Spring evening concert with Cumbia Heights
MAY 17: MUSIC IN THE MEADOW
ARE YOU CURIOUS BY NATURE?
FONA & THE ARBORETUM
Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) was founded in 1982 as an independent 501(c)(3). FONA serves as the primary private partner of the U.S National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. We preserve and enhance this vibrant public space and facilitate experiential programs that instill a love of plants, nature, and the outdoors in all who visit the Arboretum. We also promote the overarching research and education mission of the Arboretum.
Past Accomplishments
We were instrumental in bringing the Capitol Columns to the Arboretum in the early ’90s. We funded the Flowering Tree Walk surrounding the meadow so all people can enjoy its beauty regardless of ability. Our volunteers planted over 30,000 native plants along the Springhouse Run creek to improve the Anacostia River’s water quality.
Current Work
Our Washington Youth Garden is the Arboretum’s largest community outreach program. Revenue from our venue rental program funds the Arboretum Director’s Fund which pays for things like consultants, supplies, and building maintenance projects. Our plant sales and fairs support our mission and connect visitors to the Arboretum.
Future Plans
We developed a new Core Master Plan that provides a blueprint for future projects around the Arboretum. We invest in the future of horticulture by funding internships that support the collections. Our Meyer Kidder Fellows will increase the Arboretum’s research capacity and connect the Arboretum with world-class post-doctoral researchers.
Share the gift of the Arboretum
David Fairchild Society
A passionate community of supporters with membership starting at $1,200.
Grow the Garden Campaign
Donate to help us renovate the Washington Youth Garden. This project will make the garden more engaging, accessible, and productive.
Other Ways to Support
Support FONA through securities, donor-advised funds, planned giving, bench donations, and more.
GROW THE GARDEN: FENCE RENOVATION
Washington Youth Garden’s new perimeter fence is complete! We are very close to reaching our matching goal to complete fundraising for Phase II of our Grow the Garden campaign. We have about $9,000 left to raise to meet the $60,000 dollar-for-dollar matching challenge.
Donate today and together we can grow the garden. Whether it’s $15, $50, or $500, every donation makes a difference. Your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar by two anonymous supporters.
The new perimeter fence:
- Makes the garden more inviting to youth and families
- Creates a visible, central entry point to the garden by adding a front entrance
- Incorporates honeycomb elements to make the fence more visually interesting and engaging than the existing chain link fence
- Continues to keep out deer, raccoons, and groundhogs
- Expands the growing space by 1/3 acre
We are hosting a Grow the Garden Party on Saturday, June 8th from 11 AM to 1 PM in the Washington Youth Garden. Join us to celebrate all the donors and work that made this project possible! This is a free event that is open to the entire community.
*Donations are for the entire Grow the Garden campaign and do not count towards annual membership.
The Washington Youth Garden’s new fence features an yellow honeycomb design and front entrance gate.
The new perimeter fence adds an additional 1/3 acre of growing space to WYG.
Garden Manager Xavier posing in front of the garden’s new front gate.
The Washington Youth Garden’s new front entrance gate.
Click the map to view in full screen, or click here for a downloadable version.
Campaign Phases
FONA is committed to providing excellent youth education at the National Arboretum. Each phase of the Grow the Garden campaign helps us make the Washington Youth Garden more engaging, accessible, and productive for future generations.
