Beal Botanical Garden

05/29/2026

Surprise!

We have an unexpected opportunity for you. On June 2 from 12:30-1:30pm, take midday break and come to the garden to hear the Leonidas Quartet (low brass ensemble) and the Fusion Trio (chamber ensemble) bring their talents to our beautiful space. Consider it an opening act to Music and the Garden. 😉

https://music.msu.edu/event/chamber-music-in-the-garden/

05/28/2026

Take a speedy walk through a day in the work of our Arboretum and Invasive Species Coordinator, Carolyn!

Carolyn Miller has mapped every corner of our 5,200-acre campus, tr...

05/26/2026

Calling all Mid-Michigan Spartans! Spend the day with us in the garden on May 29 from 9am-12pm as part of the 2026 Spartan Reunion.

Participants will volunteer with our staff in the garden in the morning, followed by a garden tour from our Director, Dr. Alan Prather, in the afternoon. All supplies will be provided. Space for this event is filling up fast, so register quick!

Spartans with a GREEN thumb and a love of nature will enjoy a morning of gardening in one of the oldest areas of campus.

05/22/2026

We got some new toys!

Our garden team has some brand new electric tools to use to keep our space looking amazing. Thank you to everyone who donated to our Earth Day fundraiser to make this happen! 💚

📷: Angelica Bajos

05/21/2026

Beautiful things are happening! Our white fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) and eastern camas (Camassia scilloides) are looking lovely with their white blooms.

And if your a fan of rhododendrons, these beauties are starting to shine just in time for Memorial Day weekend. Perfect family photo op if you're around campus.

Photos courtesy of our Head Horticulturist, Bethany and our Collections Manager, Katie! ❤️

05/21/2026

From their first date in the garden to decades of family walks, Beal became woven into the fabric of Therese and Craig Fedore's lives. Their story celebrates the powerful connections to nature and how gardens hold memories across generations. The family's gift will create the Therese and Craig Fedore Michigan Flora Garden, where Michigan native plants can grow, thrive, and inspire future Spartans.

Michigan State University

A Beal Botanical Garden love story

05/19/2026

The Red Cedar Natural Area has fewer invasive species thanks to our new Beal Scholars Jess and Billy. Yesterday, they braved the heat and helped our Arboretum & Invasive Species Coordinator, Carolyn, pull four garbage bags of Dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis)! 😲

Way to hit the ground running! 👏

📷: Carolyn Miller

05/18/2026

A new semester means new faces in the garden. Introducing our summer Beal Scholars!

In addition to plant-focused studies, this group also includes majors ranging from psychology and physics, to architecture, writing, and biochemistry. That mix of experiences, interests, and ideas is central to the Beal Scholars program and part of what makes it so special.

If you see them in the garden, say hi. These students are already are working on some amazing things and we can't wait to share them with you. 💚