FONA & THE ARBORETUM
Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) was founded in 1982 as an independent 501(c)(3). FONA serves as the primary private partner of the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. We preserve and enhance this vibrant public space and facilitate experiential programs that instill a love of plants, nature, and the outdoors in all who visit the Arboretum. We also promote the overarching research and education mission of the Arboretum.
Photo courtesy of the National Arboretum
Past Accomplishments
We were instrumental in bringing the Capitol Columns to the Arboretum in the early ’90s. We funded the Flowering Tree Walk surrounding the meadow so all people can enjoy its beauty regardless of ability. Our volunteers planted over 30,000 native plants along the Springhouse Run creek to improve the Anacostia River’s water quality.
Current Work
Our Washington Youth Garden is the Arboretum’s largest community outreach program. Revenue from our venue rental program funds the Arboretum Director’s Fund which pays for things like consultants, supplies, and maintenance projects. Our plant sales and seasonal festivals support our mission and connect visitors to the Arboretum.
Future Plans
We developed a new Core Master Plan that provides a blueprint for future projects around the Arboretum. We invest in the future of horticulture by funding internships that support the collections. Our Meyer Kidder Fellows will increase the Arboretum’s research capacity and connect the Arboretum with world-class post-doctoral researchers.
Donate to Join
Make a donation of any amount to become a FONA member. Or give monthly to become a Sustaining Member and support our work all year long!
Donate to Renew
Make a one-time contribution of any amount to renew your FONA membership. Or give monthly to become a Sustaining Member and support our work all year long!
David Fairchild Society
A passionate community of supporters with membership starting at $1,200.
Other Ways to Support
Support FONA through securities, donor-advised funds, planned giving, bench donations, and more.
Restricted Gifts to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
Make a restricted donation to support to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. For other giving options, please contact Claire Alrich at 202-918-1868 or calrich@fona.org.
STEWARDING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL BONSAI & PENJING MUSEUM
Friends of the National Arboretum is honored to carry forward the legacy of the National Bonsai Foundation (NBF), which concluded its operations at the end of 2025 after more than four decades of extraordinary service.
Since its founding in 1982, NBF has been essential to building and maintaining the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum, fostering international goodwill and a deep respect for the art of bonsai.
FONA extends its sincere gratitude to the NBF Board and supporters for their enduring dedication to this living art form. We are deeply mindful of the trust they have put in FONA to sustain NBF’s mission to preserve and promote the art of bonsai in America. The bonsai and penjing collections will continue under the expert care of the U.S. National Arboretum’s staff, as it has since 1976. As part of this transition, NBF will transfer the majority of remaining assets to FONA to directly support the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum and ongoing bonsai education. These funds will be specifically dedicated to the continued care, growth, and improvement of the museum.
This transition was the result of a request from Dr. Richard Olsen, Director of the U.S. National Arboretum, to consolidate nonprofit engagement under Friends of the National Arboretum. This unified approach will streamline communications, expand community engagement, and enrich the visitor experience, while allowing the U.S. National Arboretum to focus on horticultural excellence and discovery.
FONA embraces this new expanded role to support the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum and the U.S. National Arboretum, helping them flourish in the decades ahead. If you are interested in making a restricted donation to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at this time, you can do so online through this form. For other giving options, please contact Claire Alrich at 202-918-1868 or calrich@fona.org.
AWARD-WINNING EDUCATION PROGRAMS
With a focus on serving under-resourced communities, FONA nurtures curious minds and healthy bodies by connecting youth to food, the land, and each other. Our youth education programs take place at Washington Youth Garden on the grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum and in partner schools across Washington, DC. They work with DC educators to create strong, sustainable school garden programs and connect students to garden education. Our programs also provide year-round employment opportunities and green career paths for DC high school students.
STAY IN THE KNOW
FONA’s publications and newsletters share the story of the U.S. National Arboretum and FONA with the world. Our FONA Field Notes newsletter is just one of the ways we tell this story. This award-winning weekly email newsletter that shares updates and insights about the U.S. National Arboretum, Friends of the National Arboretum, and the Washington Youth Garden. Sign up to receive FONA Field Notes in your inbox. See our Publications & Media page to see a full archive of all of our publications.
