcarboretum #arboretumdc #nationalarboretumdc #outdoorconcertdc #outdoormusicdc #livemusicdc #dcconcerts