N° 111 — August 17, 2022
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.
Dinner Under the Stars
Tickets and tables are selling quickly for our 26th Annual Dinner Under the Stars! Join us Tuesday, September 20th to enjoy cocktails in the National Arboretum's Ellipse Meadow and a tented dinner in view of the Capitol Columns.

Spend a wonderful fall evening with friends, colleagues, business leaders, and government representatives. The Dinner is a fantastic way to mix and mingle — senior staff and officials from Capitol Hill and the Administration will be invited. Space is limited! Reserve a table or purchase individual tickets today.
Farm Crew participants spend the summer learning gardening, cooking, and carpentry skills in Washington Youth Garden. Top photo by Kelsey Cochran
Our Green Ambassador Program Farm Crew has come to an end after a summer of hard work. This six week paid internship introduces young adults to gardening, cooking, and carpentry while building interpersonal skills like communication and collaboration.

We hosted 12 Farm Crew members and three returning Crew Leaders this summer. Compared to last year's hybrid model, this year's program was completely in person. Program manager Christin Riddick found having participants in a physical space together rather than a virtual one allowed them to connect more deeply with one another in the garden.
The new benches Farm Crew built for the pollinator garden display the group's interests in science and art. One bench doubles as a seat and a planter, while two others are brightly painted.

This project allows this summer's Farm Crew to leave their own creative legacy in WYG for years to come. Try out the new seats for yourself on your next visit to Washington Youth Garden!
Volunteer Days
Join us for a volunteer day at the Arboretum (August-December) and help keep the restored Springhouse Run stream healthy. The work that volunteers do pulling invasive vines and weeds is crucial to maintaining a healthy ecosystem for newly-planted native species. Registration is required but no experience is needed.
Forest Bathing
Join us for a forest bathing walk and let us guide you in connecting more deeply with the National Arboretum during this mindfulness experience. Events are hosted throughout the fall and winter, including on Halloween, Veteran's Day, and New Year's Eve.
Upcoming Events
Dinner Under the Stars
September 20, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Cocktails and dinner in the Meadow

Fall Festival & Bulb Sale
October 1, 10 AM - 2 PM
Unique bulbs and family activities
Save the date — more details coming soon!

Garlic Planting Party
October 29, 11 AM - 2 PM
Fall planting and crafts in WYG

Fall 5K
November 12, 9 AM
Run or walk through stunning fall foliage
FONA Members, use your discount code
Procrastinator's Holiday Market & Tree Sale
December 10, 9 AM - 4 PM
Shop local vendors and holiday greenery
Save the date — more details coming soon!

Yoga
Sundays this fall, 10 AM - 11 AM
Find your flow with Bluebird Sky Yoga
FONA Members, use your discount code

Forest Bathing
Various dates and times
Meditation and mindfulness
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.
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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