Native Plant Sale this Saturday!
UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
Hosted by FONA
Hosted by the U.S. National Arboretum and other partners
RECENT SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
Friends of the National Arboretum Instagram: @FONArboretum
Last weekend's Flowering 5K was one for the books — great people, great weather, and great flowers 🌸 Congratulations to Ben Stephenson for coming in 1st place (photo 1)! He finished the race in 17:39 — an accomplishment made even more impressive as he pushed a stroller the entire race. Congratulations as well to Jonathan Carter (photo 2) and Kelsey Hochleitner (photo 3) for coming in 2nd and 3rd, respectively. The hustle these top three finishers displayed on the course was evident in their final sprints uphill to the finish line. Thank you to everyone who participated in last weekend's race and brought such amazing energy to the National Arboretum! We can’t wait to see you again for our Fall 5K on October 31st, 2026 (registration is coming soon). . . . #nationalarboretum #usna #nationalarboretumdc #usnationalarboretum #capitolcolumns #dc #dcevents #cherryblossoms #cherryblossomsdc #dccherryblossoms #5k #5krun #cherryblossomdc #spring #springflowers @racinemultisports
PLANT SPOTLIGHT: Early spiketail (Stachyurus praecox) Nothing is quite as dramatic in the garden as the vertical effect of the long, dangling, pearl-like racemes of early spiketail. Tiny bell-shaped flowers drip from every branch in elegant green or pale yellow strands. This plant is native to much of Japan, where many subspecies thrive in many different environments, from coasts to mountain ranges. While its foliage will never be the star of the show, variegated early spiketail varieties are available in every shade and pattern of cream, yellow, and green, offering interest when their flowers have faded. While it is hardy to USDA zone 6, protect Stachyurus praecox from cold winter winds to ensure a good bloom. Plant it in full or partial sun in acidic, moist soil, and not too far away from a path, so the flowers on this medium-sized shrub can be admired up close. When visiting the U.S. National Arboretum’s Camellia Collection, swing by the Japanese Woodland in the Asian Collection to witness the beauty of early spiketail. Kamala Codrington-White, an Agricultural Science Research Technician at the National Arboretum, shares plants of note at the Arboretum in this recurring Plant Spotlight series. Find these plants on your next trip to the Arboretum using the Arboretum Botanical Explorer (ABE), linked in bio. Photos by the National Arboretum. . . Alt text embedded. . . #nationalarboretum #nationalarboretumdc #washingtondcarboretum #earlyspiketail #plantspotlight
Come to FONA’s Volunteer Open House in the Washington Youth Garden on April 4th from 10 AM to 1 PM to learn about all of the volunteer opportunities we offer. Meet FONA staff and fellow volunteers, tour the Washington Youth Garden, and help get the garden ready for spring! Volunteering with FONA is a wonderful opportunity to get outside and give back to your community. Garden volunteers help with crucial tasks in the Washington Youth Garden like weeding, mulching, and planting. Community event volunteers ensure that events like our annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale, concerts, and 5Ks run smoothly. Registration for the Volunteer Open House is optional, but please register to let us know you’re coming and receive important event updates. Volunteers must be 16 or older. Register for the Open House at the link in bio. . . Alt text embedded. . . #dcvolunteering #nationalarboretum #usnationalarboretum #washingtondcvolunteering #outdoorvolunteeringdc #outdooreventsdc
🪴Stock up on native plants!🌱 FONA’s Native Plant Sale is this Saturday, March 28th from 8 AM to 1 PM outside the National Arboretum Visitor Center. Shop for spring ephemerals, woody plants, and perennials from a small number of native plant vendors from the Mid-Atlantic region. Vendors may sell out quickly, so get there early to secure your plants. Reminder that FONA's native plant sale has a smaller number of vendors than the Garden Fair and Plant Sale, which will take place on April 25th. Register for the Native Plant Sale at the link in bio to let us know you’re coming and receive important event updates. . . Alt text embedded. . . #nativeplantsale #usnationalarboretum #nationalarboretum #nativeplant #nativeplantgarden #nativeplantsdc #nativeplantsva #nativeplantsmd