Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden

08/18/2023

🍂Welcome in fall at the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden's annual Harvest Party on Friday, September 15th!🍂

Spend the evening enjoying fall foliage and live music in the outdoor gardens and exploring the Conservatory with autumn-inspired garden-fresh culinary bites and sweet treats! Celebrate the changing season in this special after-hours event with drinks featuring local beers, wines from District Winery, and samples from Republic Restoratives in addition to an apple crisp mocktail and other soft drinks.

And it wouldn’t be a harvest party without a plethora of bites to choose from! Savor passed hors d'oeuvres including caramelized pear-and-arugula tarts and vegan quinoa-and-beet sliders in addition to a display of charcuterie, international cheese, dried fruits, rustic breads, dips, and more. For dessert, jump right into fall with mini apple galettes, s'mores tacos, and pumpkin cheesecake squares. All food and beverages are included in your ticket.

New this year! Add a $25 donation and receive membership to the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden for a year. Membership benefits include a discount at the gift shop (open throughout the event!), USBG programs, and Friends events. Members also receive free tickets to the Friends’ annual holiday event!

All proceeds from this event support the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that inspires active environmental stewardship by hosting educational programs with the U.S. Botanic Garden. To learn more about our work or membership program, visit USBGFriends.org.

DATE: Friday, September 15
TIME: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
LOCATION: U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory and outdoor gardens
FRIENDS: $65
NON-MEMBERS: $75
Pre-registration required. Must be 21+ to attend.

This event is presented through the support of the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden.

9/15/2023 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

10/17/2022

The Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden has made the switch to digital membership cards! By switching to digital cards, we are increasing our commitment to environmentally-friendly practices and also making it easier for you to access all your member benefits. You now have access to special admission privileges and discounts at 345+ gardens throughout North America right from your phone!

Learn more about our membership benefits at USBGFriends.org/join.

10/11/2022

After a three-year pause, we were so thankful we were able to welcome guests back to our annual Harvest Party! We hope everyone had a lovely evening exploring the U.S. Botanic Garden's gated outdoor garden and Conservatory while enjoying the live music, food, and drinks. We also want to extend special thanks to the USBG volunteers who ran discovery carts on bees and carnivorous plants for our Harvest Party!

09/22/2022

We’re so excited to see you all at our Harvest Party event tomorrow! Enter the gated outdoor gardens through the Maryland Ave SW entrance and enjoy your stroll through the outdoor gardens and Conservatory.

As a reminder, tickets for this event are sold out. Tickets will not be available for purchase at the door.

09/19/2022

🍂Update: Tickets are now sold out!🍂

Celebrate the first weekend of autumn at the Friends’ Harvest Party! Spend the evening strolling around the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory and outdoor gardens. While you explore, enjoy featured drinks, garden-fresh culinary delights, and live music.

Date: Friday, September 23rd from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: U.S. Botanic Garden

9/23/2022 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

09/16/2022

The Friends are delighted to support the U.S. Botanic Garden’s Fall Festival! We’ll have a table during the event – come say hello and learn more about our work supporting educational programming at the U.S. Botanic Garden.

Join The U.S. Botanic Garden for their Fall Festival – a day of plant fun at their fall festival celebrating agriculture. Bring all of your senses to explore your connection to plants through food, music, and science. Discover activities for all ages including cooking demonstrations, making your own seed paper, opportunities to engage with the Garden’s experts, and more! The festival runs from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, October 8th, and is supported by the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden. In the event of rain, the festival will take place inside the Conservatory.

DATE: Saturday, October 8
TIME: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
LOCATION: Terrace (Rain Location: Conservatory)
FREE: No pre-registration required

This program is sponsored in part by the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden.

07/19/2022

HOPS explore the parts of a seed and learn what they need to grow in this "Life of a Seed" activity! Participants are checking on their seeds this week to see which of their seeds are growing, those kept in the light or those in the dark.

07/08/2022

HOPS is underway! Last week we welcomed 21 staff for HOPS Facilitator Training. Over the course of two afternoons, facilitators experienced each of the HOPS activities and familiarized themselves with the scientific tools students will use during the program - microscopes, handheld lenses, and compasses. They worked in small groups to identify strategies for engaging youth with each activity and talked about what they would love to hear students discussing while engaged with each of the activities. Their students arrived at their sites this week, and HOPS launches this Monday for a four-week run.

