N° 80 — December 15, 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.
Thank you to our FONA members — you make our work possible!
Your membership helps us connect people to plants through our education programs, recreation programs, and events. Together, done some remarkable things this year for the Arboretum and our DC community.

There's still time to support FONA or become a member before the end of the year. Government employees can donate through the Combined Federal Campaign, our number is 81610.
Weekend Wrap Up
Thank you to everyone who came out this weekend and made our first Christmas Tree Sale & Holiday Market at the National Arboretum a huge success! We enjoyed the chance to share the Arboretum and also support local artists and makers.

We'd love to hear how we did so we can make this event even better next year. Please fill out our event survey if you attended this weekend's Christmas Tree Sale & Holiday Market.

Our fantastic partners made this event possible. Thank you Bladensburg Road Main Street and Rhode Island Avenue Main Street for organizing the Procrastinator's Holiday Market, and for all the vendors who participated in the market. Thank you Almost Heavenly Trees for supplying fantastic Christmas trees for our sale.
Events like our this allow FONA to support and promote the U.S. National Arboretum. With funds raised from our events, we ensure the Arboretum's research and gardens are a resource for all, connect people with nature through our programs and events, and share the Arboretum's story with the world.

If you couldn't attend the event but still want to support FONA, you can become a FONA member, renew your membership, or donate today.

New Traditions
We created Arboretum Christmas ornaments this year for the first time, something we hope to continue for many years to come. These ornaments will reflect different aspects of the Arboretum while also highlighting FONA's work and the Arboretum's mission. We look forward to continuing this tradition next December.
Arboretum Updates
In preparation for winter, Arboretum staff moved many bonsai from the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum into the Chinese Pavilion and put the roof on the pavilion to protect the trees from the cold.

Due to the Arboretum's current pandemic restrictions in federal buildings, the Chinese Pavilion will be closed to visitors until April when the roof is removed.

Some bonsai that are protected from the cold by mulch will remain outdoors in the museum. While the bonsai slumber for the winter, learn more about the trees and history of the museum's collections from the National Bonsai Foundation.

Photo from The Herb Society of America
From our Friends: The Herb Society of America
Ground or whole cloves is a ubiquitous spice used in holiday cooking and baking, and comes from a tree in the Myrtle family native to an Indonesian archipelago. Learn more about the history of this spice, how it's grown, and how it's used in cooking in a feature from The Herb Society of America.

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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