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N° 153 — June 7, 2023

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

Our garden team harvested 423 pounds of garlic from Washington Youth Garden last week! Harvesting garlic is a major milestone each year in WYG. Last fall, over 200 families, volunteers, and visitors planted garlic cloves at the Garlic Planting Party. These cloves grow over the winter and are harvested in late spring. The Garlic Planting Party represents not only an end to each growing season, but also an investment from our community in the next season. Once the garlic that was harvested last week cures, we are excited to bring this cycle full circle and share the harvest with students and families.

Vote for Best of DC

Vote for the National Arboretum and FONA in this year's Best of DC and help more people discover the Arboretum! Don't delay — voting closes on July 10th at 5 PM.

 

Please vote for the following four categories:


Weekend Wrap-Up

Our Summer 5K brought 368 runners and walkers to the Arboretum this past weekend. Thank you to all who participated! No matter the weather and season, FONA 5K participants are always incredibly enthusiastic and supportive of each other. FONA is grateful to the volunteers who helped run the event, and our event sponsor Abbott Klar Real Estate Group.


We enjoy connecting people to nature at the Arboretum through recreation events like our 5K series. Thank you to all who participated in this weekend's race, and keep an eye out for information about our Fall 5K!

Photo by Beth Haubach

Bottom photo by Plume Photography

Plant a Seed for the Future

FONA recently partnered with FreeWill, a national estate planning organization. Our partnership with FreeWill allows you to create your will online — free of charge — in about 20 minutes. It also gives you the option to support causes that are close to your heart, such as FONA, in your will.


FreeWill is a free tool for you to use, regardless of whether you include FONA in your will or not. If you do decide to include a gift to FONA in your will, your legacy will benefit the Arboretum and our local community for generations to come. You will also become a member of FONA’s Heritage Society, a group of like-minded individuals invested in the future of the Arboretum. Heritage Society members are recognized for their forward-thinking generosity and are included in a number of special events throughout the year.

A will is critical for everyone, no matter where you are on your life's journey. By offering this resource for free, we hope members of our community can plant a seed for their future and provide peace of mind to their loved ones.


Make Your Free Will >

Photo by brookpeterson via Flickr

From our Friends: Herb Society of America

Join the Mid-Atlantic Units of the Herb Society of America for an Under the Arbor event at the Arboretum this Saturday, June 10th from 1 PM to 4 PM. Learn how to grow herbs in containers, as well as how to store herbs like candied ginger and rose beads in containers. This event is free and open to the public. It will be held in the National Herb Garden near the Visitor Center.


Event Information >

Upcoming Events

Music in the Meadow:

U.S. Navy Band

June 11, 2 PM - 3:30 PM

Afternoon concert in the meadow

Details & Registration >


Teen Volunteer Day

June 17, 9 AM - 12 PM

In Washington Youth Garden

Registration >


Poetry Slam in the Garden

August 5, 6:30 PM - 9 PM

Youth poetry competition

Details & Registration 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 >

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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