07/06/2022

The co**se flower has opened! This Amorphophallus titanum is the second to be on display in the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory this year. See (and smell) it for yourself and check out our co**se flower postcards, posters, and stickers! To learn more about the spectacular plant, visit www.USBG.gov/Co**seFlower.

06/28/2022

Another co**se flower at the U.S. Botanic Garden! This Amorphophallus titanum is the second to be on display in the Conservatory this year. Come see it in the Garden Court and visit our gift shop with Rewild to pick up souvenir postcards, posters, and stickers to mark the occasion! To learn more about the spectacular plant, visit www.USBG.gov/Co**seFlower.

06/24/2022

Feeling inspired this ? Spread the love for pollinators with some beautiful pollinator-inspired items from our gift shop at the with . This shop helps fund educational initiatives like our Hands On Plant Science program, which includes an activity teaching D.C. youth about the interactions between pollinators and plants!

06/20/2022

It’s ! Did you know that pollinators like bees, butterflies, and bats, provide 1 out of 3 bites of food we eat? Spend some time in the ’s Pollinator Garden and other outdoor gardens to take a look at some of D.C.’s pollinators in action. You can also learn how to create your own pollinator garden at home with the help of ’s regionally specific garden cards! Download them at www.pollinator.org/gardencards.

06/16/2022

Counting down the days till HOPS 2022 with the U.S. Botanic Garden! Our annual Hands On Plant Science summer program for D.C. youth is just a couple short weeks away. Enjoy this from HOPS 2021 and stay tuned for an inside look at the program this year!

06/14/2022

Plant Science Conversations break down cutting-edge plant science during casual conversations with fascinating researchers. For June’s Plant Science Conversation, “The More Mangoes the Merrier”, join Dr. Emily Warschefsky in conversation with USBG Acting Executive Director Susan Pell. They'll discuss Dr. Warschefsky's search for mango relatives, the diversity of North American natives like pawpaws and pecans, and why understanding plant diversity is key to crop conservation.

The Friends are delighted to be sponsoring the Plant Science Conversations series! To learn more or sign up for this free online discussion happening Friday, June 17th at noon, visit USBG.gov/Programs.

06/10/2022

is back on the Terrace of the ! Enjoy a cup of coffee or pastry as you stroll through the Garden or relax at an outdoor table. Zeke's Coffee at the USBG will be open 9 am - 2 pm on weekends (weather permitting)

06/03/2022

The co**se flower has opened! Come visit the Conservatory to see (and smell) it for yourself. The U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory has extended hours tonight and will remain open until 8pm. Stop by the gift shop on your way out to pick up a limited-edition souvenir to mark the occasion! To learn more about the spectacular Amorphophallus titanum, visit www.USBG.gov/Co**seFlower

05/21/2022

A co**se flower is at the U.S. Botanic Garden! If you are visiting today or over the coming weeks, be sure to take a look at it in the center of the Garden Court.

04/22/2022

Inspire environmental stewardship this Earth Day! Your support strengthens our partnership with the U.S. Botanic Garden, uplifting our shared purpose: to promote the joy of the plant world and expand access to plant science. In close collaboration, we facilitate our nationally recognized youth program “Hands on Plant Science,” sponsor educational programming, support the volunteer program, and contribute to new educational and outreach initiatives.

Donate or renew your membership today to help us continue and expand on our vital work: USBGFriends.org/join

04/21/2022

As National Volunteer Week comes to a close, we want to echo our appreciation for all of the U.S. Botanic Garden volunteers who go above and beyond to make the Garden a beautiful and welcoming place. They inspire visitors to learn more about the plants around us and we’re proud our organization can support them in return.

04/18/2022

Yes, we’re open! Our Gift Shop at the U.S. Botanic Garden is now open daily. Celebrate Earth Week by picking up a new plant, botanical print, or souvenir magnet to add a botanical touch to your space.

Find our shop, which we operate with Rewild, in the West Gallery of the Conservatory from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. alongside the “Cultivate: Growing Food in a Changing World” agriculture exhibit. Members, show your membership card to receive a discount on your entire purchase!

