SPRING SOIRÉE

Banner photo by Lissa Ryan Photography

OVERVIEW

On behalf of FONA’s Board of Directors, thank you to everyone who attended the 2026 Spring Soirée in the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum! This event was a spectacular evening in celebration of the U.S. National Arboretum.

Guests heard from Dr. Richard T. Olsen, Director of the National Arboretum, about the importance of FONA’s relationship with the Arboretum. A delegation from the Slovenian Embassy also presented a traditional Slovenian beehive as a gift to the National Arboretum in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Thank you to all who attended and made this such a vibrant, memorable night!

Stay tuned for the 2027 date! The Spring Soirée is held annually each spring at the National Arboretum. Sign up for our weekly FONA Field Notes e-newsletter to receive notification about the 2027 event.

Guests at the 2026 spring soiree in the national bonsai and penjing museum, smiling at the camera

A delegation from the Slovenian Embassy presents a traditional Slovenian beehive as a gift to the National Arboretum. Dr. Richard T. Olsen, Director of the National Arboretum, and Jeanne Braha, FONA Executive Director, are also shown in thep hoto.

Photos by Lissa Ryan Photography

TICKETS & SPONSORSHIPS

Join FONA’s Board of Directors in the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum for a spectacular evening in celebration of the U.S. National Arboretum. Friends from across Washington, D.C. and beyond will come together for an evening of horticultural wonder, conversation, and connection.

Tickets and information about 2027 sponsorships will be available in early 2027. A limited number of tickets will be available for this event. Email donations@fona.org with questions about the 2027 event.

two spring soiree guests observe a bonsai tree in the national bonsai and penjing museum

Photo by Lissa Ryan Photography

Email us with questions about the 2027 Spring Soirée

MISSION IN ACTION

The U.S. National Arboretum spans 451 acres in Northeast Washington, D.C. Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it serves as a horticultural research facility and a public green space. The Arboretum manages living collections of woody plants and research fields for breeding plants. It also has a seed bank and one of the world’s most comprehensive preserved plant specimen libraries.

The National Arboretum benefits each of us, our community, and the nation through horticultural research and plant conservation.

As the Arboretum’s primary nonprofit partner, Friends of the National Arboretum supports and celebrates the science, beauty, and community impact of the U.S. National Arboretum through education, engagement, and access to nature.

By attending the Spring Soirée, you are directly supporting FONA’s work at the U.S. National Arboretum. Your partnership makes it all possible.