Become a Member & Shop Early at the Garden Fair

Want the first pick of plants at the Garden Fair & Plant Sale on Saturday, April 25th? Become a FONA member to get early access to the Plant Sale tent from 9 AM to 11 AM! During the Garden Fair, members also get the chance to take home a free Glenn Dale hybrid azalea cultivar developed by Arboretum researchers, and receive discounted pricing on FONA t-shirts and tote bags. 

Member benefits extend beyond the Garden Fair. Members get early access and discounts for many FONA programs and events, as well as reciprocal admissions to almost 400 arboreta and botanic gardens nationwide. Donate any amount to become a FONA member, or donate monthly to become a Sustaining Member and support our work all year long.

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Volunteer at the Garden Fair

The Garden Fair & Plant Sale would not be possible without the incredible support of volunteers. If you’d like to join the team, we need volunteers to price and move plants during the week before the event. We also need volunteers to help at the event as greeters, cashiers, plant experts, shopping cart wranglers, and more. Fill out our volunteer interest form and we’ll get back to you soon with more information.

Volunteer Interest Form >

Vendors at the Garden Fair

The Garden Fair & Plant Sale on Saturday, April 25th offers something for everyone — thousands of plants for sale in the Plant Sale tent (plant lists coming next week!), free family activities, and over 25 local vendors. As one of FONA's largest annual events, funds raised from this event help us support and celebrate the science, beauty, and community impact of the U.S. National Arboretum. 

We’re excited to introduce you to this year’s Garden Fair vendors* and what they will sell in the Vendor Village. These vendors will be open from 9 AM to 4 PM on April 25th.

The National Arboretum is a whopping 451 acres, with dozens of gardens to explore. But with FONA’s Hop-On Shuttle, you can visit key collections with ease — without having to drive and re-park! On April 11, April 18, and May 2 from 10 AM to 4 PM, hop on and off the shuttle to explore stops like the Dogwood Collections, Holly and Magnolia Collections, Capitol Columns and more. To help you plan your trip, check out our recent Instagram post for a guide of what to see at each stop! Docents will also be at many of the stops to answer questions about the Arboretum. Plus, grab a bite to eat and a sweet treat from Dos Carnales and Frosty Softy. These food trucks will be at stop #1 near the Visitor Center.

Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased ahead of time or on site. FONA members ride for free on April 18th! Donate any amount to become a member. Please note that pets are not permitted aboard the shuttle, but service animals are welcome. We encourage parking in the New York Avenue lot and boarding the shuttle there to reduce vehicle congestion in the R street/Visitor Center area.

Purchase Your Ticket >

In the Washington Youth Garden (WYG), FONA’s School Garden Support Program team held their Spring into School Gardening workshop. “At our 5th annual Spring into School Gardening, we had almost 40 educators in attendance — more than ever before,” shared School Garden Support Program Manager Allie Arnold. “They spent their Saturday learning how to plant potatoes and mulch garden beds, and left with plenty of herb and veggie seedlings for their school gardens.”

During the U.S. National Arboretum’s 39th Annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium held at the end of the month, expert speakers generously shared their knowledge about agroforestry, local wildlife, and home gardening. Hundreds of visitors also shopped at FONA’s Native Plant Sale and gained gardening tips from local native plant vendors.

See our calendar for a list of all of our upcoming events and programs. Events highlighted in purple have member perks like discounts and early access to registration. Donate any amount to become a FONA member!