04/14/2022

To all Master Gardeners, those just getting started, and everyone in between, happy National Gardening Day! 🌱🌷

If you’re looking for some extra help in your home garden, check out the U.S. Botanic Garden’s Ask an Expert series. Upcoming programs in this series feature topics such as “Spring Kitchen Garden Preparations” and “Outdoor Integrated Pest Management”. The USBG also posts the recordings of these programs on their Youtube channel if there’s a topic you missed! Check out USBG.gov/Programs to sign up.

04/08/2022

With all the excitement of re-opening, don’t forget that the U.S. Botanic Garden is still hosting incredible programs online! The Friends are delighted to announce that we are sponsoring the Plant Science Conversations series beginning Friday, April 29th! This program series breaks down cutting-edge plant science topics through casual conversations with fascinating researchers.

For this month’s Plant Science Conversation: “Amazing Almonds with Dr. Josette Lewis”, join Dr. Josette Lewis in conversation with USBG Executive Director Saharah Moon Chapotin. They’ll discuss why 80% of the world’s almonds are grown in California, the almond pollination problem, and how growers and scientists are working together to make the almond industry more sustainable. To learn more or sign up for this free online discussion, visit USBG.gov/programs

04/07/2022

04/06/2022

🎉 Our Gift Shop is now open today through Sunday! 🎉 You can find our shop, which we operate with Rewild, in the West Gallery of the Conservatory alongside the “Cultivate: Growing Food in a Changing World” agriculture exhibit. Stop by to check our plants and plant-themed gifts!

04/04/2022

From all of the Friends, we want to send a huge thank you to all employees and volunteers at the U.S. Botanic Garden who made this past weekend a success! It was a blast opening our shop with Rewild and enjoying everything the USBG has to offer. We appreciate all of the hard work that goes into making this a beautiful and welcoming oasis and we are proud to support the USBG’s volunteer program and educational mission.

04/01/2022

Re-Opening day! We are so excited to launch our gift store with Rewild at the U.S. Botanic Garden. Open Fri-Sun 10am-5pm, you can find us in the Conservatory’s West Gallery nestled right next to part of “Cultivate: Growing Food in a Changing World”, the USBG’s new exhibit on agriculture. Come enjoy all the Conservatory has to offer and peruse our botanically-themed gifts before you leave!

As a reminder, members receive a discount on everything in this shop so be sure to bring your membership card when you visit! If you would like to become a member, visit us at USBGfriends.org/join.

03/24/2022

The Friends are excited to share this announcement with you directly from the U.S. Botanic Garden!

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The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) will reopen the Conservatory to the public on April 1, marking a full reopening of all areas of the USBG. Entrance to the USBG is free and timed tickets will not be required. The Conservatory will resume normal hours of 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily, the gated outdoor gardens will be open spring-summer hours of 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Bartholdi Fountain and Gardens will continue to be open dawn to dusk.

Masks are recommended for indoor spaces, and groups are encouraged to maintain social distance from other visitor groups. Visitors who are sick or do not feel well should stay home.

All interior rooms of the Conservatory will be open starting April 1, and the Children’s Garden and Southern Exposure seasonal outdoor courtyards are planned to reopen April 22, weather permitting.

Newly renovated garden spaces throughout the Conservatory will display more of the USBG’s diverse plant collections and offer increased accessibility. Visitors can see a new exhibit on agriculture, “Cultivate: Growing Food in a Changing World,” in the galleries and multiple other garden spaces. Additionally, a new gift store run by the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden and local D.C. small business Rewild will operate in the Conservatory’s West Gallery, offering botanically-themed gifts for purchase. The store will be open on weekends, expanding to more days later in the spring.

Visitors are invited to explore the USBG’s collection of plants from across the country and around the world and enjoy thousands of tulips and other spring flowers coming into bloom throughout the outdoor gardens. Plan your visit at www.USBG.gov

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From everyone at the Friends, thank you for your support throughout the Conservatory's closure these past two years. We are excited for visitors to return and to continue inspiring active environmental stewardship by hosting educational programs with the U.S. Botanic Garden. We hope you are able to visit the Conservatory (and check out our new shop with Rewild) soon!

02/25/2022

We're excited to announce the return of our HOPS Fellowship! This 6-week summer fellowship is an environmental education position that collaborates with the U.S. Botanic Garden Education team to facilitate the Hands On Plants Science (HOPS) program.

