N° 247 — May 21, 2025

Enjoy regular updates and insights from FONA, the U.S. National Arboretum, and our award-winning Washington Youth Garden.

From the Editor

We have some BIG news to share with you next week. This summer, FONA is making something huge happen at the U.S. National Arboretum. We plan to unveil it in next week's FONA Field Notes newsletter. To allow our team space to finalize details for this announcement, we're keeping this week's newsletter very short.


What I can tell you is this: FONA has heard from our community how important the Arboretum is to you. Now more than ever, this 451-acre green space offers a place to breathe, recharge, and connect. FONA is doing something to make the Arboretum accessible on a scale we've never done before.


Stay tuned for the big announcement in next Wednesday's newsletter. In the meantime, we hope you will visit the National Arboretum this upcoming Memorial Day weekend. The gardens and collections are beautiful right now, and some sunny weather is on the horizon this weekend!
 

Until next week,

Anne McGarvey

Marketing & Communications Manager (she/her)
 
 

Arboretum Activity

Join Mid-Atlantic Unit members of The Herb Society of America and National Herb Garden staff for an Under the Arbor event on Saturday, May 31st from 1 PM to 4 PM. This casual, free, drop-in program will take place in the National Herb Garden, and will feature "Herbs that Rock!"


The theme for the garden's entrance this year is herbs that are mentioned in songs (think "Scarborough Fair"), herbs named after rock bands, or ones that are used to make musical instruments. Herb Society members and Arboretum staff will be taking cues (pun intended) from this eclectic mix of plants to highlight rock ‘n roll herbs. So, “walk this way” and see what all of the band-ter is about!

 
 

Upcoming Events

Extended Evening Hours

Friday, May 30, 5 PM - 8 PM

Arboretum grounds stay open to the public


Under the Arbor: Herbs that Rock!

Saturday, May 31, 1 PM - 3 PM

Drop-in program in the National Herb Garden

Hosted by USNA and Mid-Atlantic units of Herb Society of America


Community Fishing

Friday, June 20, 5 PM - 8 PM

Free fishing along the Anacostia River

Save the date — registration coming soon


Extended Evening Hours

Friday, June 20, 5 PM - 8 PM

Arboretum grounds stay open to the public

The Arboretum is open every day from 8 AM to 5 PM except December 25th. Last admittance to the grounds is at 4:30 PM.

Check Our Website for Full Details >

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Friends of the National Arboretum
3501 New York Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
202.544.8733
FONA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization with the mission to preserve and enhance a vibrant public space and support experiential programming that instills a love of plants, nature and the outdoors in all who visit, while promoting the overarching research and education mission of the U.S. National Arboretum.

Since its inception, FONA has helped support the Washington Youth Garden, Capitol Columns, Flowering Tree Walk, horticultural and research internships, restoration of Springhouse Run, and much more.
 
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