N° 73 — October 27, 2021
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.
When you become a FONA member, your gift supports all of FONA and helps us support and promote the National Arboretum! We ensure the Arboretum's research and gardens are a resource for all and connect people with nature through our programs and events. Become a member or renew today!
Our Garden team has grown and donated 5,265 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables this year! This is more food than our one-acre Washington Youth Garden has ever produced, and over 1,000 pounds more than we grew in 2020. We will continue growing and harvesting food through November.

This produce is donated to students and families in our community to fight food insecurity in Northeast and Southeast DC. Our community partners — such as DC partner schools, YMCA Calomiris Program Center, and the DC Fridge Collective — distribute our produce to families who need it most
Emilia Kawashima, Garden Coordinator, dropping off produce donations at YMCA Calomiris Program Center.
Gifts from FONA members and others make work like this possible. Together, we are connecting youth to food, the land, and each other.
Best of DC
The results are in! The National Arboretum has been crowned the "Best First Date Activity" in this year's Best of DC! The Arboretum also took home second place for "Best COVID-19 Silver Lining." While "working from home" took first in this category, we are grateful so many people have found solace at the National Arboretum during the last year and a half.

Thank you to all who voted for the National Arboretum in this year's Best of DC! Check out the other winners, including our friends at the National Bonsai Foundation!
From our Friends: Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
Join the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum on Thursday, October 28th from 5 to 7 PM for a free virtual event about the history and future of the environmental justice movement. This event marks the 30th anniversary of the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit and will feature a dialogue between prominent environmental justice leaders.
From the Lab
The Agriculture Research Service, the government agency which oversees the National Arboretum, recently released a new bean variety into U.S. agriculture. ARS research shows the Manteca yellow bean boils quickly, is highly digestible, and has high iron levels. Watch this video to learn more about the research that went into this variety.
Outdoor Corner
Looking for new running routes around DC? Check out the Washington Post's top running spots in the DC area — including the National Arboretum! Connect with nature all across DC and enjoy the cool fall running weather.
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.
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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