The HOPS Fellow will:
🌿 Assist with preparation of the Hands On Plant Science (HOPS) program
🌿 Work in collaboration with the USBG Education team to train the 2022 community facilitators
🌿 Observe the facilitation of and student engagement with the HOPS activities
🌿 Assist with gathering data to evaluate the program’s impact and effectiveness
🌿 Assist The Friends with other duties as needed

For more information about this position and the application process, visit https://usbgfriends.org/opportunities.

12/16/2021

Our winter market is back at the U.S. Botanic Garden starting today! We’ve partnered with REWILD to bring you a unique selection of gifts for all the plant-lovers in your life. As a reminder, Friends members receive a 10% discount on everything at the pop-up! We’ve updated our hours for the holidays, so you can find us there now EVERY DAY through the 23rd, 10am-4:30pm.

11/12/2021

Exciting news from the USBG!

09/03/2021

07/28/2021

HOPS are needed to solve the case of a missing Himalayan blue poppy! 🔬Students take on the role of forensic botanists to solve the mystery by examining pollen samples under a microscope. They must determine if a pollen sample taken from a Himalayan blue poppy matches pollen samples gathered from two possible suspects. We’re lucky to have all of HOPS on the case! 🔍

Educational programs like HOPS require a team effort. A big thanks to C & A Scientific for their donation of 100 My First Lab microscopes! C & A Scientific supports STEM programs that help develop the minds of tomorrow and provide children with valuable STEM exposure at an early age. Over the past 30 years, they have specialized in developing and manufacturing medical equipment, consumables, and science education supplies. The company supplies hundreds of organizations with the STEM tools they need to promote their goals of improving education for future STEM leaders worldwide. C & A Scientific’s dedicated STEM brand, My First Lab, aims to provide STEM resources for elementary to high-school aged learners.

07/26/2021

🌸🌼🌷Botanists in Training learn all about the power of flowers! 🌺🌻🌹

They create flower models to explain how they work and teach others the importance of flowers. Enjoy this throwback photo of HOPS participants examining a flower and collecting some of its pollen at the U.S. Botanic Garden

07/23/2021

HOPS take a close look at plants to investigate how they work! 🌿🔬 Enjoy this throwback photo of HOPS participants recording what they've learned about stomata! 🌺

07/21/2021

D.C. youth become during the Hands On Plant Science (HOPS) program! 🔬🌺

07/19/2021

Week two of Hands On Plant Science! Last week, participants examined seeds and began conducting an experiment to see how light affects seed germination. We’re excited to learn the results from these ! ☀️🌱 Enjoy this throwback photo of HOPS participants investigating seed dispersal methods by observing a coconut float! 🥥🌊

07/16/2021

The first week of this summer's HOPS program is complete! 🌱🔬

07/14/2021

Backpacks for everyone! Take a look at what each received at the start of the HOPS program. Community facilitators also received their own backpacks in addition to all of the materials needed to run HOPS’ hands-on activities for all of their participants ✏️📓

07/12/2021

Hands on Plant Science is starting strong today! 🌱This summer's HOPS program is being offered in-person by two community-based organizations, The Fishing School and After-School All-Stars Washington DC, across three sites in D.C. Adopting a train-the-trainers approach, the U.S. Botanic Garden HOPS team has provided virtual training to in-house facilitators who have welcomed the HOPS program into their organizations. 🔬 Stay tuned to see what this year’s discover!

Educational programs like these require a team effort. A big thanks to ScottsMiracle-Gro for their ongoing, foundational support and C & A Scientific for their donation of 100 microscopes. We also want to thank Friends members for making our educational programs possible! 🌻 To learn more about how to support HOPS, visit our website at USBGfriends.org

07/05/2021

We are happy to share all of our outdoor gardens are open! The Conservatory and public restrooms remain closed, due to the closure of the U.S. Capitol campus. The gated outdoor gardens are open daily 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., featuring the Rose Garden, Pollinator Garden, Regional Garden, the bicentennial stickwork sculpture, and more. Bartholdi Park and the Terrace Gardens continue to share beautiful plantings, open dawn to dusk. Tickets are not required. Please monitor www.USBG.gov for updates on operating status. USBG resources can be accessed online, including educational materials, virtual tours, and online programs by visiting www.USBG.gov/AtHome.