For the people

Barbara Shea is Board Chair of Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA), former horticulture chair of the Garden Club of America and founding president of Casey Trees. Dana Faulkner is FONA’s CEO. Nursery Management recently talked with Shea and Faulkner about the U.S. National Arboretum’s history, its research and opportunities for growers to partner with FONA. For more: www.fona.org.
 

Q: The U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., is the nation’s arboretum. What is its history?

A: The National Arboretum was established in 1927 by an act of Congress for the dual purpose of plant research and public education. It is a U.S. Department of Agriculture research and education facility, but so much more. The National Arboretum is a living museum – one that is dedicated to serving the public need for scientific research, education, and gardens that conserve and showcase plants to enhance the environment. Today, more than half a million visitors come to the Arboretum each year; many others visit its Website, www.usna.usda.gov, to learn about significant research and extraordinary collections.
 

Q: Describe the Arboretum to those of us who have never been there.

A: Only 10 minutes from the U.S. Capitol, the National Arboretum is 446 acres of elegant gardens, open meadows, and peaceful woodlands adjacent to the Anacostia River in northeast Washington, D.C. It has something for everyone. History buffs enjoy the original Capitol Columns, foodies appreciate the 2½-acre National Herb Garden, and weekend gardeners and professional horticulturists value its world-class collections. The Arboretum is a place to roam on quiet paths, explore the world’s first bonsai museum, or take in the explosion of spring flowers. Visitors come from neighboring communities, across the country and around the world to see our azaleas in bloom, our collection of flowering cherry trees (one of the most diverse collection in the country), not to mention the Asian Collections, Fern Valley Native Plant Collection and Gotelli Dwarf and Slow-Growing Conifer Collection. And like many attractions in the nation’s capital, admission is free.
 

Q: Research is an important aspect of the Arboretum’s work. Can you talk about some of the research that has taken place in recent years that would be of particular interest to growers and operators?

A: The U.S. National Arboretum’s Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit conducts research that has significant impact on many areas of horticulture, the environment, gardening, and the U.S. consumer. For example, Arboretum scientists responded to the recent outbreak of boxwood blight in the U.S. and are currently screening diverse boxwood types to find sources of resistance to use in developing disease-resistant cultivars. Arboretum scientists also developed three new oakleaf hydrangea cultivars that growers and retailers are quite interested in – ‘Ruby Slippers,’ ‘Munchkin’ and ‘Queen of Hearts.’
 

Q: Where can nursery growers get news about current research taking place at the Arboretum?

A: The Arboretum’s Website, www.usna.usda.gov, gives general information on current research activities as well as past accomplishments, and also lists the research areas and contacts for scientists so that growers can contact them directly for updates, questions or suggestions. Growers can also find full-color fact sheets of our newest and most popular cultivars on the website.
 

Q: What is FONA’s relationship to the Arboretum?

A: Friends of the National Arboretum is an independent nonprofit organization that provides financial and advocacy support for the Arboretum. FONA’s support over its 30-plus years has included everything from engineering the move of the Capitol Columns to their current site at the Arboretum to establishing the flowering tree walk that circles the great meadow to advocating for critical congressional funding. FONA and its members are committed to preserving and enhancing the Arboretum with a focus on expanding public access and programming and increasing visibility. Instrumental to that effort are partnerships with leaders in the business, philanthropic and government communities and other friends who share our passion for horticulture and green space.
 

Q: Providing funding for Arboretum education programs has been one of FONA’s priorities for many years. What opportunities exist for the general public and for those working in the horticulture field?

A: FONA supports the Washington Youth Garden at the National Arboretum – one of the oldest youth gardens in the country. The garden is a year-round environmental science and food education program for D.C. youth and their families. In addition, FONA has funded over the years numerous internship positions at the Arboretum in horticulture, research, education, facilities management, and public garden administration. In turn, those interns take that expertise into the community, where they work at public gardens, arboreta and in other positions that benefit from their training. This year alone, FONA is funding nine internships. FONA also makes funds available for graduate fellowships and other advanced opportunities in research.  
 

Q: FONA sponsors two signature fundraising events: its annual Garden Fair and Sale (April 25-27) and its annual Cookout Under the Stars (June 17). How can growers, breeders and suppliers get involved?

A: FONA’s Garden Fair and Plant Sale is cherished among both sophisticated and weekend gardeners throughout the Mid-Atlantic region because it features rare and hard-to-find plants along with tried and true favorites. Growers and nurseries frequently ask us to showcase new plants or those with unique characteristics. FONA is always looking for new sources and is grateful for the generous support we receive in the form of plants and discounts from growers and nurseries. Our annual Cookout Under the Stars, popular with business and political leaders, highlights the importance of U.S. agriculture and the ornamental horticulture industry in shaping the U.S. landscape and impacting the economy. If you’ve never attended, it’s a magical evening that ends with a stroll to the historic Capitol Columns.
 

Q: What are the greatest challenges facing the Arboretum in the coming years?

A: As with all government facilities, the National Arboretum has been facing increased budgetary pressure, and we expect that will continue. As the Arboretum’s primary partner, our goal is to develop resources that ensure the Arboretum is financially sustainable, remains open to the public, and has robust offerings of public programs and education over the long-term. Nursery growers and operators have been critical partners for many years. We look forward to working even more closely with members of industry, opinion leaders, FONA’s membership and the public who enjoy and benefit from the Arboretum’s research and from the beauty of its public collections.