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N° 38 — January 26, 2021
Please enjoy our regular updates and insights from FONA, the U.S. National Arboretum, and our award-winning Washington Youth Garden.
Weddings at the Arboretum
Did you know that, despite the pandemic, FONA hosted 12 weddings last year? We have already booked many more than that for 2021 — but there are still some dates left!

Our weddings come in many sizes. Choose between:

  • A minimony (ceremony only)
  • A microwedding (ceremony and cocktail hour)
  • A full-sized wedding (ceremony, cocktail hour, and seated dinner)

Enjoy your perfect day while keeping you and your loved ones safe by holding your private event in gardens that are as spacious as they are beautiful.
Photo by: Lisa Blume
Imagine having your ceremony at the Capitol Columns and your reception in the Herb Garden — or hold your celebration next to our koi pond! There are also three different sites for tents, each with its own character and charm.

Contact our partner, MTG Hospitality, for more information. We are booking now for 2021 and accepting inquiries for 2022.

Tree Time
Forests are much more than the individual trees you see above ground. This New York Times Magazine article focuses on Dr. Suzanne Simard, a forest ecologist at the University of British Columbia, who has spent her life discovering and untangling the complex web of fungi that connect together nearly every tree in a forest.

These fungal networks allow trees to share resources and send warning signals to other trees across the entire forest network.
From our Staff: Mycelial Musings
Susan, our Operations Manager, challenges you to grow mushrooms in your garden this year. They're easier than you think, and if you grow a mushroom log like this one here from our Washington Youth Garden, you can get years of harvests.

Your Review of FONA
Help FONA by writing a review of our organization by the end of January!

Please help us earn a badge from GreatNonprofits by writing a short, candid review about your experience and impression of FONA and Washington Youth Garden (not the U.S. National Arboretum itself).

The reviews must be submitted by Sunday, January 31. Thank you for helping others learn about our work with your review!

The leaves and nuts of a Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) collected during a 1980 collection expedition in China. Photo credit: USNA.
Arboretum Additions
As part of the huge project in the Arboretum's herbarium, Joe Hughes and Julia Pope are joining to the team as student assistants!

Between now and July, Joe and Julia will help the herbarium team continue digitizing the Arboretum's massive library of over 800,000 plant specimens collected from around the world.

These particular positions are part of the USDA Agricultural Research Service's Research Participation Program. This program is managed by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) to "advance science education and research programs."

Winter Walks
The dwarf and slow-growing conifers that comprise the Arboretum's Gotelli Conifer Collection make for magical winter walks.

Masks and social distancing are required at the National Arboretum — make sure you're prepared for your visit!

The Arboretum is open every day from 8 AM - 5 PM except December 25th. Some buildings and collections remain closed to ensure visitor and staff safety.
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.