The National Arboretum is here for you as a space for peace, quiet, and reflection.

The Arboretum's 451 acres of gardens, collections, and green space are free and open to the public. The grounds are open from 8 AM to 5 PM every day except for December 25th, and parking is free.

Learn About the Arboretum's Gardens & Collections >

FONA's Fall 5K is this weekend — just in time for the Arboretum's stunning fall colors! There's still time to register if you'd like to run or walk the race on Sunday, November 10th at 8:30 AM. A limited number of race t-shirts are also still available to new registrants.

The Fall 5K course will take you past dawn redwoods, maples, and other trees ablaze with color. All roads are closed to cars during the race so you can safely enjoy the event. Strollers and dogs are welcome, and kids under 13 years old race for free (registration is required). We'll even have a professional photographer taking photos along the course, which will be shared with all participants for free.

Free registration is still available for a limited number of veterans, thanks to support from the National Environmental Education Foundation. Discounted registration is also available for active duty military members, reserve personnel, and FONA members. Email info@fona.org for these discount codes.

We hope to see you on Sunday! Thank you to Abbott Klar Real Estate Group for its continued support of FONA's 5K race series.

Register for the Fall 5K >

A gift from your donor-advised fund (DAF) is a tax-smart way to support FONA before the end of the year. DAFs are private, charitable investment accounts that allow you to donate cash, stocks, or non-publicly traded assets into the account. You receive an immediate tax deduction and your donation grows — tax-free — while you decide where to grant the funds. DAFs streamline the giving process and allow you to easily donate complex assets to multiple organizations. You can make one-time gifts, or you can set up recurring gifts and planned giving options.

Maximize the impact of your support by making a grant to FONA through your DAF. Email Cathy Kerkam, FONA's Director of Philanthropy & Communications, to learn more about DAF giving or other tax-smart giving options.

Email Cathy Kerkam >

The celebratory opening of "The Men Who Made the Arboretum" has been postponed until Saturday, December 7th at 11 AM. This event was originally scheduled for this Saturday, November 9th.

This in-person ceremony will unveil a new exhibit documenting and honoring the contributions of Civilian Conservation Corps Co. 1360. From 1934 to 1941, Co. 1360 transformed a patchwork of farms into a landscape worthy of hosting the National Arboretum. The local, young Black men who comprised this company played a pivotal role in the Arboretum's history.

In advance of the December event, watch our recent Digging In virtual event to start learning about Co. 1360's legacy.

Watch the Recorded Lecture >

Pre-orders for Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands are now available in advance of our Christmas Tree Sale on Saturday, December 7th. You can have them delivered directly to your house or you can pick them up at the Arboretum on Dec. 7th. Pre-ordering is not required but guarantees you a great tree at the best price.

Plus, 10% of all sales directly support FONA through this important annual fundraiser! Please select "Friends of the National Arboretum" as the fundraising partner at checkout to ensure your purchase supports FONA.

Pre-Order Your Tree & Holiday Greenery >

The trees in the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum will reach peak fall colors this week and weekend. Come visit the Museum's Autumn Arts of Nature: Bonsai, Stones, and Mums exhibit and see for yourself!

This exhibit celebrates the autumn season with traditional Asian arts of nature in peak colors and forms. See red maples, yellow ginkgo, and fruited trees in the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum's permanent collection pavilions. The Special Exhibits Wing will feature formal displays with select trees during their peak fall colors interspersed with chrysanthemum stones from China, Japan, and California. Festive mums — cultivated and trained to display large blooms — decorate the upper courtyard in the Museum.

This exhibit is ongoing through November 17th, except on November 11th for Veteran's Day.

The common sassafras is an aromatic deciduous flowering tree native to eastern North America that has been used to make some traditional American foods. Its roots and bark were the original base for root beer, though they are no longer used because they contain high concentrations of safrole that cause liver damage or cancer in large doses. The leaves of the sassafras tree have been declared safe for consumption. They are dried and ground to make filé powder, an important ingredient in Creole recipes, most notably the spicy seafood and chicken soup called gumbo.

The small suckering tree is prized for its fall color, fragrance, and value to wildlife. It grows throughout the eastern United States in sandy or loamy conditions, commonly in forests or wooded areas. If you rub the foliage with your finger, you can catch the aroma of fruity cereal, and you can pull up a small seedling to smell the familiar root-beer scent of the roots. Find Sassafras albidum growing wild on the Arboretum grounds, in Fern Valley, or in the National Herb Garden. Per the Arboretum’s rules, please do not pick leaves from the Arboretum’s trees or pull seedlings from the grounds.

Kamala Codrington-White, an Agricultural Science Research Technician 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. Top two photos by U.S. National Arboretum.

Fall Colors Tram Tour

November 7, 10:30 AM

Guided tour of Arboretum's fall colors, ticket sales have now ended

Fall 5K

November 10, 8:30 AM

Run or walk through stunning fall foliage

Race Registration >

Member Coffee & Fall Walk

November 15, 10:30 AM - 12 PM

Members-only social at the Arboretum

Become a Member to Join the Event >

Full Moon Hike

November 15, 6 PM - 8 PM

Guided hike under the full moon

Add Your Name to the Waitlist >

Full Moon Forest Bathing

November 15, 6 PM - 8:30 PM

Guided meditation under the full moon

Learn More & Register >

Digging In: Directors Discussion

December 3, 12 PM - 1 PM

Members-only virtual lecture

Become a Member to Join the Event >

Christmas Tree Sale

December 7, 10 AM - 4 PM

Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands

Save the date — more details to come

Gotelli Conifer Collection Tour

December 13, 10:30 AM

FONA members will get early access to registration before it opens to the public

Become a Member to Register Early >

Forest Bathing Walks

Various dates and times

Meditation and mindfulness

Upcoming Dates & Registration >