Thank you to everyone who joined us for our holiday events this December! We greatly enjoyed hosting our annual Christmas Tree Sale and Winter Festival for the thousands of people who attended.

Funds raised from these events allow us to advocate for the National Arboretum, provide youth and adult programs, and build partnerships within the community. Thank you for supporting our work.

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 either the Christmas Tree Sale on December 3rd or Winter Festival on December 10th.

Event Participant Survey >

The National Arboretum is a hotspot and haven for both plant and animal biodiversity. Arboretum staff curate and conserve a genetically diverse array of plants from around the world in gardens, collections, and research fields. The Arboretum is 451 acres in size, or roughly 1% of the total area of Washington, DC.

These gardens create a mixed landscape of forests, meadows, and wetlands that attracts and provides habitat for a diverse range of animals. While the Arboretum's nesting pair of bald eagles attracts a lot of attention from animal lovers, we are highlighting other wildlife recently spotte at the Arboretum.

Please remember to give all wildlife space during your visit and keep all dogs on a leash. Stay on trails and keep your distance from animals so they don't feel threatened.

An immature female Western Tanager was spotted at the Arboretum's Springhouse Run restoration site last week.

This species is distributed throughout the western United States, and is the first documented Western Tanager in Washington, DC.

A male Wilson's Warbler has also recently been spotted spending time in juniper bushes near Fern Valley.

This species migrates through every state in the continental United States as they migrate from their breeding grounds in Canada to their non-breeding grounds in Central America.

The Merlin Bird ID app is a great tool to identify birds on the go, especially as you are exploring the Arboretum. The app can identify species using bird calls or photos, or you can answer questions about the bird to help narrow the possible species.

Learn About Merlin Bird ID >

Want to help catalogue bird biodiversity in the DC area and beyond? The Audubon's annual Christmas Bird Count is the longest-running community science bird project and provides crucial data on bird population trends. This year, it will run from December 14th through January 5th.

Learn How to Get Involved with the Christmas Bird Count >

Beavers continue to call Springhouse Run home after building a den and dam on the stream last winter. This winter, they are sharing the wetland with curious river otters. While these otters live in the Anacostia River, they are often seen exploring the Springhouse Run pond throughout the winter each year.

While the National Arboretum is home to coyotes, most visitors won't see them since they are nocturnal. However, since dogs can sniff out coyotes during the daytime, it is important to keep all dogs leashed when visiting the Arboretum. Coyotes will defend themselves if they feel threatened.

Learn More About Coyotes in DC >

The National Arboretum is now accepting applications for the 2023 bonsai apprenticeship position. This position is funded by the National Bonsai Foundation and runs from March through the end of November each year. Applications are due by midnight on December 30th.

Bonsai Apprenticeship Details >

The Arboretum is also accepting applications for 2023 horticulture and research internship positions. These internships range from three to six months long and offer hands-on work experience and training in horticulture, botany, or plant research. A number of these internships are funded by FONA. Internship applications are due January 15th.

Research Internship Details >

Horticulture Internship Details >

Looking for creative ways to decorate your Christmas tree this year? Stop by the National Arboretum's Visitor Center lobby to get inspiration on how to use natural material from your garden when decorating your tree!

Many of these decorations were collected from the Arboretum and turned into beautiful decorations by USNA staff. See for yourself what allium flowers, milkweed pods, pine cones, grasses, and more could look like on your tree.