We are excited to share that this year’s Fall 5K t-shirt design will spotlight a trident maple (Acer buergeranium) bonsai. The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum has multiple trident maple bonsai and penjing specimens in its collections. With striking tri-lobed leaves, spectacular fall color, and uniquely trained shapes, trident maple bonsai are stunning emblems of autumn at the Museum. 

This fall’s t-shirt design celebrates the 50th anniversary of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. Holding one of the most comprehensive public bonsai collections outside of Asia, the Museum offers a space for contemplation, cultural exchange, and connection. Celebrate the beauty of bonsai with our Fall 5K t-shirt, and save the date for the Museum’s 50th anniversary celebration on November 7th. 

With the new school year underway, FONA invites classes to visit the Washington Youth Garden through Science Program Reaching OUT (SPROUT) field trips. SPROUT is FONA’s school year field trip program, in which students can explore our one-acre demonstration garden and learn hands-on garden science. D.C. educators, fill out the form below to request a SPROUT Field Trip for your class. Spots are limited, so submit your request as soon as possible!

Request a SPROUT Field Trip >

Join the Botanical Society of Washington, together with the National Arboretum, for a panel discussion on Tuesday, September 15th from 1 PM to 3 PM. This discussion will bring together collections curators and communicators from the National Arboretum, U.S. Botanic Garden, U.S. Capitol Grounds and Arboretum, and Smithsonian Botany and Gardens. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

These experts will examine the unique challenges and opportunities they experience in their roles as keepers of federally funded plant collections and highlight the unique place each organization holds in our nation's capital. How do we present and share our collections with the scientific and museum community and public in ways that are authentic to and honor the impact of these plant collections?



Register for the Panel Discussion >

This past summer, FONA hosted seven youth interns from across D.C. through our Green Ambassador Program. Our Green Ambassadors spent five weeks in the Washington Youth Garden building practical skills, camaraderie with their peers, and confidence in themselves.

Most Green Ambassadors came into the program having never attempted carpentry, but by the end of it, they had built two new raised beds in the garden. They learned about how fresh produce supports a healthy diet by making their own juice, pasta, and other dishes using ingredients fresh from the garden. The interns also had many opportunities to share their learnings with different groups visiting the Washington Youth Garden — leading a garden cooking workshop for educators, tours for other youth groups, and hosting food giveaways at the Arboretum Rec Center. 

Congratulations to our Green Ambassadors for completing an internship that challenged and broadened their views of themselves and the world around them. “I love to see how their relationship to the land grows through curiosity and being open to new experiences. The confidence and comfortability they are able to build by the end of the program is always special,” shared program manager Mariyah Whitley. All Green Ambassadors are venturing into higher education or continuing to explore different careers through additional internships and programs. We are so proud of them and excited to watch their next journeys!

Swing by the National Herb Garden on Saturday, September 12th from 1 PM to 4 PM for an afternoon of lemon-flavored fun at this Under the Arbor event hosted by members of the Herb Society of America’s South Jersey Unit. This is an informal, drop-in program. No registration required!

See our calendar for a list of all of our upcoming events and programs. FONA members get member perks like discounts and early access to registration. Donate any amount to become a FONA member!