Many arboretum
programs require advance registration. Please refer to complete program
descriptions.
You can now register either online or by mailing in a completed form.
Click here to begin the registration process.
For registration information, call 202-245-4521; or use this form.
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Power Plants Exhibit
through 2010, 8:00am-5:00pm
Adjacent to the National Herb Garden
Walk through Power Plants to discover the wide variety of plants that offer alternative energy possibilities. This garden exhibit showcases living plants and provides educational signage about how they can serve as sustainable agriculture-based energy sources (note that during the winter, most of the crops are dormant or, if annuals, gone for the season). A scavenger hunt activity available at the information desk in the administration building will help school-aged children explore the exhibit. Free. No registration required.
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Autumn Arts of Nature Exhibit
September 26-November 29, 10:00am-4:00pm
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
Special Exhibits Wing
Celebrate the autumn season with this exhibit of traditional Asian arts of nature that showcase fall’s colors and forms. Deciduous bonsai and penjing in brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows will be displayed with a variety of chrysanthemum stones—stones in which minerals have formed chrysanthemum-like patterns—collected from China, Japan and California. The exhibit also includes unique potted arrangements of wild grasses and flowers, called kusamono, and mums grown for their single, extraordinarily large blooms. The exhibit will change as individual trees, flowers, and planted arrangements reach peak color and form, so plan to visit often. Free. No registration required.
Note: Associated workshops and lectures in ikebana, kusamono, bonsai, and chrysanthemum stones are offered in October and November. See individual listings on this calendar for more information. Fees and/or registration are required for these programs.
Full Moon Hike
November 2, 7:00pm-9:00pm FULL
November 3, 7:00pm-9:00pm FULL
November 4, 7:00pm-9:00pm FULL
Arboretum Grounds
Five-mile-long, mildly strenuous hike through moonlit gardens, meadows and woods. Guides share points of special interest and seasonal highlights. The two-hour walk over hilly and uneven terrain is more of a brisk hike than a tour so wear good walking shoes and dress for the weather. Not recommended for children. Click here for more information. Fee: $19 ($15 FONA) Registration required.
Full Moon Hikes for Groups
November 2, 6:30pm-8:30pm FULL
Arboretum Grounds
Our popular Full Moon Hikes are now available for your group! Gather a group of friends, family, co-workers, and others to enjoy the same hike that has been selling out for years.
This five-mile-long, mildly strenuous hike is a magical trip through moonlit gardens, meadows and woods. Discover how the striking landscape of the arboretum changes under the moon and stars of the night sky. Your guide will share points of special interest and seasonal highlights. This two-hour walk over hilly and uneven terrain is more of a brisk hike than a tour so wear good walking shoes and dress for the weather. Not recommended for children under 16. Maximum 25 per group. Fee: $475. Registration required. Click here for more information, send your questions to Programs.usna@ars.usda.gov.
Overwintering Your Bonsai Lecture and Tour
November 14, 1:00pm-3:00pm FULL
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
Lecture/Demonstration Center
The approach of winter and freezing temperatures is a cause for concern for bonsai enthusiasts. Learn the facts about overwintering your trees and feel confident that you know how to get them through the winter healthy and ready for spring. Aarin Packard, museum assistant curator, will provide information on the process, including the importance of winter dormancy, how to prepare trees for and bring them out of storage, temperature control, air circulation, watering, and the role that light plays. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum’s winter storage area and see the methods used to overwinter the national collection. Fee: $15 ($12 FONA/NBF) Registration required.
Power Plants Exhibit
through 2010, 8:00am-5:00pm
Adjacent to the National Herb Garden
Walk through Power Plants to discover the wide variety of plants that offer alternative energy possibilities. This garden exhibit showcases living plants and provides educational signage about how they can serve as sustainable agriculture-based energy sources (note that during the winter, most of the crops are dormant or, if annuals, gone for the season). A scavenger hunt activity available at the information desk in the administration building will help school-aged children explore the exhibit. Free. No registration required.
Evergreens 101
December 1-31, 8:00am-4:30pm
Administration Building Lobby
Which type of evergreen tree is best for your holiday needs? This complete display of all of the area’s popular cut trees gives you an opportunity to compare which ones last the longest, smell the best, and make decorating easiest. See, touch, smell, and learn about nine different species of trees, including varieties of spruce, fir, and pine. Each tree will be decorated simply with white lights and accompanied by text explaining the characteristics of that type of tree. Free.
