SEASONAL FESTIVALS & PLANT SALES
GARDEN FAIR & PLANT SALE
Join us for the annual Garden Fair & Plant Sale on Saturday, April 26th from 9 AM to 4 PM (rain date Sunday, April 27th). Shop from thousands of plants, get expert gardening advice, browse 30 local vendors, and enjoy free family activities.
EVENT SCHEDULE
- 8 AM: Arboretum opens to the public. Members may start lining up outside the Plant Sale tent for members-only hours.
- 9 AM – 11 AM: Members-only hours in the Plant Sale tent. The Vendor Village is open to the public during this time. Donate any amount to become a FONA member and get early access.
- 11 AM – 4 PM: Both the Plant Sale tent and Vendor Village are open to the public. Free family-friendly activities are offered by DC Child Care Connections from 11 AM to 3 PM.
- 4 PM: Event ends. All visitors must pick up their plants from plant sitting by this time.
- 5 PM: Arboretum closes to the public.
Click the map to view in full screen.
PARKING & SHUTTLES
- Attendees must park at either the R Street parking lot near the Visitor Center or the Grove parking lot. Parking is free.
- A free shuttle service will run between the parking lots and the event, which will be held in the New York Avenue parking lot. Shuttles will run from 7 AM to 5:30 PM.
- A limited number of handicap parking spots are available in the New York Ave lot. No other event parking is allowed in this lot.
- A pedestrian pathway connects the R Street lot to the event. Please use the pathway if you walk to the event so cars can safely use the road.
- Per the spring traffic plan, cars can only drive one way through part of the Arboretum.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
- There are no discounts on plants.
- Plan to pay with a credit or debit card in the Plant Sale tent (no cash sales).
- Dogs are not allowed in the Plant Sale tent, but are allowed on leash in the Vendor Village. Bringing your dog is not recommended since the event can get very crowded.
- A limited number of shopping carts are available. Shopping carts must stay in the Plant Sale tent area.
- In the event of inclement weather, we will send an email on Friday with alternative arrangements.
Please register below to let us know you’re coming and to receive important event-related updates.
EVENT OFFERINGS
Scroll through the tabs to learn more about the event.
9 AM – 11 AM: Members-only hours for the Plant Sale tent
11 AM – 4 PM: Public hours for the Plant Sale tent
Shop from thousands of annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and rare plants curated by FONA’s garden experts. Whether you want to grow herbs on your apartment patio or outfit your yard with unique shade-loving perennials, the Plant Sale tent has great options at great prices. No matter your gardening experience level, our garden experts can answer your questions and offer advice. Plan to pay with a credit or debit card for purchases from the Plant Sale tent (no cash sales).
From 9 AM to 11 AM, FONA members get early access to the Plant Sale tent. From 11 AM to 4 PM, the Plant Sale tent will be open to the public. Donate any amount to become a FONA member and get the first pick of these one-of-a-kind plants!
Check out the list of plants our team of garden experts have ordered for this event:
Free plant sitting is available next to the Plant Sale tent so you can put your plants down while you enjoy the rest of the event. When you are ready to pack up your plants, you can drive your car right up to the plant sitting tent and we will help you load your car.
9 AM – 4 PM: Vendor Village open to the public all day
Plants
Boujie Plants: Houseplants and garden-related products and services
Cultivate the City: Plants (including houseplants) and garden-related products
Deep Roots Farm: Local farm with fruit and vegetable seedlings
Embrace the Succ: Rare cacti, succulents, and pottery
flowers x flores: Seasonal flower design studio and farm
Hostile Takeover Tree Nursery: Native flowers and native bare-root tree seedlings and cuttings
Pitcheresque Plants: Carnivorous plants
Herb Society of America: Potomac Unit: Herbs
Radical Roots Organic Farm: Specialty organic fruit and vegetable seedlings
Art & Home Decor
Bruce Ciske Pottery: Ceramic vases and ikebana containers
Casey Julia Designs: Abstract and fluid art, home decor, jewelry, and sun-catchers
Down2Earth Pottery, LLC: Functional and wearable ceramic art
Jennifer Pizzillo Arts: Mosaic ornaments and drawings
Lita+Ro Home Goods: Soy wax candles, incense cones, linen spray, and small home goods
Marcella Kriebel Art + Illustration: Watercolor illustrations celebrating food, culture, and social justice
Rachel Trego Art: Paintings and prints focused on flowers, trees, and landscapes
Clothing, Jewelry, and Beauty
Bailiwick Clothing Company: Clothing and accessories with unique DC and DMV designs
bianca + jean: Handmade tote bags, pouches, market bags, home goods, and hair accessories
Fragrance Of Life DC: Natural soaps, body butter, salves, fragrance oils, and more
Inti Phaxsi Gems: Jewelry crafted with pressed flowers and butterfly/moth wings
Shade Metals: Botanical and mycological jewelry in silver and gold
Food & Drink
Blossom Bakery (Food Truck): Breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and other baked goods
DC Slices (Food Truck): Pizza
JackiCan Fresh Fruit Jams: Fruit jams made from local fruit
Pearl Fine Teas: Premium Organic loose teas
Phowheels (Food Truck): Vietnamese cuisine with a modern twist
Second Story Honey: Honey harvested in D.C., plus beeswax candles, wraps, and more
Taco Dirty To Me (Food Truck): Fresh tacos
Zeke’s Coffee of DC (Food Truck): Fresh hot coffee and cold brew, plus bags of coffee beans
11 AM – 3 PM: Free family-friendly activities
DC Child Care Connections will offer free child-centered, family-focused activities for children ages 2 to 12. They will include face painting, arts, crafts, and games. DC Child Care Connections is the District’s Child Care Resource and Referral program funded through the Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s Division of Early Learning. Adult supervision is required during all family activities.
