Thank you for your support in 2024, and for helping us end the year strong! We are especially grateful to the anonymous, dedicated friends who provided a $50,000 matching fund at the end of the year. This match inspired so many people to donate to FONA and join our growing community of supporters. Thanks to all of these donors, we exceeded the matching goal! We deeply appreciate this support, and are excited to see what 2025 will bring at the National Arboretum.

The beginning of each year is often a time for reflection and resolutions. If you're making your own New Year's resolutions, we have some ideas for how you can incorporate the National Arboretum into them.

Get outdoors more. The Arboretum's 451 acres of curated collections, rolling forests, and open fields are a unique outdoor oasis in the heart of Washington, D.C. If you want to get outdoors more in the new year, try exploring a new collection each time you visit the National Arboretum.

Learn About the Arboretum's Gardens & Collections >

Challenge yourself to a race. If you are trying to run or walk more this year, test your progress during FONA's Flowering 5K on Sunday, March 23rd. During this race, all roads are closed to cars to create a safe and secure event. Plus, tickets for kids under 13 years old are free, and strollers and dogs are welcome. Race registration is now available and costs $40 for the first 150 tickets (FONA members, email us to receive your 20% discount code).

Run or Walk the Flowering 5K >

Learn something new. Whether you want to start your first garden this spring, or are a seasoned home gardener, the Arboretum's Lahr Native Plant Symposium is a great way to learn about gardening. This day-long symposium will feature seven engaging presentations about native plants, pollinators, and ecosystems. Registration is coming very soon — stay tuned!

Give back to the community. If one of your goals is to volunteer more in 2025, FONA offers lots of year-round opportunities. You can support visitor programs and events like our spring Garden Fair & Plant Sale, 5K races, concerts, and more. Or if you want to get your hands dirty, you can volunteer in the Washington Youth Garden and help weed, plant, mulch, harvest, and more! Fill out our volunteer interest form and we'll get back to you soon with more details.

Volunteer Interest Form >

Applications are closing soon for the National Arboretum's 2025 internship program! Applications will be accepted through Monday, January 13th.

This program offers hands-on work experience at the nation's premier public garden and research facility. Internships vary in length from three months to one year. Horticulture and archive intern positions are based out of the National Arboretum's main campus in Washington, DC. Research interns could work in the Arboretum's facilities in either Beltsville, MD, McMinnville, TN, or Washington, DC.

Horticulture Internship Details >

Research Internship Details >

Archive Internship Details >

The National Arboretum is exhibiting at the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) in Baltimore, MD this week. The trade show is held at the Baltimore Convention Center starting today, January 8th, through Friday, January 10th. MANTS features over 900 exhibitors from all corners of the American nursery industry.

If you are attending MANTS this week, swing by the Arboretum's exhibit at Booth 2455 in Exhibit Hall C. Staff are on hand to discuss research projects and plant collections.

Learn More About MANTS >

Join our team as a Visitor Programs Manager! This full-time, permanent position will coordinate FONA's visitor programs at the National Arboretum, focusing on community events and partnership programs.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with an expected cutoff date of January 20th, 2025. This position is expected to start in February 2025.

Apply for the Visitor Programs Manager Position >

Spring into School Gardening

Saturday, March 22

Free resources for educators, in WYG

Save the date — more info coming soon

Flowering 5K

Sunday, March 23, 8:30 AM

Run or walk through collections in bloom

FONA members get 20% off registration

Register for the 5K >

Native Plant Sale

Saturday, March 29

Local native plant vendors, hosted by FONA

Save the date — more info coming soon

38th Annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium

Saturday, March 29

Learn from experts about native plants, pollinators, and ecosystems, hosted by USNA

Save the date — more info coming soon