N° 78 — December 1, 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 all who donated to FONA during Giving Tuesday!
Thanks to the financial support of our FONA community, we have 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.
Holiday Botanicals
Before wreaths adorned doors and walls during the holidays, wreaths were originally hung as ornaments on Christmas trees. More than frugally using discarded branches, a wreath has religious symbolism — its shape represents eternal life and evergreen materials embody power and resilience. Time Magazine dives deep into the history and symbolism of wreaths.

Christmas trees didn't become popular in America until the late 19th century. Americans only adopted the tradition after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert made it fashionable in Britain to buy and decorate a tree.

But how did these trees become associated with Christmas in the first place? And what do Christmas trees look like in other countries where different trees grow?

Dec. 11-12: Christmas Tree Sale
Get your own Christmas tree, wreath, or garland at our Christmas Tree Sale at the National Arboretum. The sale is December 11th and 12th from 10 AM to 4 PM at the New York Avenue parking lot. We're only accepting credit cards for this sale, please no cash or checks.
Guarantee your tree, wreath, or garland by pre-ordering ahead of time. You can pick up your order (1) at the National Arboretum during our sale on December 11-12, (2) at our partner site in Alexandria, VA before the sale, or (3) have it delivered to your home.

Just make sure you select “Friends of the National Arboretum” as the fundraising partner at checkout to ensure your purchase supports FONA.

Dec. 11: Procrastinator's Holiday Market
Visit the Procrastinator's Holiday Market on Saturday, December 11th at the National Arboretum! This is held alongside our tree sale from 10 AM to 4 PM at the New York Avenue parking lot.

We're partnering with Bladensburg Road and Rhode Island Avenue Main Street Programs to bring together all the best local vendors. From hand-made jewelry and pottery to artisan cheese gift boxes and tea blends, we're making it easy for you to shop local this holiday.

The market will also feature family-friendly entertainment, holiday card-making station, and FREE holiday train rides!

Bethany Slater Ceramics (top) and Paste and Rind (bottom)
Give the gift of FONA this holiday! Find us at the Holiday Market on Saturday to buy a one-of-a-kind Arboretum Christmas ornament and Washington Youth Garden honey. FONA members get a special discount on these items — but there's a premium discount when purchased with a gift membership for a friend.

Calling all Volunteers
We're looking for volunteers to help with our Christmas Tree Sale from 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturday, December 11th and Sunday, December 12th.

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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