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 plant sales and fairs 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.
Share the gift of the Arboretum
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.
FONA & THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FONA is thrilled to congratulate Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young on her confirmation as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In this new role, she will serve in the highest scientific post at the USDA in support of our nation’s agricultural needs and will be the first woman of color in this position.
Dr. Jacobs-Young has long advocated for a productive partnership between FONA and the U.S. National Arboretum in her previous role as Administrator of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and has played an important role in advancing our collaboration. FONA thanks her for her longstanding support and is excited for her continued leadership.
50 YEARS OF WASHINGTON YOUTH GARDEN
For 50 years, Washington Youth Garden, the youth outreach and education branch of Friends of the National Arboretum, has provided hands-on education to connect youth to food, the land, and each other.
Now we are celebrating Washington Youth Garden’s successes and the people who have made it what it is today by investing in three key components to continue engaging children, families, and teachers in garden education for the next 50 years.
Learn about our anniversary projects
UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
Forest Bathing
Other Activities
RECENT POSTS
Friends of the National Arboretum Instagram
Grab your picnic blanket and dancing shoes — the @usnavyband is coming to the National Arboretum on Wednesday, August 10th! Doors open at 6 PM and the concert is from 7-8:15 PM. You are welcome to bring a picnic, and dogs are allowed on a leash. Click the link in bio to head to our event calendar and get more event details and free tickets! . . . 📸 #1: @usnavyband #shareyourarboretum #nationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #dc #dcevents #dmvevents #concert #summerconcerts #summer #capitolcolumns #usnationalarboretum
Join us for forest bathing or yoga this summer and connect with nature at the National Arboretum! Let our forest bathing guides help you disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with nature in different blooming collections. Or find your flow and get grounded in the Grove with @bluebirdskyyoga every Sunday morning. Link in for info on our event calendar. . . . #shareyourarboretum #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #dc #dcevents #dmvevents #yoga #summer #forestbathing #outdoorevents #summerevents #naturetherapy #nature
Bring on the summer heat! Southern magnolias and crapemyrtles thrive during this hot and humid summer weather. Take a walk through the National Arboretum’s Holly & Magnolia Collection and the crapemyrtle research fields to see the Arboretum’s @usdagov horticulture research at work. The Arboretum has introduced 31 crapemyrtle varieties to the nursery industry, many of which are disease resistant and cold hardy. The Arboretum has also introduced 2 evergreen and 12 deciduous magnolia varieties to the nursery industry. What’s your favorite collection to explore during the summer? . . . #shareyourarboretum #nationalarboretum #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #arboretum #botanic #magnolia #crapemyrtle #nature #dc #exploredc #hortuculture #usda
What a magical evening in the meadow last night! The full moon rising over the #CapitolColumns is always a special sight ❤️ Thanks to all who came out for our outdoor Movie in the Meadow, cohosted with @villa.albertine, @franceintheus, and @frenchcultureus and with support from @tv5monde. We particularly appreciated the great food and drinks served by @borinquenlunchbox and @otherhalfdc! Join us August 10th for another evening in the meadow for our @usnavyband summer concert! Link in for info on our event calendar. . . . #shareyourarboretum #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #dc #dcevents #dmvevents #concert #summer #summerconcerts #outdoorconcert #outdoormovie #outdoorevents
Washington Youth Garden Instagram
Well, we may have been quieter on instagram lately, but we are not slowing down! Look forward to some more posts soon, but some highlights of the summer include: -32 teachers participated in our 4 day Summer Institute for Garden-based Teaching. - 12 Farm Crew and 3 crew leaders completed (today) their 6 week internships. - Over 4,000 lbs of food has been grown, harvested, and donated so far this year (1,200 more lbs than at this point last year). - Our beautiful flowers and new signage are bringing in even more visitors from the Arboretum as a whole to see what we're up to. Come say hi soon and see what we're up to headed into the fall!
Join us for a Friday full of fun as we explore the profuse pollination happening in our garden that lets us grow some of your favorite fruits & veggies like 🍅tomatoes🍅, 🫑peppers🫑, 🥒cucumbers🥒 , and more! Find🌻flowers🌼 and their preferred 🦋pollinators🪲 with scavenger hunts that explore our whole garden! Play games that mimic the vital work of the world’s most famous pollinator…the 🐝honeybee🐝 Visit our hive, learn how our bees turn nectar into honey, & taste 🍯honey🍯 we harvested just last month! Every Friday in August, come by our garden between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM as we explore a different theme and discover fascinating facts about food and the world around us through play, observation, and investigation!
HUGE thank you to everyone who attended our Juneteenth in the Garden event earlier this month! We enjoyed celebrating the foods of Juneteenth and appreciated the amazing cooking demonstration by Chef Daoud Harris from @sixstreeteats. During your next visit to Washington Youth Garden, explore what kinds of African diaspora crops we are growing this year. First 📸 courtesy of @sixstreeteats . . . @fonarboretum #juneteenth #dcevents #dmv #nationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #usnationalarboretum #africanamericanhistory #sixstreeteats #dceats
Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating Washington Youth Garden's 50th anniversary this month! We are extremely grateful to the hundreds of people attended our celebrations to honor those who have made the garden what it is today. At both the Birthday Party and Evening Benefit, we met participants from the past 5 decades and shared stories of how the garden has changed since its inception in 1971. We also introduced new people of all ages to the youth garden, played games in the garden, and shared about our current education programs. Here’s to another 50 years! 🎉 Benefit: 📸 @rosifotography @selecteventgroup @dcreventrentals @bookextraordinary @mtghospitality . . . @fonarboretum #shareyourarboretum #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #washyouthgarden #wyg #gardeneducation #gardenscience #wyg50
FONA FIELD NOTES NEWSLETTER
