In a FONA Field Notes early last year, we shared about the role the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 1360 played in shaping the National Arboretum. This all-Black unit was stationed at the Arboretum from 1933 to 1941. Their work drastically shaped the Arboretum’s physical layout to what we know today. Soon after our initial report, ABC 7 News picked up the story and interviewed Dr. Richard T. Olsen, Director of the National Arboretum.

Over the past year, Julia da Silva, Interpretive Specialist at the National Arboretum, has been unearthing a more complete history of Co. 1360. While she has done most of her archival work in the DMV area, her research did take her to the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO. There, she spent a week studying the enrollee records of 200 men from Co. 1360.

Julia’s research has painted a more complete picture of who these men were. While white CCC enrollees could be sent anywhere in the country, Black enrollees were not typically assigned out of state. Therefore, almost all of the young men who comprised Co. 1360 were from Washington, DC, and likely have descendants still living in the area. Of the personnel records Julia found, the majority of Co. 1360’s members left school when they were in middle school. Since the CCC paid both Black and white enrollees the same and had them do the same work, this job was crucial for them. They were able to support their parents and grandparents during the Great Depression and World War II.

New interpretive signage telling CCC Co. 1360’s history will be unveiled in November 2024. That month marks the 90th anniversary the company took residence at the National Arboretum. Julia is also developing a website exhibit to share and honor these young men’s lives.

Photos courtesy of the U.S. National Arboretum.

Join the FONA team! We are hiring for the following positions:

Assistant Garden Coordinator >

This part-time seasonal position (~5 hours/week) will support maintenance of the Washington Youth Garden and drop-in Saturday volunteer hours. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, apply no later than March 1, 2024.

Membership Manager >

JUST POSTED

This full-time permanent position will lead FONA's membership program and grow our fundraising efforts. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and is expected to start in March, 2024.

There are many ways to volunteer with FONA and support our work throughout the year. There's something for everyone, whether it's helping in the Washington Youth Garden or with public events.

Sign up for specific opportunities below, or attend our Volunteer Open House on Saturday, April 6th from 10 AM to 12 PM to learn more.

Register for the Open House >

GARDEN VOLUNTEERING

Spend time outside getting your hands dirty in the Washington Youth Garden. Volunteers provide crucial help with gardening tasks like weeding, planting, mulching, and pets control. There are opportunities for individuals, groups, and youth volunteers. No prior gardening experience is required.

INDIVIDUALS

Join regularly-scheduled volunteer hours in the garden on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from April through mid-November. Come with family or friends, or just by yourself — this is a great way to meet new people!

Individual Volunteer Interest Form >

GROUPS

We work with groups (10-25 people) to plan private volunteer days from April through mid-November. Groups are vital with helping us tackle bigger projects in WYG.

Group Volunteer Interest Form >

TEENS

Need to complete community service hours for school? Join us for Teen Volunteer Days, hosted periodically throughout the spring and fall. All participants younger than 18 must have a parent or guardian complete their permission slip in the sign-up form. Any participants younger than 14 must attend with a parent or guardian.

Teen Volunteer Interest Form >

EVENT VOLUNTEERING

Volunteering at FONA’s events throughout the year is a great way to support our work building community at the National Arboretum. Spend a day enjoying plants and people by volunteering at our annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale, or help with other seasonal festivals, concerts, 5K races, and more. No experience is required, but we greatly appreciate when people can commit to volunteering at multiple events throughout the year.

Event Volunteer Interest Form >

Witch-hazels provide a welcome reprieve from winter’s dull tones, flowering in fall (H. virginiana) and winter (H. vernalis, H. mollis, H. japonica). Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’ is a hybrid of the Asian species, the Chinese H. mollis and Japanese H. japonica that delight the senses with variations of sweet fragrance, soft leaves that turn vibrant colors in the fall, and tassel-shaped flowers that come in shades of yellow, orange, red, or purple. ‘Jelena,’ bred by Antoine Kort and Robert de Belder, is known for its colorful new leaves, bright fall foliage and flowers that emerge in early winter and look copper-colored from afar.

Though it was selected in 1954, this cultivar has withstood the test of time and is still valued as one of the best witch-hazel hybrids, having won both a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 1993 and given two stars by the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society in 2002. ‘Jelena’ can still be found on the market today and is planted in the Hamamelis Collection at the National Arboretum.

Kamala Codrington-White, an ORISE fellow at the National Arboretum, shares plants of note at the Arboretum in this recurring segment. Find these plants on your next trip to the Arboretum.

Native Plant Sale

March 23, 8 AM - 1 PM

Local native plant vendors, hosted by FONA

Details & Registration >

37th Annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium

March 23, 9 AM - 4 PM

Native plant symposium hosted by USNA

(Members use your discount code)

Details & Registration >

Spring into School Gardening

March 23, 11 AM - 12:30 PM

Free resources for educators, in WYG

Save the date — details to come

Flowering 5K

March 24, 9 AM

Race registration sold out, volunteers needed

Sign Up to Volunteer >

Volunteer Open House

April 6, 10 AM - 12 PM

Learn about FONA's volunteer opportunities

Details & Registration >

Youth Poetry Slam in the Garden

April 6, 2 PM - 4 PM

Youth poetry competition in WYG

Details & Registration >

Garden Fair & Plant Sale

Saturday, April 27, 9 AM - 4 PM

Plants, vendors, workshop, free activities

Details & Registration >

Bonsai Basics: Chrysanthemum Bonsai

May 4 - November 2, 5 classes

Hands-on workshop hosted by USNA

(Members use your discount code)

Details & Registration >