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N° 101 — May 18, 2022
Stay in touch as we celebrate Washington Youth Garden's 50th Anniversary. Enjoy our updates and insights from FONA, the U.S. National Arboretum, and WYG.

The Arboretum lifted the seasonal traffic restrictions on Friday, May 6th. All roads and gates are now open to traffic and operating as normal, except Azalea Road which will remain closed for the nesting bald eagles in the Azalea Collections. Thank you for following these guidelines and helping the Arboretum manage the high volume of visitors this spring — your cooperation was greatly appreciated!
50th Anniversary Events
Just under a month to go until we celebrate Washington Youth Garden's 50th anniversary with a weekend of fun! Get your tickets today and join us in the garden.

Birthday Party
Saturday, June 11 | 11 AM - 1:30 PM

Join us Saturday for a free, family-friendly birthday party in the garden and enjoy:
  • Hands-on activities
  • Sharing your own WYG story on our garden timeline
  • Connecting with WYG staff and participants from the past and present
  • A special 50th anniversary birthday carrot cake

Evening Benefit
Sunday, June 12 | 5:30 PM - 8 PM

Join us Sunday for a casual evening benefit as we toast those instrumental to WYG's 50 years of success and look towards the garden's future. Each $150 ticket supports FONA's Washington Youth Garden and its anniversary projects.

Spend the evening enjoying:
  • Cocktails while exploring the garden
  • A tasty dinner featuring seasonal produce and local spirits
  • A toast to those instrumental in the Washington Youth Garden
  • Insights into exciting plans for the next 50 years


Become an event sponsor and champion the Washington Youth Garden! Help us reach our fundraising goal and lay the foundation for the next 50 years.

Paul Meyer accepting the Veitch Memorial Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society this spring. Photo by: Debbie Rodgers
Board Spotlight
Paul Meyer, who has served on FONA's board since 2009, recently received the Veitch Memorial Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society. This award is given to "persons of any nationality who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the science and practice of horticulture."

Paul Meyer retired in 2019 from a 42-year long career at the Morris Arboretum in Pennsylvania. He served as executive director of the Arboretum for 28 of those years. Paul has also led a dozen plant exploration trips around the world. Many of those trips were held in partnership with the National Arboretum and U.S. Department of Agriculture, and according to Paul would not have been possible without their leadership.

One more week to register for our fifth annual Summer Institute for Garden-Based Teaching. During this training from July 12th to 15th, educators will develop garden-based teaching skills, learn best practices to sustain a school garden program, jumpstart planning for the next school year, and more!

The Summer Institute is open to all DC PK-5th teachers, staff, and volunteers who work in schools with existing school garden programs. Participants will receive a stipend, contingent upon finalized funding. Register by May 25th to join us for our Summer Institute.

Photo by Jim Campbell-Spickler
Eagle Update
DC9 is growing up! According to American Eagle Foundation volunteers who monitor the Arboretum's bald eagle nest cameras, DC9 has started feeding itself rather than just relying on Mr. President or LOTUS to feed it.

This comes two weeks after "eagle whisperer" Jim Campbell-Spickler scaled the tulip poplar that houses this nest to retrieve DC9 for scientific studies. Jim is not only the director of the Sequoia Park Zoo, but also a wildlife biologist and tree-climbing expert.

Want to learn more about the Arboretum's eagles and the role they play in the Anacostia watershed? Join us for the next Digging In, our virtual lecture series, this Tuesday, May 24th from 12 to 1:15 PM.

FONA members can participate in this event live as part of their member benefits. If you're already a member, see your inbox for an invitation. Become a FONA member today to join this event and dig in with the experts.

Photo from U.S. National Arboretum and American Eagle Foundation
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Upcoming Events
WYG 50th Anniversary Weekend
Birthday Party June 11, 11 AM - 1:30 PM
Evening Benefit June 12, 5:30 PM - 8 PM

Summer 5K
June 25, 9 AM
Scenic race through collections in bloom

Movie in the Meadow: Calamity
July 13, 9 PM - 10:30 PM
Free outdoor movie with the French Embassy
The Arboretum is open every day from 8 AM to 5 PM except December 25th. Some buildings and collections remain closed to ensure visitor and staff safety.
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