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N° 91 — March 9, 2022
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.
Happy Birthday!
Friends of the National Arboretum turns 40 this week! For 4 decades, we have supported many National Arboretum projects and initiatives, including funding horticulture research interns, restoring Springhouse Run, and bringing the Capitol Columns to the Arboretum. We continue to promote the National Arboretum's mission and connect people to nature through our education programs, recreation programs, and events.

Thank you to all who have made these past 40 years a success. We could not have done it without all the members, volunteers, staff, and partners who believed in our vision and work.
Join Our Team
We're looking for people to join our team! We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:

This part-time position will support and facilitate recreation programs at the U.S. National Arboretum and in the Washington Youth Garden. Application closes March 14th.

This part-time position will help implement FONA’s venue rental program and other FONA events. Application closes March 21st.
Spring Blooms
Early-blooming cherries will soon blossom at the National Arboretum. Although the National Park Service has predicted the Tidal Basin will reach peak bloom between March 23rd and 25th, the Arboretum's wide variety of cherry trees means the bloom season lasts longer than many other parts of the city.
The Arboretum has a 3.2-mile self-guided tour so you can easily find and learn about the trees. The signs marking the tour's path will go out early next week. Please note that visitation on weekends is busy this time of year.

Here's how to access the tour:
Digging In: Connecting Through Cocoa & Coffee
In our latest Digging In virtual event, our own Garden Manager, Xavier Bure, shared how growing cocoa and coffee in the Peruvian rainforest drives his approach to sustainable agriculture at the Washington Youth Garden.

Did you know FONA members get to participate live in Digging In events as part of their member benefits? We're lining up great speakers this year for this quarterly series — become a member today so you can dig in with the experts.

Arboretum Activities
Attend the Arboretum's 35th Annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium on Saturday, March 26th from 9 AM to 3 PM. This virtual symposium brings together subject matter experts on ecological, botanical, and horticultural advancement. See the event flyer for full details and speaker line-up. Tickets are $75 (FONA members, remember to use your discount code).

From the Lab: Plant Defenses
At the beginning and end of every winter, Arboretum staff move containerized plants in and out of the greenhouses for winter storage. Some of these plants, however, get particularly prickly at the prospect of being moved.

Chrissy Moore, curator of the Arboretum's National Herb Garden, recounted the perils of moving day in a recent Herb Society of America blog post.

Photos from Chrissy Moore
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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