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N° 295 — April 22, 2026
Enjoy regular updates and insights from FONA, the U.S. National Arboretum, and our award-winning Washington Youth Garden.
| | FONA's Garden Fair & Plant Sale is this Saturday, April 25th at the National Arboretum! This event is run by FONA staff and volunteers and has a lot of moving parts. We hope the information in the rest of this newsletter helps you have a safe and enjoyable time at the event. See you on Saturday! | | | Click the map to view it in full screen. | | |
SCHEDULE
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8 AM: Arboretum opens to the public. Members may start lining up outside the Plant Sale tent for members-only hours.
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9 AM - 11 AM: Members-only hours in the Plant Sale tent. Donate to become a FONA member and shop early! The Vendor Village is open to the public during this time.
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11 AM - 4 PM: Both the Plant Sale tent and Vendor Village are open to the public. Free family-friendly activities are offered by DC Child Care Connections from 10 AM to 2 PM.
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4 PM: Event ends. All visitors must pick up their plants from plant sitting by this time.
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5 PM: Arboretum closes to the public.
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PARKING & SHUTTLE
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Attendees must park at either the R Street parking lot near the Visitor Center or the Grove parking lot. Parking is free.
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A free shuttle service will run from 8 AM to 5 PM between the parking lots and the event, which will be held in the New York Avenue parking lot. Pets are not permitted aboard the shuttle, but service animals are welcome. Foldable strollers can be brought on board.
- A limited number of handicap parking spots are available in the New York Ave lot. No other event parking is allowed in this lot.
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EVENT REMINDERS
- There are no discounts on plants.
- Tickets are not needed to attend this event.
- Plan to pay with a credit or debit card in the Plant Sale tent (no cash sales).
- Dogs are not allowed in the Plant Sale tent, but are allowed on leash in the Vendor Village. Bringing your dog is not recommended since the event can get very crowded.
- You are welcome to bring your own wheeled cart, wagon, or boxes into the Plant Sale tent. You can leave your cart with our plant sitting volunteers while you get your car.
- A limited number of shopping carts are available. Shopping carts must stay in the Plant Sale tent area.
- In the event of inclement weather, we will send an email with alternative arrangements.
| | What to Expect at the Garden Fair | | There's so much to do and see at the Garden Fair & Plant Sale! This is FONA's largest event of the year and is an important fundraiser. 100% of proceeds from the Plant Sale tent and a portion of all sales in the Vendor Village directly support FONA's work at the Arboretum. Come stock up on plants and support FONA and the National Arboretum! | | |
FONA'S PLANT SALE TENT
9 AM - 11 AM: Members-only hours
11 AM - 4 PM: Public hours
Whether you want a fragrant new azalea for your front yard or a variegated philodendron for your living room, the Plant Sale tent has great options at great prices. Our garden experts can also answer your questions and offer advice so you can find the best plant for your needs. There’s still time to become a FONA member so you can shop during members-only hours (9 AM to 11 AM). Donate any amount to join!
Plan to pay with a credit or debit card in this tent (no cash sales). Here are the plants that have been ordered:*
*Plant availability subject to change
Free plant sitting is available until 4 PM so you can leave your purchased plants while you enjoy the rest of the event. When you are ready to pack up your plants, you can drive your car right up to the plant sitting tent and we will help you load your car.
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Members, please help us streamline the member check-in process by downloading your digital membership card to your phone's mobile wallet. Simply look up your card from your phone and enter your last name and either your member number or the email address of the primary FONA member in your household. Once you have located it, download it directly to your Apple or Google wallet. Please fill out this form if you would like to update your membership information, or add another person to your account so they can join you in the tent.
Look Up Your Digital Membership Card >
Please note that registering for the event on Eventbrite does not qualify for access to members-only hours in the Plant Sale tent. Please donate any amount to become a FONA member and access this benefit.
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VENDOR VILLAGE
9 AM - 4 PM
Over 25 local plant, gardening, home goods, food, and beverage vendors will sell products specially curated for this event.*
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Clothing, Jewelry, Beauty
| | * Vendors are subject to change. | | |
FREE FAMILY ACTIVITIES
10 AM - 2 PM
DC Child Care Connections will offer free child-centered, family-focused activities for children ages 2 to 12. These will include face painting, arts, crafts, and games. Adult supervision is required during all family activities.
| | | Garden Fair Sponsors & Donors | | Thank you Bartlett Tree Experts for sponsoring this year's Garden Fair & Plant Sale! We are grateful for in-kind plant donations from Adcock's Nursery, Brotzman Nursery, Edelweiss Perennials, Far Reaches Farm, Hawksridge Farms, Hoffman Nursery, Hopewell Nursery, Lancaster Farms, Manor View Farm, McCorkle Nursery, Monrovia, Old Glory Nursery, Piedmont Carolina Nursery, Plant Delights Nursery, and Youngblood Nursery. | | | As a member-based organization, FONA’s supporters are at the heart of our work. Donate any amount to join or renew your membership for one year. Or make a recurring monthly donation and become a Sustaining Member to support our work all year long. Many tax-smart donation options are also available. | | | | |
