ARE YOU CURIOUS BY NATURE?
ARE YOU CURIOUS BY NATURE?
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 building maintenance projects. Our Native Plant Sale supports the Arboretum’s annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium.
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 through 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.
Share the gift of the Arboretum
Use this form to make an online donation to Friends of the National Arboretum. For other donation methods, see our Support page.
Share the gift of the Arboretum
Use this form to make an online donation to Friends of the National Arboretum. For other donation methods, see our Support page.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
Forest Bathing
Other Activities
RECENT POSTS
Friends of the National Arboretum Instagram
Help more people discover our programs, events, & greenspace at the #USNationalArboretum! Nominate FONA and the US National Arboretum for @washingtoncitypaper’s “Best of DC” awards. Nominations close August 1st! Go to our link in bio and nominate us and the Arboretum today for the following categories: ❤️ Nominate the US National Arboretum for “Best First Date Activity” in the Arts & Entertainment category 🌳 Nominate the US National Arboretum for “Best Covid-19 Silver Lining” in the Pandemic Superstars category 🥕 Nominate Friends of the National Arboretum for “Best Nonprofit” in the People & Places category Thank you for your support! . . . Photo #3: Photographer @hamiltonphotography, Caterer @occasionscaterers @luckmans, Florist Suzanne Codi, Venue @mtghospitality . @washyouthgarden #BestOfDc #washingtondc #wedding #outdoorwedding #districtofcolumbia #exploreDC #washingtonyouthgarden #wyg #dcweddings #pandemic #agriculture #nonprofit
Last week’s outdoor movie night showed the power of partnerships! FONA and the National Bonsai Foundation partnered with Japan-America Society of Washington DC to host a film from the @jaswdc Sakura Samurai summer movie series. This event was made possible with support from the Japan Foundation New York. Visitors enjoyed picnic dinners in the meadow and explored the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum before the show. Join us next Wednesday, August 4th at 8:45 PM for an outdoor movie with the French Embassy! Link in bio for more info and to reserve your ticket (they’re free!) Sign up for our FONA Field Notes (link in bio) to get info about cool events at the #NationalArboretum like these directly to your inbox! . . . @nbfbonsai @frenchcultureus #USNationalArboretum #shareyourarboretum #arboretum #NationalArboretumDC #outdoormovienight #outdoormovie #outdoorevents #exploreDC #dc #sakuraisamurai #JASWDC #yearinbloom
We want you to join our growing team! We are currently accepting applications for 2 positions at Friends of the National Arboretum: Director of Institutional Relations — apply by July 14 Events Coordinator — apply by July 18 Apply today! Link in bio or visit www.fona.org/jobs . . . #job #jobposting #hiring #dc #nonprofit #nonprofitorganization #nationalarboretum #usnationalarboretum #exploredc #arboretum #washingtonyouthgarden @washyouthgarden
Where will your #ArboretumAdventure take you this weekend? Explore the National Arboretum’s Asian Collections and admire the myriad of plants and flowers as you wind your way down to the #AnacostiaRiver. What’s your favorite thing you’ve discovered in this collection? . . . Featured flowers: Hydrangea macrophylla Endless Summer ‘Bailmer’, irises unidentified #shareyourarboretum #nationalarboretum #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #summer #summerflowers #iris #hydrangea #arboretum #botanical #horticulture #dc #exploredc
Washington Youth Garden Instagram
So great to have our friends at @urbanadvsquad out at the Washington Youth Garden and around the Arboretum this week. Always wonderful to come together for outdoor education! #getoutside #learnoutside #gardenlife
Washington Youth Garden and Friends of the National Arboretum have been incredibly lucky these past 10+ years to have Nadia Mercer on our staff. Nadia road her bike around the Arboretum and stumbled upon the little gem that is the Washington Youth Garden, and ever since, she's left an indelible mark. From garden intern to garden manager to program director to director of institutional relations, Nadia's jobs may have changed and grew with her skill set, but her heart never left that 1 acre garden and the thousands and thousands of children she worked with in her time here. Nadia brought joy to her work, and a desire to bring garden-based education to all, and you can see that in the work that we continue to do. While we will miss seeing Nadia in the garden (or over google meet) as she heads on to her next adventures, we are thankful to all the work she has done to help Washington Youth Garden thrive. And Nadia, don't forget, there will always be green beans to pick and beds to weed anytime you swing by!
Come volunteer with the Washington Youth Garden! We need some extra hands at our main garden at the National Arboretum to help weed, mulch, plant, harvest, and more. Volunteers work in shifts on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Fill out the interest form in the link in bio to receive more information about our next virtual garden orientation on August 4th. . . . @fonarboretum #washingtonyouthgarden #wyg #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #nationalarboretum #garden #gardening #volunteer #dc #exploredc
We’ve officially wrapped up our Garden Science school garden partnership program for the year! This program connects students from four local partner schools with garden science education and fresh food. During the 2020-21 school year, we: 🥕 taught 187 Garden Science lessons, 42 of which were in outdoor garden classrooms 🪴 hosted 51 school garden club events 🥬 shared fresh food grown in Washington Youth Garden with students' families through 50 free produce distributions Teachers resonated with how our Garden Science program "made in-person learning feel a bit more like school in such a weird year." This year, our Program Manager Allie appreciated how excited both children and their families were to grow and cook their own food. This program will look a bit different this coming school year. As we adapt our programs to help build more strong, sustainable school garden programs and reach more students, the Garden Science curriculum will now support the greater School Garden Support program. . . . @fonarboretum #growinggreendreams #washingtonyouthgarden #wyg #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretum #gardenscience #garden #education
FONA FIELD NOTES NEWSLETTER
