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N° 118 — October 5, 2022

Enjoy regular updates and insights from FONA, the U.S. National Arboretum, and our award-winning Washington Youth Garden.

Due to inclement weather last weekend, our Fall Festival & Bulb Sale is rescheduled for Saturday, October 15th from 10 AM to 2 PM.

Hispanic Legacies: Helia Bravo-Hollis

Helia Bravo-Hollis was a prominent botanist from Mexico in the first half of the 20th century, and devoted 60 years of her life to the study of biology. Her research primarily focused on collecting, describing, and understanding the taxonomy of Cactaceae. Helia's work has contributed significantly to the understanding of plants in the cactus family.


Helia dedicated her career to sharing this botanical knowledge with all. She worked as a botany professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), co-founded the Mexican Cactus Society, and conducted research at the National Herbarium. Helia was also instrumental in creating the Botanic Gardens at UNAM and served as its director throughout the 1960s.


Learn More About Helia Bravo-Hollis >

Photos from the Historic Archive of Biology Institute of UNAM.

Support FONA: Give through the Combined Federal Campaign

Federal employees and retirees can support FONA through the Combined Federal Campaign. Federal civilian, postal, and military workers can pledge support easily through the CFC online portal. FONA's CFC number is 81610.


Support FONA through the CFC >

Arboretum Events

Join the National Arboretum on Saturday, October 29th from 10 AM to 11 AM for an in-person program with Marianne Willburn about how to store tropical plants in temperate climates.


Drawing from her book Tropical Plants and How to Love Them, garden writer Marianne will help you discern what you can easily store, what may take more effort, and where to draw the line, providing tips and techniques for successful storage in cold climates. Registration is $12 (FONA members, email us for the discount code).


Learn More and Register >

Marianne Willburn is a garden writer who will lead an event at the Arboretum.

Help us build Grow@Home kits this fall! We distribute these kits free of charge to Title 1 schools so students can practice the scientific method, run their own experiments, and create nutritious meals from what they grow.


Sign up and join us on the following days:

  • Saturday, October 15: 10 AM - 1 PM
  • Saturday, November 5: 10 AM - 1 PM


Sign Up for a Kit Building Day >

Fall 5K

Early-bird registration for our Fall 5K ends soon! Enjoy the Arboretum's fall colors while running or walking this course on November 12th.


If you sign up by Sunday, October 16th, registration costs $40 and includes a race t-shirt. Registration after October 17th is $50 and does not include a t-shirt (FONA members, use your discount code).


Register for the 5K >

Click the photo above for a larger view the t-shirt design. Final shirt color may vary.

Vote for "Best of DC"

Vote for the National Arboretum and FONA in this year's Best of DC and help more people discover the Arboretum. Voting closes at midnight ET on October 16th.

 

Please vote for the following four categories:

  • "Best Date Activity" in Arts & Entertainment: vote for the U.S. National Arboretum
  • "Best Place to Day Trip" in People & Places: vote for the U.S. National Arboretum
  • "Best Nonprofit" in People & Places: vote for Friends of the National Arboretum
  • "Best Kid-Friendly Attraction" in People & Places: vote for Washington Youth Garden


Cast Your Vote >

From our Friends: Urban Adventure Squad

The Urban Adventure Squad is hosting a two-day long program at Washington Youth Garden on November 7th and 8th. This program is part of the Casey Trees TreeWise Urban Forester program and is open to children in grades 1st through 8th grades. Registration is $160 — scholarships and sibling rates are available.


Learn More and Register >

Photo from Urban Adventure Squad

Upcoming Events

Full Moon Hike

October 7, 7 PM - 9 PM

Night hike through moonlit gardens

Register for the Waitlist >


Fall Festival & Bulb Sale

October 15, 10 AM - 2 PM

Unique bulbs and family activities

Details & Tickets >


Garlic Planting Party

October 29, 11 AM - 2 PM

Fall planting and crafts in WYG

Details & Tickets >


Fall 5K

November 12, 9 AM

Run or walk through stunning fall foliage

FONA Members, use your discount code

Register for the Race >

Procrastinator's Holiday Market & Tree Sale

December 10, 9 AM - 4 PM

Shop local vendors and holiday greenery

Details & Tickets >


Yoga

Various dates and times

Find your flow with Bluebird Sky Yoga

FONA Members, use your discount code

Purchase Your Ticket >


Forest Bathing

Various dates and times

Meditation and mindfulness

Purchase Your Ticket >

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.
CONNECT WITH US:
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Friends of the National Arboretum
3501 New York Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
202.544.8733
FONA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization with the mission to preserve and enhance a vibrant public space and support experiential programming that instills a love of plants, nature and the outdoors in all who visit, while promoting the overarching research and education mission of the U.S. National Arboretum.

Since its inception, FONA has helped support the Washington Youth Garden, Capitol Columns, Flowering Tree Walk, horticultural and research internships, restoration of Springhouse Run, and much more.

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