Upcoming Events

Announcing Beal Nature Walks, 22 February through 31 May. Reconnect with nature, get outside, slow down, take a breath, and even learn a little botany. Over the course of spring, we’ll host weekly walking tours in the Beal Botanical Garden, on the historic oval around Beaumont Tower, Sanford Natural Area, and Baker Woodlot. The Beal Botanical Garden aims to promote wellbeing in the MSU community by building off the research showing that being outside supports physical and mental health with increased activity and facilitating connection, relaxation, and healing. These events will focus on spring ephemerals, nature walks, sustainability, forest bathing, plant identification, birding, and simply being together outside with fellow Spartans. Look for details on the Beal Botanical Garden events page.

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Beal Botanical Garden is a wonderful place to explore all throughout the year. Join Beal Staff member Carolyn Miller on a walk in the garden where you can enjoy spring wildflowers, discover what the garden staff are doing to restore native plants and habitat along the Red Cedar River, and do a little birding while there. 

Meet at the pond in Beal Botanical Garden at noon. Everyone is welcome. Bring binoculars if you have them!

10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

The MSU Alumni Association presents as part of their Coffee with the Profs series, Plants, People and Place: 150 Years of Beal Botanical Garden's Contributions to Sustainability and Well-being on MSU's Campus, by Alan Prather, Interim Director, W.J. Beal Botanical Garden; associate professor, Department of Plant Biology. The W.J. Beal Botanical Garden has been a center of research, learning and community at the heart of the MSU campus for 150 years. This presentation will feature some untold stories of the garden, highlight the work of the garden and other campus units that promote conservation and sustainability, share some details of this year’s anniversary celebration, introduce some exciting new programs and how to get involved.

Anyone can register to attend this virtual event.

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Join the Beal Garden staff as they share how to get your plants to bloom early and details on their upcoming 150th anniversary celebration. 

This event is a part of SciFest 2023's Expo at the STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 2202: 642 Red Cedar Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824

1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Ethnobotany is the study of the relationship between plants and people and there is nowhere better to explore than in MSU’s own Botanical Garden! This tour is designed to get you thinking about your own relationship with plants from your chemical dependency on coffee every morning to hating the smell of boiled brussels sprouts! 

Please register for the tour time you plan to attend using the link below.

Tours meet at the Beal Garden shed/pond.

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Those familiar lyrics resonate with all of us. Have you ever noticed how steep the bank is along the river? With flooding events, the river has been scouring out soil and exposing tree roots. In the last five years, we’ve put an emphasis on restoring and stabilizing the riverbank on campus. We’re removing invasive shrubs and restoring with Michigan native plants. Join us for a walk and discussion on the restoration efforts of the Red Cedar Riverbank. 

Please register using the link below.

Tours meet at the Beal Garden shed/pond.

8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Have you ever wondered how Beal Garden is able to grow pineapple or a papaya tree? Or what keeps the garden staff busy before the garden wakes up? Join us on a Behind the Scenes tour of the greenhouse that houses some of our plants with Assistant Garden Manager Therese. Learn what it takes to keep our collection growing even in the harshest of winters.

Please register for the tour time you plan to attend using the link below.

Tours meet at Beaumont Nursery:

4080 Beaumont Road, Lansing, MI 48910

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Ever wonder what trees we have on campus, and which ones are native to Michigan? Join Plant Recorder Carolyn Miller as she guides you around campus learning about how to ID our native trees and where to find them. In addition, she will introduce you to the MSU Campus Virtual Tree Map, where you can find all the trees on campus!

Please register using the link below.

Tours meet at the Beal Garden shed/pond.