Want to join the Garden Fair & Plant Sale volunteer team? We need volunteers to price and move plants during the week before the event. We also need volunteers to help at the event as greeters, cashiers, plant experts, shopping cart wranglers, and more.
FONA could not host this event without the incredible support of volunteers. Fill out our event volunteer interest form and we’ll get back to you soon with more information.
What happens if there is inclement weather on April 26th?
In the event of inclement weather, some or all of this event may be moved to Sunday, April 27th. Check our website on the afternoon of April 25th for details.
Can I bring my dog to this event?
Dogs are not allowed in the Plant Sale tent, but are allowed on leash in the Vendor Village. Dogs are not recommended since the event can get very crowded.
Do I have to carry my plants all the way back to my car?
Free plant sitting is available next to the Plant Sale tent so you can put your plants down while you enjoy the rest of the event. When you are ready to pack up your plants, you can drive your car right up to the plant sitting tent and we will help you load your plants.
Do I have to pay for the shuttle service to transport me between the parking lot and the event?
No, the shuttle service is provided free of charge. It will run from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
Do I have to pay for parking?
No, all parking at the National Arboretum is free. Please park at either the R Street lot or Grove lot, and a free shuttle bus will transport you to the event.
How do I become a volunteer for the Garden Fair & Plant Sale?
We couldn’t make this event possible without volunteers! Fill out our event volunteer interest form and we will get back to you with more details.
What else is there to see at the National Arboretum this time of year?
There is lots to see! The Azalea Collections are often in full bloom this time of year. Visit the National Arboretum’s website to learn more about what the Arboretum has to offer.
EVENT REGISTRATION
GARLIC PLANTING PARTY & BULB SALE
Our annual Garlic Planting Party & Bulb Sale is a great way to celebrate fall and FONA’s community at the National Arboretum! This event takes place each year in the Washington Youth Garden on the last Saturday in October. Attendees can plant garlic, harvest sweet potatoes, try fresh sugar cane juice, and enjoy free nature-based family activities. They can also buy edible and ornamental bulbs to plant in their own gardens. We will share information about the 2025 event in the late summer or early fall of 2025.
CHRISTMAS TREE SALE
Thank you to all who joined us for our 2024 Christmas Tree Sale! This important annual fundraiser supports our work at the National Arboretum. We hold this event each year in early December. We will share more information about the 2025 Tree Sale in the late summer or early fall of 2025.
LAHR NATIVE PLANT SYMPOSIUM & NATIVE PLANT SALE
The National Arboretum’s Lahr Native Plant Symposium brings together expert speakers for an engaging day of presentations about native plants, pollinators, and ecosystems. FONA’s Native Plant Sale hosts a small number of native plant vendors from across the mid-Atlantic region to sell spring ephemerals and other choice perennials and woody plants.
Both of these events are held together on the same day in late March. Registration for the Lahr Symposium often opens in January.
EVENT VOLUNTEERING
Volunteering at FONA’s events throughout the year is a great way to support our work building community at the National Arboretum. Spend a day enjoying plants and people by volunteering at our annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale, or help with other seasonal festivals, concerts, 5K races, and more. No experience is required, but we greatly appreciate when people can commit to volunteering at multiple events throughout the year. Fill out our event volunteer interest form and we will get back to you with more details.
