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N° 159 — July 26, 2023

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

Summer Institute Wrap-up

In early July, our School Garden Support program team hosted the annual Summer Institute for Garden-based Teaching in the Washington Youth Garden. This week-long professional development workshop brought together teams of 31 educators, staff, and volunteers from 11 schools across Washington, DC.


The Summer Institute grounds participants in understanding why they want to incorporate outdoor education into their teaching practices. The program then builds up from there with workshops about starting and maintaining a school garden, managing students outdoors, experiential garden activities, and more.

Participants were particularly excited to get their hands dirty and engage directly with the Washington Youth Garden. One educator reflected on their experience, “I remember thinking what are we going to do in a PD for all those hours and after day one, my mindset shifted to there is not enough time in the sessions to be able to absorb and experience the amazing things I learned about gardening both professionally and personally.”

The team component is a critical part of the Summer Institute. We have found that outdoor learning programs are most successful and sustainable when the teachers and staff doing this work at a school feel like they are part of a complete team working together, rather than working as individuals championing the cause on their own. This year’s participants connected very well both within and across school teams, and the sense of community everyone had built throughout the week was palpable by the end of the program. When asked what one word encapsulated their experience at the Summer Institute, “love” was a common answer.

Plant Spotlight

Capsicum annuum ‘Black Pearl’ sports purple leaves so dark they’re nearly black and shiny round fruit that ripen from black to red, making it a standout in any garden. They can withstand hot, humid summers in full sun, and grow well in containers or against walls. The USDA Vegetable Laboratory and the U.S. National Arboretum teamed up to breed a plant with dark leaves and showy clusters of fruits. In 2006, ‘Black Pearl’ was an All-America Selection winner and does well all over the country. It is planted every year in the National Herb Garden’s Capsicum Border.


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).

Arboretum Interns

The National Arboretum's 2023 intern cohort has been busy working in Arboretum collections and research labs to gain hands-on work experience and training in horticulture, botany, and plant research. They have also visited public gardens and research institutions across the Mid-Atlantic region to gain a deeper understanding of potential horticultural career opportunities.


Last week, the Arboretum interns toured the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory and Production Facility. They were impressed by how the USBG conserves and showcases such a wide diversity of plants while also operating in a restrictive urban setting. The interns were also excited to talk to USBG staff and hear their perspective of working in the horticulture field.

Photo by U.S. National Arboretum

Poetry Slam in the Garden

Join us for a youth poetry competition in the Washington Youth Garden on Saturday, August 5th at 6:30 PM. This special evening event is free for the public to attend, but registration is required for after-hours access.


Youth will compete for cash prizes in a single-round poetry competition, and are encouraged to perform poems that follow the theme of Nature & Environmental/Food Justice. Come cheer on contestants, tour the Youth Garden, and enjoy an evening at the National Arboretum.


Event Details & Registration >

The Search Continues...

Casey Trees is looking for the largest tree in DC — and they need your help! If you have a large tree in your backyard, on your street, or even in your local park, you can submit it as a contestant for DC's Largest Tree by Friday, July 28th. You just need to include the diameter of the tree in your submission (see the form for instructions on how to take this measurement). The person who submits the largest tree will receive $100 gift certificate to the Casey Trees store, and the runner up will receive a $44 certificate.


Help Find DC's Largest Tree >

Photo by Casey Trees

Upcoming Events

Poetry Slam in the Garden

August 5, 6:30 PM - 9 PM

Youth poetry competition

Details & Registration >


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!


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 >

We are taking next two weeks off from FONA Field Notes so our team can enjoy their summer vacations. See you on August 16th!

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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