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N° 160 — August 16, 2023

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

"Once in a Blue Moon" Full Moon Events

One of the benefits of being a FONA member is getting early notification of some special FONA events at the National Arboretum. We first shared with members about our two Once in a Blue Moon full moon events during the evening of Thursday, August 31st, and the Full Moon Hike is already sold out. However, you can still add your name to the hike waitlist, or register for the full moon forest bathing walk.

Full Moon Forest Bathing

Thursday, August 31 | 7:30 PM - 9:30 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. While some people choose to walk extensively during this forest bathing walk, many others choose to sit and get to know specific areas of the collection. Please pay what you can to attend this event — our suggested ticket price is $35, or $28 for FONA members.


Purchase a Forest Bathing Ticket >

Photo by Daniel Horowitz

Full Moon Hike

Thursday, August 31 | 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM


Spend the evening taking in the August blue supermoon as you explore the National Arboretum's moonlit gardens, meadows, and woods. Your guide will share specially chosen points of interest and seasonal highlights. The two-hour walk will cover about 3 miles over hilly and uneven terrain. It is a brisk walk, not a garden tour, so prepare accordingly. Tickets are sold out, but you can add your name to the waitlist in case space becomes available.


Add Your Name to the Hike Waitlist >

Take Time to Pause

August is National Make-a-Will Month, and it's a great time to pause and plan ahead for the people, pets, places, and causes you care about. FONA believes that having a will is crucial for everyone, and we want our community to feel safe and secure when recording their wishes. Through our partnership with FreeWill, you can make or update your will for free in 20 minutes or less.


Creating a will can bring you security, peace of mind, and impact. If you choose, you can include a legacy gift to FONA in your will, which will help us preserve and enhance the Arboretum for generations to come. You will also become a member of FONA's Heritage Society, a dedicated group of individuals who share a love of plants, nature, and the outdoors.


Create Your Will Today >

Bottom photo by Plume Photography

Photo by Casey Trees

DC's Largest Tree

The search for DC's largest tree is officially over! After collecting submissions from citizen scientists all across the city, Casey Trees has verified the largest tree in DC is a chestnut oak that lives in Battery Kimble Park.


The National Arboretum's massive willow oak came in second place, losing to the chestnut oak by only 3" in circumference, or 0.95" in diameter at breast height.

This tree lives in the crapemyrtle research fields near Springhouse Run. Although the Arboretum's willow oak has been around for well over 100 years, this tree is coming to the end of its life. It has sustained substantial damage over the past decade from storms and carpenterworms, and it has never been able to recover. A storm caused further damage this July, making it unsafe to be near. Please keep your distance from the tree and stay behind the roped off areas.


Read the Full Report from Casey Trees >

Photo by Casey Trees

Photo by Plume Photography

Dinner Under the Stars

Tickets are almost sold out for our 27th annual Dinner Under the Stars on Tuesday, September 19th. Enjoy cocktails in the National Herb Garden and a tented dinner in view of the Capitol Columns. Plus, spend a magical fall evening with friends, colleagues, business leaders, and government representatives while supporting FONA through this annual fundraiser.


Secure your tickets or tables before they're gone! A limited number are still available.


Email Cathy to Reserve Your Spot >

Plant Spotlight

Largeflower heartleaf (Hexastylis shuttleworthii) is a plant native to the Southeastern United States and acts as appealing groundcover in a woodland environment. They have small, heart-shaped leaves dappled in attractive patterns, and small jug-shaped flowers. They are one of a handful of species of heartleaf native to the area, and can be grown from rhizomes in moist, shady gardens. Hexastylis are a segregate of the Asarum family, which has similar wild ginger plants originating in Asia. A variety of Hexastylis can be found in Fern Valley, and their Asarum relatives are in the Asian Collections and the gardens around the Bonsai Museum.


Kamala Codrington-White, an ORISE fellow at the National Arboretum, shares plants of note at the Arboretum in this new recurring segment. Find these plants on your next trip to the Arboretum this summer (Photo by U.S. National Arboretum).

From Our Friends: Smithsonian Associates

Join the Smithsonian Associates for Bonsai: Small Wonders, a virtual lecture held on Wednesday, August 23rd from 12 PM to 1:30 PM. Michael James, Curator of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, and Ann McClellan, author of Bonsai and Penjing, Ambassadors of Peace and Beauty, will share an illustrated talk about the Arboretum's National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. Learn about the history of some of the trees in the museum, as well as tips for how to care for bonsai. This lecture costs $30 to attend, or $25 for Smithsonian Associate members.


Register for the Virtual Bonsai Lecture >

Upcoming Events

Full Moon Forest Bathing

August 31, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Guided meditation in the meadow

Registration >


Full Moon Hike

August 31, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Moonlit hike through gardens & collections

Add Name to Waitlist >


Fall into School Gardening

September 9, 11 AM - 12 PM

Free resources for educators, in WYG

Details Coming Soon!


Dinner Under the Stars

September 19, 5:30 PM - 9 PM

Cocktails & tented dinner in the Meadow

Purchase a Ticket or Table >


Fall Festival

September 30

Bulb sale, local vendors, family activities

Details Coming Soon!

Garlic Planting Party & Poetry Slam

October 28, 11 AM - 2 PM

Fall planting, crafts, and youth poetry competition in Washington Youth Garden

Details Coming Soon!


Fall 5K

November 12, 9 AM

Run or walk through stunning fall foliage

Details Coming Soon!


Volunteer in Washington Youth Garden

Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays

Opportunities for individuals, groups, & teens

Details & Registration >


Forest Bathing Walks

Various dates and times

Meditation and mindfulness

Upcoming Dates & Registration >


Yoga in the Grove

Saturdays at 10 AM

Find your flow with Bluebird Sky Yoga

Registration >

The Arboretum is open every day from 8 AM to 5 PM except December 25th.

Check Our Website for Full Details >

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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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