FONA & THE 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 preserve and enhance this vibrant public space and facilitate experiential programs that instill a love of plants, nature, and the outdoors in all who visit the Arboretum. We also promote the overarching research and education mission of the 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.
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 will conclude its operations at the end of this month 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
Forest Bathing
Other Activities
RECENT SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
Friends of the National Arboretum Instagram
🌱Get a head start on your spring garden at FONA’s Native Plant Sale on Saturday, March 28th from 8 AM to 1 PM! Shop for spring ephemerals, choice perennials, woody plants and more at one of the earliest plant sales in the region.🌿 @hillhousenativeplants, @goodman_llc_native_plants, @naturebydesignva, @sevenbends, and @pollinatorrareplants will all join us for this sale. Please note that the Native Plant Sale is much smaller than FONA’s Garden Fair & Plant Sale, which will be held on April 25th this year. Register for the native plant sale at the link in our bio! . . . Image description: People smiling holding plants at the Native Plant Sale. #nativeplant #nativeplantsale #nativeplantsdc #nationalarboretumdc #usnationalarboretum #nativeplantsva #nativeplantsmd
PLANT SPOTLIGHT: Paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) The small yellow flowers of the Edgeworthia chrysantha pack an incredibly fragrant punch in very early spring. These flowers are borne in round clusters at the tips of cinnamon-brown branches, and are generally yellow, though orange and red cultivars can be found. Paperbush flowers best in full sun, though it can tolerate some shade, and is hardy to USDA Zone 7 (at least one extra-hardy cultivar, ‘Snow Cream,’ is on the market). In the warm months, this well-shaped shrub is adorned with long, attractive gray-green leaves. As its common name implies, the bark fibers from year-old paperbush suckers are used to make some types of Japanese paper, including banknotes and washi paper. Edgeworthia chrysantha flowers have some significance in Japanese poetry, indicating mid-spring, and symbolizing the bond between family members or unexpected feelings. Find paperbush at the U.S. National Arboretum in the National Herb Garden, the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum gardens, or the Camellia Collection. Kamala Codrington-White, an Agricultural Science Research Technician at the National Arboretum, shares plants of note at the Arboretum in this recurring Plant Spotlight series. Find these plants on your next trip to the Arboretum using the Arboretum Botanical Explorer (ABE) linked in our bio. Photos by the National Arboretum. Image description: Slide 1: Round clusters of yellow and white paperbush flowers against bare dark brown branches. Slide 2: Close-up of paperbush flowers. The flowers are small, velvety, yellow and white, and tubular. #usnationalarboretum #plantspotlight #nationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc
The Flowering 5K t-shirt design is here! Held at on Sunday, March 22nd, the Flowering 5K celebrates all things spring at the U.S. National Arboretum 🌸 Register today to rock this year's cherry blossom t-shirt all season long. Race t-shirts are included with each adult registration while supplies last. Link in bio to register! What's the story behind this year's design? The 2026 Flowering 5K t-shirt showcases two flowering cherry tree cultivars the National Arboretum has bred and released into the American nursery industry: 🌸 Prunus 'Helen Taft' was introduced in 2012 in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the cherry tree plantings in D.C.'s Tidal Basin. It's named after First Lady Helen Taft who championed this planting. 🌸 Prunus 'First Lady' was introduced in 2003, and has vibrant, dark rose-pink flowers that hang downward — a vibrant contrast to the soft colors of other flowering cherries. . . . 🎨 T-shirt design by @unblinkstudio @racinemultisports #nationalarboretum #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #dc #dmv #cherryblossom #cherryblossoms #cherryblossomsdc #cherryblossomdc #dcevent #dmvevent #run #5k #running #horticulture #arboretum #plantresearch #plantscience #firstlady #helentaft
☕✨ Exciting news from FONA! We're thrilled to announce our collaboration with @zekescoffeedc, bringing you the opportunity to purchase delicious coffee right in the National Arboretum's Visitor Center lobby. Stop by on February 22 or March 8 from 9 AM - 1 PM for some fresh brews. On March 8th, FONA members receive a complimentary cup😋. Join us in making the lobby a cozy spot to relax and connect over coffee! About Zeke's Coffee: Zeke's Coffee of DC is a small batch coffee roastery, specializing in organic, fair trade and specialty grade Arabica beans. . . . Image description: Beige background with dark brown text and a line of to-go coffee cup icons. #dmvcoffee #nationalarboretum #usnationalarboretum #dccoffee #dcroastery #friendsofthenationalarboretum
Washington Youth Garden Instagram
Get outside and move your body in the Washington Youth Garden during our Family Workshop this Saturday, September 20th at 11 AM! Explore the garden as we walk you through some movement activities and playful games. All ages are welcome to join! Please register at the link in bio to let us know you're coming. . . . @fonarboretum #nationalarboretum #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #garden #youthgarden #washingtonyouthgarden #wyg #family #familyfriendly #familyevent #familyactivity #familyworkshop #gardenevent #outdoorevent #dc #dmv #freeevent #dcevents #dmvevents #kidfriendly
Come move and groove in the Washington Youth Garden during our upcoming Family Workshop this Saturday, August 23rd at 11 AM. Explore the garden as we walk you through some movement activities and playful games. All ages are welcome to join! Link in bio to register. . . . @fonarboretum #nationalarboretum #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #garden #youthgarden #washingtonyouthgarden #wyg #family #familyfriendly #familyevent #familyactivity #familyworkshop #gardenevent #outdoorevent #dc #dmv #freeevent #dcevents #dmvevents #kidfriendly
Calling all families! Join us next Saturday, June 21st for a free family workshop in celebration of Juneteenth! We'll be preparing a tasty harvest-to-table dish with fruits and veggies picked from the Washington Youth Garden. Come out to the garden from 11 AM to 12:30 PM for this special activity. Registration is required — link in bio to sign up. . . . @fonarboretum #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #nationalarboretum #dc #dmv #dcevent #familyfriendly #kidfriendly #nature #farmtotable #urbangarden #arboretum #horticulture #washingtonyouthgarden #juneteenth #freeevent
Families, join us for a container gardening workshop on Saturday, May 10th and learn how to container garden! Together, we'll learn step-by-step how to grow fresh herbs or veggies in pots, right in your home. Come out to the Washington Youth Garden from 1 PM to 3:30 PM and have some fun! Link in bio to register. . . . @fonarboretum #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #dc #familyfriendly #dcevent #kidfriendly #nature #naturewalk #dmv #dmvevent #arboretum #washingtonyouthgarden