The New York Avenue entrance will be the only entrance to the Arboretum during this time.

All gates and roadways are expected to reopen on Friday, Jan. 21st, but there may be weather delays.

Bea Trapasso Dermer joins FONA as the Director of Foundation and Government Relations. She comes to FONA with over 20 years of grant writing and fundraising experience with children’s advocacy and policy organizations, including ZERO TO THREE, Child Care Aware of America, and the Children’s Defense Fund. While at CDF, she helped manage 21^st Century Community Learning programs in DC elementary schools. 

FONA and our local conservation partners could use your help this January. Here are some upcoming volunteer opportunities in and around the National Arboretum:

Keep the newly restored Springhouse Run stream at the National Arboretum healthy by pulling out invasive vines and weeds.

Care for young trees by weeding, mulching, and watering newly planted trees at Adas Israel Cemetery.

Intercept trash before it reaches the Anacostia River watershed by picking up trash at Pope Branch Park.

Restore Kingman Island to its natural habitat by removing invasive plants.

Tu B'Shevat is a Jewish festival that celebrates the birthday of all fruit trees. This year, this holiday begins at sundown on Sunday, January 16th and ends at sundown on Monday, January 17th.

While this festival originated as a reminder for Jewish farmers to bring fruit offerings to temple, its implication in Judaism has shifted over the years. Today, it's an opportunity for Jewish people to connect with ecological issues and plant trees in Israel and wherever they live.

To make maple syrup, you need maple trees — lots and lots of maple trees. But what do you do from there?

Join the U.S. Botanic Garden and U.S. National Arboretum on Friday, January 14th at 12 PM for a free virtual program about the history, production, and biology of maple sugaring. Learn also about the maples found in both the USBG's and USNA's collections.

Government employees can support FONA by donating through the Combined Federal Campaign. Federal civilian, postal, and military members have until January 15, 2022 to pledge their support for the 2021 campaign. FONA's CFC number is 81610.