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N° 143 — March 29, 2023
Enjoy regular updates and insights from FONA, the U.S. National Arboretum, and our award-winning Washington Youth Garden.
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FONA is hosting two Full Moon Events during the evening of Thursday, April 6th. Join us for one of the following events:
FrogWatch
Thursday, April 6 | 7:30 PM - 9 PM
Join the DC Department of Energy and Environment, alongside Living Classrooms Foundation, for a DC FrogWatch event. FrogWatch USA is a national citizen science program of the Akron Zoo that invites individuals and families to learn about the wetlands in their communities and help conserve amphibians by reporting data on the calls of local frogs and toads. Registration is required, tickets are $15.
FrogWatch Registration >
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Forest Bathing
Thursday, April 6 | 7 PM - 9 PM
Join our nature and forest therapy guide in this two-hour program that encourages you to slow down and take in the National Arboretum through all your senses. Forest bathing, or shinrin yoku, is the simple practice of taking in the woods through the senses for health benefits. Registration is required, the suggested ticket price is $35 but please pay what you can to attend. If tickets are sold out, add your name to the waitlist in case space opens.
Forest Bathing Registration >
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We are offering self-guided field trips to the Washington Youth Garden this year! Prior to your visit, our staff can help you organize simple activities to guide your group's experience. Staff will also lead an orientation at the start of your visit.
Self-guided experiences are free and open to all schools, but space is limited. Trips start the week of April 12th and run through June 16th on Wednesdays and Fridays, with morning and afternoon trip slots. Reservations are required.
Register for Self-Guided Field Trips >
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If you have walked by the Arboretum's Visitor Center and National Herb Garden over the past two weeks, you might have noticed wooden poles extending from the ground into the canopy of two flowering cherry trees. These poles are a traditional Japanese method of supporting heavy branches and act as crutches for the tree. By using crutches to support branches that might be damaged or at risk for damage, the tree is able to focus its energy on producing new leaves.
These crutches were installed by Arboretum staff and master gardener Kurato Fujimoto leading up to the Arboretum's Connecting Cultures: Japanese Flowering Cherries in America event earlier in March. Check them out during your next visit to the Arboretum!
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Thank you to members of the Acorn Garden Club for recently making over 400 Grow@Home kits! The garden club members made quick work of assembling these kits one morning in the Arboretum's auditorium.
Grow@Home kits contain seed starting supplies and an activity guide that allow students to practice the scientific method. We share these kits with teachers and students across DC throughout the year to bring garden education directly into classrooms.
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Calling all Garden Fair Volunteers | |
We are looking for volunteers to help with our Garden Fair & Plant Sale on Saturday, April 29th. 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. We greatly appreciate all our volunteers who make this event possible! Fill out our FONA volunteer interest form and we will reach out soon to learn about your availability.
Volunteer Interest Form >
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Spring Traffic Plan Reminder | |
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A temporary traffic plan that impacts traffic flow and parking throughout at the National Arboretum is in effect until mid-May. This plan is meant to keep the grounds safe for drivers, pedestrians, and all visitors during an extremely busy time of the year.
Both the R Street and New York Avenue Entrances will operate as normal. The map above illustrates how the traffic plan impacts the grounds. Visit our website for full details about the temporary traffic plan.
Full Details About Spring Traffic Plan >
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Full Moon FrogWatch
April 6, 7:30 PM - 9 PM
Citizen science from survey
Details & Registration >
Full Moon Forest Bathing
April 6, 7 PM - 9 PM
Meditation and mindfulness under the full moon
Details & Registration >
Volunteer Open House
April 8, 9 AM - 12:30 PM
In Washington Youth Garden
Garden Fair & Plant Sale
April 29, 9 AM - 4 PM
Plants, vendors, & activities
Details & Registration >
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