- Conceptual redesign
- Community feedback
- Final redesign
- Fence renovation (construction complete, fundraising in progress)
- Raised bed construction (funding secured)
- Interpretive & wayfinding signage (ongoing)
- Widen garden paths to be ADA accessible
- Build a whimsical garden supply shed
- Plant fruit & nut trees
- Interpretive & wayfinding signage
- Decorative plantings in front of garden
- High-visibility signage
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Leandra Nichola & Adam Dorius
Pamela Raymont-Simpson
Ann Yuan
JEAN LANGE
Progress Toward $60K Matching Gift
Anonymous
Thomas Kapfer
Leslie Sharp
Alexis Hazen
Charles Dhysr
Anonymous
Kate LaTour
Susan P Thompson
Katherine Benjamin
John Albert
Leanna Fenske
Nancy Luria
Anonymous
Candy Kessel
Sofia Gardenswartz
Eric Hansen
Jan McCarthy
Susan Chapin and Joel Cohen
Linda and John Derrick
Maura Nakahata
Jonathan Coopersmith
Niraj Ray
Elizabeth Dugan
Capitol Hill Community Foundation
John Sanford Kemper
Michael Bujold
Marcel LaFollette
Eric Michael
DAVID MOLLITOR
Luke Dickinson
John Healey
Carolyn Peery
Nadia Shebaro
Craven Rand
Janet Nuzum
Melissa Stahl
Maura Allen
Bernard Foster
Catherine Robbins
Inas Anderson
Marcel C. LaFollette
Lee Coykendall
Laurel Cullen
Hans Wien
Dorothy Woodcock
Anonymous
Michael Stevens
Ursula Kondo
withers horner
Elissa Feldman
John Strand
Linda Lee
Kay Glenday
Cecilia Carroll
Angela Domanico
Austin Pedersen
Mary Frase
Diann McGarvey
GAIL CHARNLEY ELLIOTT
Bill and Donna Roberts
Jeanne Connelly
Matthew McClellan
Lesley Conroy
Nadia Mercer
Maryam Trowell-McCloud
Kari Rowe
Mark & Cindy Clark
Maura Allen
ellen mack
Annetta Kushner
Avis Black
JEAN LANGE
Joelle Gamble
Catherine Kerkam
Harold Belcher
Brooke Breckenridge Morton
Tuckie and Donald Westfall
Anonymous
Kathleen Horan
Kevin Garrahan
Barbara Schmitt
Megan Greenaway
Margaret Strand
Richard Boyd
Caroline Angelo
Ruth McDonald
Julie Crudele
Penny Morrill
Anonymous
Judith Ritz
Anonymous
Tom Gavin
Linda Marks and Ralph Lopez
Nadia Mercer
Maisha Martin
AWARD-WINNING EDUCATION PROGRAMS
With a focus on serving under-resourced communities, FONA nurtures curious minds and healthy bodies by connecting youth to food, the land, and each other. Our youth education programs take place at Washington Youth Garden on the grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum and in partner schools across Washington, DC. They work with DC educators to create strong, sustainable school garden programs and connect students to garden education. Our programs also provide year-round employment opportunities and green career paths for DC high school students.
Learn about our education programs & Washington Youth Garden
UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
Forest Bathing
Other Activities
RECENT POSTS
Friends of the National Arboretum Instagram
Have you heard the news? The Washington Youth Garden’s new perimeter fence is complete — and we’re throwing a party to celebrate! Join us for the ‘Grow the Garden’ Party on Saturday, June 8th from 11 AM to 1 PM. This is a free event in the @washyouthgarden that is open to the entire community. There will be hands-on garden and art activities, live music from East Of The River Steel Band, local food trucks, and more. Bring a blanket and a picnic, or enjoy lunch from one of the food truck vendors. Tickets are not required, but registration is encouraged to receive important event updates. Link in bio to learn more and sign up! . . . @eotrsteelband #nationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #usnationalarboretum #dc #dcevents #familyfriendly #dogfriendly #dmv #dmvevents #washingtonyouthgarden #wyg #community
Come learn about herbs! Members of @herbsocietyofamerica's Mid-Atlantic units will host an "Under the Arbor" event in the National Herb Garden this Saturday, May 18th from 1 PM to 4 PM. Members will highlight herbs associated with Greek mythology, the theme of this year's entrance display in the National Herb Garden. This is a free, informal, drop-in educational program that is open to the public. Come check it out! . . . @herbsocietyphiladelphia #nationalarboretum #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #arboretum #nationalherbgarden #herbgarden #herb #herbs #dc #dcevents #dmv #dmvevents #horticulture #gardendc
