The National Arboretum remains closed to the public following Winter Storm Fern. Icy conditions continue to make much of the grounds unsafe for visitors. Thank you for your patience — Arboretum staff are working very hard and look forward to welcoming visitors as soon as it’s safe to do so. Please keep an eye on the National Arboretum’s homepage for the latest updates.

National Arboretum Homepage >

The Coffee Pop-up that was scheduled for this Sunday, February 8th is cancelled due to the Arboretum’s closure. We look forward to sharing a cup of coffee with you during our other scheduled pop-ups on Sunday, February 22nd and Sunday, March 8th. Come by the Visitor Center between 9 AM and 1 PM on those days to enjoy locally roasted and freshly brewed coffee from Small Planes Coffee.

The Member Day is now rescheduled for Sunday, March 8th. FONA members will receive a complimentary cup of coffee during this pop-up!

Donate Any Amount to Become a FONA Member >

Birds and Biodiversity Workshop

Learn about the diversity of birds at the National Arboretum at our Documenting Birds and Biodiversity Workshop led by the DC Bird Alliance! Gain wildlife photography tips while learning how to contribute to community science efforts. This engaging session is ideal for nature enthusiasts of all levels, and is designed to enrich your birdwatching experience with a special focus on photography. 

The workshop will be held on Sunday, February 15th from 11 AM to 1 PM. Registration is free, but donations are suggested to help us hold more free visitor programs like this one.

Register for the Birding Workshop >

Winter Bird Walk

Join us this President's Day for a Winter Bird Walk with the DC Bird Alliance! Winter means bare trees and clear sightlines, making it a great time to go birding. At last month’s walk, we saw woodpeckers, phoebes, and even a resident eagle! We're sure to spot many feathered friends this time around as well. Our experienced guides will share bird identification tools, spotting tips, and more. Beginner birders are welcome!

The bird walk will be held on Monday, February 16th from 9 AM to 11 AM. Registration is free, but donations are suggested to help us hold more free visitor programs like this one.

Register for the Bird Walk >

Learn how to cultivate beautiful plants in any space at FONA’s Container Gardening Workshop, hosted in partnership with Cultivate the City. This class will empower you to transform front porches and kitchen windowsills into flourishing container gardens. Each participant will receive a fabric pot along with seeds or seedlings to kickstart their gardening journey.



The workshop will be on Saturday, February 21 from 11 AM to 1 PM in the Visitor Center. Tickets cost $35, or $28 for FONA members (members, check the latest member newsletter for the discount code). A limited number of community access tickets are available for $25.

Register for the Gardening Workshop >

Connect with D.C. area environmental education organizations at the 19th annual D.C. Teachers Night. Find ways to bring the environment into the classroom, such as field trip experiences, professional development opportunities, and other resources. The FONA School Garden Support team will have a table at this event, so be sure to stop by and say hello! This free event will be held on Thursday, February 26th from 6 PM to 8 PM at the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory. Registration is required.

Learn More and Register >

‘Peggy Clarke’ is one of the first Japanese apricots to bloom at the U.S. National Arboretum, often making their appearance in February or January if the weather is mild. Its rose-pink cup-shaped flowers and strong, cinnamon-spiced fragrance make it stand out from other Prunus mume cultivars. The species was popularized in the United States by horticulturist J. C. Raulston, who established the North Carolina State University Arboretum, which now bears his name. Raulston spread word of this favorite to other notable plantsmen as a valuable addition to landscapes.

The fruits, though not appetizing when raw, are used to make pickles, sauces, teas, and alcoholic beverages in East Asia. Birds, foxes, and other wildlife also eat the fuzzy greenish-yellow apricots, which can get a bit messy if not harvested. Visit Prunus mume ‘Peggy Clarke’ in the Asian Collection’s Japanese Woodland or the Flowering Tree Walk to enjoy the blooms. 

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. Photos by the National Arboretum.

Coffee Pop-Ups

Select Sundays, 9 AM - 1 PM

February 22, March 8*

Coffee for purchase in the Visitor Center

*Member Day on March 8

Donate to Become a Member >



Birds and Biodiversity Workshop

Sunday, February 15, 10 AM - 12 PM

Learn about the diversity of birds at the Arboretum from the DC Bird Alliance

Register for the Birding Workshop >

Winter Bird Walk

Monday, February 16, 9 AM - 11 AM

Spot birds in their winter plumage! Guided by the DC Bird Alliance

Register for the Bird Walk >

Container Gardening Workshop

Saturday, February 21, 11 AM - 1 PM

Learn to grow thriving plants with limited space FONA members, use your discount code

Register for the Gardening Workshop >

Spring Bird Walk*

Saturday, March 21, 9 AM - 11 AM

View birds along with early spring flowers! Guided by the DC Bird Alliance

*FONA members will get first access to register for this event.

Become a FONA Member Today >

Spring into School Gardening

Saturday, March 21, 11:30 AM - 1 PM

Free resources for educators, held in WYG

Save the date — more info coming soon

Flowering 5K

Sunday, March 22, 8:30 AM

Run or walk through collections in bloom

FONA members, use your discount code

Register for the 5K >

Native Plant Sale

Saturday, March 28, 8 AM - 1 PM

Local native plant vendors, hosted by FONA

Register for the Native Plant Sale >

39th Annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium

Saturday, March 28, 9 AM - 4 PM

Learn from experts about native plants, hosted by USNA

Register for the Lahr Symposium >