Full Moon Hikes
December 1, 7:00pm-9:00pm FULL
December 2, 7:00pm-9:00pm FULL
December 3, 7:00pm-9:00pm FULL
Arboretum Grounds
This four-mile-long, mildly strenuous hike is a magical trip through moonlit gardens, meadows and woods. Discover how the striking landscape of the arboretum changes under the moon and stars of the night sky. Your guide will share points of special interest and seasonal highlights. This is a brisk walk over often hilly and uneven terrain, so wear good walking shoes. Held rain or shine. Not recommended for children. Fee $22 ($18 FONA) Registration required.
Full Moon Hikes for Groups
December 1, 8:00pm-10:00pm
Arboretum Grounds
Our popular Full Moon Hikes are now available for your group! Gather a group of friends, family, co-workers, and others to enjoy this unique experience that is considered by many to be one of DC’s best outings. See description of Full Moon Hike, above. Maximum 25 per group. Fee: $550. Registration required.
Holiday Wreath Making Workshops
December 5, 9:00am-12:00pm FULL
December 6, 1:00pm-4:00pm FULL
Meet in Administration Building lobby
Create a designer-quality wreath with instruction and inspiration from the arboretum’s expert floral designers. You will make a long-lasting wreath with an abundant supply of freshly cut plant materials of all colors and forms, including many unusual varieties. All supplies will be provided. Please bring pruning shears if you have them. Fee: $59 ($47 FONA) Registration required.
Winter Silhouettes Exhibit
December 5-20, 10:00am-4:00pm
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
Special Exhibits Wing
Winter is the best time to enjoy the true mastery of the art of bonsai by observing the “bare bones” of the trees. With no leaves, the structure of a deciduous bonsai reveals how well the artist has created his miniaturized version of nature. The bonsai curator has selected trees from the museum’s permanent collection for a formal display of these living artworks. Other trees from the permanent collection will be on view throughout the winter in the Chinese Pavilion and the Tropical Greenhouse. Free.
Asian Tradition of Stone Appreciation Exhibit and Lecture
Exhibit: December 26-February 7, 10:00am-4:00pm
Lecture: February 7, 1:00pm-2:30pm
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
For centuries in Asia, certain stones have been revered and appreciated as natural works of art. Members from the Potomac Viewing Stone Group, a regional organization dedicated to stone appreciation, present an exhibit of Chinese and Japanese stones from their collections. A member of their group offers a lecture on traditional stone appreciation on Sunday, February 7, from 1:00-2:30pm in the Lecture/Demonstration Center. Free.
Special Event - Blue Moon Hike on New Year’s Eve
December 31, 7:00pm-10:00pm FULL
Arboretum Grounds and Lobby
This special program will begin with a vigorous hike and end with a champagne toast! Join us for the first ever Blue Moon Hike on New Year’s Eve. The blue moon shines on New Year’s Eve approximately once every 29 years. We’ll start with the Full Moon Hike, a four-mile-long, mildly strenuous hike through moonlit gardens, meadows, and woods. Guides will share points of special interest and seasonal highlights, though the two-hour walk is more of a brisk hike than a tour. After the hike, we will gather inside to enjoy hot drinks, light refreshments, and blue moon music. Finally, we will stroll to the scenic and historic Capitol Columns for a champagne toast. Fee: $40 ($32 FONA) Registration required.
Power Plants Exhibit
through 2010, 8:00am-5:00pm
Adjacent to the National Herb Garden
Walk through Power Plants to discover the wide variety of plants that offer alternative energy possibilities. This garden exhibit showcases living plants and provides educational signage about how they can serve as sustainable agriculture-based energy sources (note that during the winter, most of the crops are dormant or, if annuals, gone for the season). A scavenger hunt activity available at the information desk in the administration building will help school-aged children explore the exhibit. Free. No registration required.
Asian Tradition of Stone Appreciation Exhibit and Lecture
Exhibit: December 26-February 7, 10:00am-4:00pm
Lecture: February 7, 1:00pm-2:30pm
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
For centuries in Asia, certain stones have been revered and appreciated as natural works of art. Members from the Potomac Viewing Stone Group, a regional organization dedicated to stone appreciation, present an exhibit of Chinese and Japanese stones from their collections. A member of their group offers a lecture on traditional stone appreciation on Sunday, February 7, from 1:00-2:30pm in the Lecture/Demonstration Center. Free.
Perfect Conifers for Urban Gardens and Containers Talk and Tour
January 16, 1:00pm-3:00pm
Auditorium and Grounds
Conifers provide striking color and form in your small garden or container during the winter. The diversity of colors range from green to gold to blue, and forms include spreading, weeping, and upright. Learn which ones are perfect for your landscape’s size and style. The arboretum is home of one of the finest collections of dwarf conifers in the world, the Gotelli Collection of Dwarf and Slow-Growing Conifers. Our horticulturist will start this program with a brief presentation inside and then guide you through the collection, where you will learn about the great diversity of these winter gems and how you can use them in your garden. Rain date January 17. Fee: $12 ($10 FONA) Registration required.
