FONA Garden Fair & Plant Sale

Join us Saturday, April 27th from 9 AM to 4 PM for our annual Garden Fair & Plant Sale (rain date on April 28th). Celebrate spring with our fantastic array of plants, expert gardening advice, dozens of local vendors, and outdoor activities!

• 9 AM - 11 AM: Members-only hours for our Plant Sale. Vendor Village is open to the public at this time. Become a FONA member for early access to the Plant Sale.
• 11 AM - 4 PM: Public hours for Plant Sale, open to all.

Event is located at the National Arboretum's (see map below). A free shuttle will transport people between the event and the R Street parking lot near the Visitor Center and Grove parking lot. Parking is free.

The gardening workshop requires pre-registration. General admission registration is preferred but not required. Please let us know you're coming and to receive important event updates.

Dogs are not allowed in the Plant Sale, but are allowed on leash in the Vendor Village. Dogs are not recommended since the event can get very crowded.

Check back soon for the list of plants our team of garden experts has ordered for this event. Become a FONA member to get the first pick of these one-of-a-kind plants! Plan to pay with a credit or debit card for the Plant Sale (no cash sales).

Check back soon for our complete list of vendors. Over 30 local gardening, home goods, food, and beverage vendors will bring products specially picked for this event.

Raised Beds: How to Build and Use Them in an Urban Garden
11 AM - 12:30 PM | 1 PM - 2:30 PM

Tickets go on sale on March 27th. We will email all General Admissions registrants when tickets become available. Raised beds have many benefits for urban and suburban gardeners. During this class, W.S. Jenks & Son's urban farming expert will walk you through different raised bed construction methods, as well as advice on how conditions such as where you construct your raised bed, how you feed and water your plants, and soil conditions can impact your chances of success. Participants will also be able to watch and help the W.S. Jenks team build a demonstration raised bed. After 158 Years, W.S. Jenks & Son has earned the reputation as “Washington's Oldest Hardware Store."

Tickets are required for this workshop, but please pay what you can to attend. Our suggested ticket price is $30 for this class (or $24 for FONA members). This revenue helps us cover the cost of the presenter, classroom tent, and staff time. Participants will also receive a discount at W.S. Jenks & Son on soil, lawn, and garden equipment for 2 weeks after the class. Full refunds are provided for refund requests received up to 3 days prior to the program date.

ARTboretum
10 AM - 2 PM

ARTboretum is a free, family-friendly event celebrating the intersection between art and nature. This child-centered, family-focused event for children ages 2 to 12 will include nature-based crafts, a planting demonstration, book giveaway, games, and more. These activities are offered by DC Child Care Connections, the District’s Child Care Resource and Referral program funded through the Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s Division of Early Learning. Pre-registration is requested — link coming soon! We will email all General Admissions registrants when registration become available.

Parental or guardian supervision is required during all family activities.

Special thanks to and for supporting this event! We are grateful for plant donations from Adcocks Nursery, Foxborough Nursery, Hawksridge Farms, Manor View Farm, Monrovia, Pender Nursery, Piedmont Carolina, Pleasant Run Nursery, Rare Tree Nursery, and Youngblood Nursery. Huge thanks to Terry MacFarlane and his team for helping transport these plants back to the Arboretum.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

U.S. National Arboretum — New York Ave Parking Lot, 3501 New York Ave NE, Washington, United States