Upcoming Events

Multiple Dates
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum

Dates:
February 8, 2025
March 15, 2025 
April 12, 2025 - Cancelled
May 10, 2025 (Register)

What can art tell us about the relationship between plants and humans? Join Maeve Bassett, Applied Ethnobotanist and Education Director of the Beal Botanical Garden, for an immersive tour unearthing the historical, social, and political narratives growing within works of art from the MSU Broad Art Museum’s collection. Registration for this free tour is encouraged.

Deep-Rooted is an ongoing tour collaboration between the Beal Botanical Garden and the Broad Art Museum, where art and plants intertwine in a conversation about the extraordinary ways our natural world has influenced art and human societies throughout history. This event takes place at the MSU Broad Art Museum, in The CORE.

Photo credit: Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum

4th Wednesday of each month, April - October, 2025
12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
Register Here

Join Beal Botanical Garden and Campus Arboretum for lunchtime guided tours on the the fourth Wednesday of each month, April through October, exploring conservation, ecology, and sustainability. These will be walking tours around campus and will always begin at the Beal Pond.

Schedule:

• April 23 - Spring Ephemerals; Carolyn Miller, Arboretum & Invasive Species Coordinator
• May 28 - Plant identification for everyone; Alan Prather, Director
• June 25 - Plants in the eyes of pollinators; Jennifer Apland, MSU Herbarium Collections Coordinator
• July 23 - Topic TBD; Bethany Troy, Botanical Lead & Head Horticulturist
• August 27 - Topic TBD; Katie Fry, Collections Manager
• September 24 - Topic TBD; Katie Fry, Collections Manager
• October 22 - Riverbank restoration and clean-up; Carolyn Miller, Arboretum & Invasive Species Coordinator

May 8, 2025
12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
Register Here

Join Arboretum and Invasive Species Coordinator Carolyn Miller for a garden walk exploring the spring ephemerals that are so brief in their floral display. Bring binoculars, we may catch some early spring birds migrating north! Meet at the garden pond.

Select Sundays, June - August, 2025
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Come celebrate the ten year anniversary of Music and the Garden! Join us in the garden as we get "Wild at Heart." Each event will feature a theme and partners that reflect the new way we are approaching our plant collections and how we are reimagining the garden.

Dates:
June 8 - Understanding Our World
June 29 - Nourishing Our World
July 13 - Transforming Our World
August 10 - Wild at Heart Celebration

This outdoor musical event is a collaboration with the College of Music. Details for each event are still being planned. Check back for details.

June 12, 2025
12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
Register Here

Join Botanical Lead and Head Horticulturist Bethany Troy for a garden walk learning about the plants used in celebrating the summer solstice, and how to grow and care for them. Meet at the garden pond. 

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

Dates:
June 15, 2025 (Register Here)
July 13, 2025 (Register Here)
August 10, 2025 (Register Here)

What can art tell us about the relationship between plants and humans? Join us for the summer garden edition of this popular tour series as we gather in the garden with Maeve Bassett, Applied Ethnobotanist and Education Director. Together, we’ll unearth the historical, social, and political narratives growing within plants in the garden and artworks from the MSU Broad Art Museum’s collection. Registration for this free tour is encouraged.

Deep-Rooted is an ongoing tour collaboration with the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, exploring where art and plants intertwine in a conversation about the extraordinary ways our natural world has influenced art and human societies throughout history. 

Photo credit: University Communications and Marketing

July 10, 2025
12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
Register Here

Join Education Director Maeve Bassett to explore where plants get their names, including the stories of the good, the potentially problematic, the downright weird, and debate common vs. scientific names! Meet at the garden pond. 

July 12, 2025
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Register Here

Join Beal Botanical Garden and Dr. Kinitra Brooks (MSU Dept. of English) in a community event diving deep into the concepts of hope, Afrofuturism, and conjure through Octavia Butler's Parable Series. This event will begin with time to explore the graphic novels, Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents, in the garden, followed by a group discussion and an opportunity to share your own book recommendations.

Light refreshments will be served and all registered guests may keep the graphic novels and take a plant home to nurture. Supplies are limited, registration is required.

August 14, 2025
12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
Register Here

Join Community and Sustainability Coordinator Angelica Bajos for a summertime rest. Take time to connect with the garden and indulge your wellbeing through forest bathing invitations. Meet at the garden pond. 

September 11, 2025
12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
Register Here

Join Collections Manager Katie Fry for a lunchtime tour exploring plant resiliency and their potential to mitigate climate change. This tour will include ways Beal Botanical Garden and MSU are contributing and practices to be more sustainable. Meet at the garden pond.

October 9, 2025
12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
Register Here

Join Botanical Steward and Horticulturist Mackenzie Hiatt for an autumnal garden tour engaging all five senses and embracing seasonal changes. Meet at the garden pond.