Full Moon Hikes
January 29, 7:00pm-9:00pm
January 30, 7:00pm-9:00pm FULL
Arboretum Grounds
This four-mile-long, mildly strenuous hike is a magical trip through moonlit gardens, meadows and woods. Discover how the striking landscape of the arboretum changes under the moon and stars of the night sky. Your guide will share points of special interest and seasonal highlights. This is a brisk walk over often hilly and uneven terrain, so wear good walking shoes. Held rain or shine. Not recommended for children. Fee: $22 ($18 FONA) Registration required.
Full Moon Hikes for Groups
January 29, 8:00pm-10:00pm
Arboretum Grounds
Our popular Full Moon Hikes are now available for your group! Gather a group of friends, family, co-workers, and others to enjoy this unique experience that is considered by many to be one of DC’s best outings. See description of Full Moon Hike, above. Maximum 25 per group. Fee: $550. Registration required.
Power Plants Exhibit
through 2010, 8:00am-5:00pm
Adjacent to the National Herb Garden
Walk through Power Plants to discover the wide variety of plants that offer alternative energy possibilities. This garden exhibit showcases living plants and provides educational signage about how they can serve as sustainable agriculture-based energy sources (note that during the winter, most of the crops are dormant or, if annuals, gone for the season). A scavenger hunt activity available at the information desk in the administration building will help school-aged children explore the exhibit. Free. No registration required.
Asian Tradition of Stone Appreciation Exhibit and Lecture
Exhibit: December 26-February 7, 10:00am-4:00pm
Lecture: February 7, 1:00pm-2:30pm
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
For centuries in Asia, certain stones have been revered and appreciated as natural works of art. Members from the Potomac Viewing Stone Group, a regional organization dedicated to stone appreciation, present an exhibit of Chinese and Japanese stones from their collections. A member of their group offers a lecture on traditional stone appreciation on Sunday, February 7, from 1:00-2:30pm in the Lecture/Demonstration Center. Free.
Conifers: Where in the World Did That Come From? Talk and Tour
February 6, 1:00pm-3:00pm
Auditorium and Grounds
Some gardeners see the more outlandish conifers and wonder where they could possibly have come from. They might be surprised to learn that some of them are from their own backyard. Take a tour of the Gotelli Collection of Dwarf and Slow-Growing Conifers with the arboretum’s conifer expert who will focus on the origins of these plants and emphasize those that are native to North America. She will also visit some wild-collected plants and discuss their origins, pointing out those that are particularly well adapted to our area. Rain date February 7. Fee: $12 ($10 FONA) Registration required.
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American Stone Appreciation Exhibit and Gallery Talk
Exhibit: February 13-March 28, 10:00am-4:00pm
Gallery Talk: March 28, 1:00pm
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
The Asian art of viewing stone appreciation has expanded to the west where the art form has been adapted to a style that reflects western landscapes. Members of the Potomac Viewing Stone Group, a regional organization dedicated to stone appreciation, display this style through personal collections of stones. In this exhibit, they share stones collected from diverse regions of North America. Join their members on Sunday, March 28, at 1:00pm for an informal tour of the exhibit. Free.
Full Moon Hikes
February 26, 7:00pm-9:00pm
February 27, 7:00pm-9:00pm
February 28, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Arboretum Grounds
This four-mile-long, mildly strenuous hike is a magical trip through moonlit gardens, meadows and woods. Discover how the striking landscape of the arboretum changes under the moon and stars of the night sky. Your guide will share points of special interest and seasonal highlights. This is a brisk walk over often hilly and uneven terrain, so wear good walking shoes. Held rain or shine. Not recommended for children. Fee: $22 ($18 FONA) Registration required.
Full Moon Hikes for Groups
February 26, 8:00pm-10:00 pm
Arboretum Grounds
Our popular Full Moon Hikes are now available for your group! Gather a group of friends, family, co-workers, and others to enjoy this unique experience that is considered by many to be one of DC’s best outings. See description of Full Moon Hike, above. Maximum 25 per group. Fee: $550. Registration required.
Coming Up in the Spring- Save the Date!
The Lahr Native Plant Symposium & Sale will be held on Saturday March 27, 2010 and the Solar Installation Workshop will be held the week of March 15 – 19, 2010. Details and registration information will be available February 1 in our brochure and here on our website.
Back to the Arboretum Home Page
Last Updated November 23, 2009 2:10 PM
URL = http://www.usna.usda.gov/Education/events.html