In honor of World Bonsai Day, @marylandpublictv will feature a special bonsai documentary on Saturday, May 11th at 7 PM. "Bicentennial Bonsai: Emissaries of Peace" chronicles the historic gift from Japan of 53 bonsai trees to the United States in celebration of its bicentennial. These trees now live in the Arboretum's National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. Paul Awad and Kathryn O'Sullivan are a husband-and-wife filmmaking team based in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. They traveled to Japan with Arboretum curator Kathleen Emerson-Dell to interview bonsai professionals who were associated with the bonsai before they came to the U.S. National Arboretum in 1975. Tune in on Saturday to watch the film. . . . @usdagov #nationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #usnationalarboretum #arboretum #bonsai #penjing #nationalbonsaimuseum #bonsaimuseum #dc #history #horticulture #garden
Pssst, did you hear that the National Arboretum is staying open until 8 PM this Saturday, May 11th? Get outside and enjoy the extended evening hours! Thanks to FONA, this is completely free for all to enjoy. FONA is working to offer more extended evening hour opportunities, particularly during the summer. We hope to have more information soon, but we also want to hear from YOU! 👇 In the comments below, like what day of the week you would like to see extended evening hours on. . . . #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #arboretum #dc #dcevent #datenight #familyfriendly #arboretum #nature #horticulture #garden #capitolcolumns
Washington Youth Garden Instagram
Spring into School Gardening was a big hit! About 30 educators picked up school garden supplies and attended a training during at the Washington Youth Garden this past Sunday. Many thanks to our friends at the @universityofdc and the Master Gardeners for growing and distributing seedlings at this event. And thanks to all the educators who came out to see us on a sunny spring day. . . . #schoolgarden #garden #nationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #usnationalarboretum #gardeneducation #gardenscience #schoolgardens #educator #mastergardener #udc
UPDATE: Now happening on March 24th! DC educators, don't miss our Spring into School Gardening on Sunday, March 24th from 12 PM to 1:30 PM in the Washington Youth Garden! Get free garden supplies such as compost and seedlings, attend a short garden training, and network with fellow educators. Link in bio to register, please let us know you're coming. . . . @fonarboretum #nationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #usnationalarboretum #schoolgarden #dcps #dcschoolgarden #dc #gardendc #educator #dcteacher #experientialeducation #outdooreducation
Registration for the 2024 Summer Institute for Garden-based Teaching is now open! This four-day professional development course will take place from July 16th to 19th. The course includes in-person activities at the Washington Youth Garden and the National Arboretum's auditorium and classroom, DC school garden tours, and workshops led by @fonarboretum staff, partner organizations, and program alumni. This training inspires and connects teachers and school staff to more fully integrate their school garden into their daily educational activities. All participants receive a stipend (amounts are contingent upon final funding). Applications close on March 27th, and participants will be notified of their acceptance by April 5th. Link in bio to apply today! . . . #schoolgarden #summerinstitute #growinggreendreams #nationalarboretum #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #dcschoolgarden #gardendc #dcps #gardeneducation #experientialeducation #outdooreducation #professionaldevelopement #dcteachers
What’s that going up around the Washington Youth Garden?! It’s the garden’s new perimeter fence! The bright yellow honeycomb design and new front entrance will make WYG more inviting for all in our community. This Leap Day, help us make the final leap to finish raising money for this new fence! We only have $10,000 left to go to meet our goal. Each donation is matched dollar-for-dollar by two generous, anonymous supporters. Since we launched this campaign in August, we have received donations ranging from $5 to $50,000 from over 100 individuals. Will you add your name to this list? Link in bio to donate today and help us grow our garden. . . . @fonarboretum #nationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #usnationalarboretum #dc #wyg #growthegarden #horticulture #garden #urbangarden #capitolcolumns
FONA FIELD NOTES NEWSLETTER
Our award-winning weekly FONA Field Notes newsletter provides timely updates on the National Arboretum, FONA, and the Washington Youth Garden. See our all our past newsletter issues, in addition to our other publications and magazines, on our Publications & Media page.
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