N° 63 — July 28, 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.
New Faces at FONA
Ashley Rattanawan joins FONA's School Garden Support Program as a School Garden Education Coach. She got her start in education in the traditional classroom and has taught Environmental Science as well as elementary school in the DC area. She has also worked in a number of diverse roles from AmeriCorps to non-profit education, where she discovered her passion for using the city as her classroom and for the power of experiential learning.

Ashley is committed to inspiring others through hands-on education and is proud to join FONA in continuing this work in the DC community. Outside of work, Ashley enjoys crafting projects, adventuring with her D&D group, and walking her dog, Mango.
Claire Alrich joins FONA as a Development Officer after six years with Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden, where she wore many hats as the Director of Programs and Operations. Her time with the FoUSBG fostered a passion for plants, public natural places, and plant-based education that she's excited to bring to FONA and the Arboretum.

The Arboretum has been important in her personal life as a serene space of natural respite, beauty, and wonder. Claire is an active part of the DC dance and art communities and maintains a healthy houseplant collection. She is excited to come aboard and looks forward to learning more about the people and plants that make the Arboretum such a special place.
Members of the Green Ambassador Farm Crew have been busy bees this summer. For the past few weeks, eight high schoolers from around DC have learned hands-on skills such as gardening, cooking, beekeeping, and carpentry. Through these activities, Farm Crew members engage with larger food system concepts like food justice while also practicing interpersonal skills like communication and collaboration.

The Farm Crew is a six-week long paid summer internship and is the first tier of participation in our Green Ambassador Program.
Last week, the Farm Crew harvested and bottled honey from the bee hives in Washington Youth Garden. Here, a Green Ambassador uses a tool to remove the beeswax cap to extract honey from the comb.
Outdoor Events
Join the French Embassy at the National Arboretum on Wednesday, August 4th at 8:45 PM for an outdoor screening of Microcosmos, a stunning documentary of insect life in meadows and ponds. This event is part of the French Embassy's Films on the Green DC summer film festival, and is made possible in partnership with FONA, the National Gallery of Art, and TV5MONDE. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance.

"Best of DC" Nominations
Help more people in DC learn about the National Arboretum and FONA by nominating us for this year's "Best of DC" awards, published by the Washington City Paper.

Nominations close August 1st — voting commences in the fall. Please nominate us and the Arboretum for the following categories:


Around the Grounds
Did you notice a new crew around the National Arboretum this summer? The Arboretum enlisted goats to help remove invasive species near Hickey Run. Goats like eating vines, which unlike other types of invasive plants, grow continuously throughout the summer.

Over the next few months, the Gardens Unit will evaluate how the goats did at removing invasive species and decide whether they should be used again in the future.
From Our Friends: Anacostia Riverkeeper
Join Anacostia Riverkeeper for free Friday Night Fishing at Diamond Teague Park every Friday night from 5 to 8 PM now until August 27th. All gear and bait are provided and Riverkeeper staff are available to teach fishing.

Photo from: Anacostia Riverkeeper
The Arboretum is open every day from 8 AM - 5 PM except December 25th. Some buildings and collections remain closed to ensure visitor and staff safety.
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