Location: Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum

Shea Tour
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

What can Shea tell us about the relationships between plants, people, and the African Diaspora? Join Angelica Bajos, Community and Sustainability Coordinator, for a botanical deep dive into Esmaa Mohamoud's fall 2024 exhibit, Complex Dreams, at the Broad Art Museum.

Shea Workshop
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

From tree to daily routine - experience the journey of shea with Beal Botanical Garden and Hillary Coleman, owner of 1991 Greenery Homestead. Join us for a DIY Shea Butter workshop in conjunction with Esmaa Mohamoud's fall 2024 exhibit, Complex Dreams, at the Broad Art Museum.

Tours and dedicated workshops complement each other, but can be enjoyed independently. Registration for these free events are required.

The Black Botany series is a collaboration between Beal Botanical Garden and the Broad Art Museum exploring the relationship between plants, people, and the African Diaspora.

Image credit: Broad Art Museum

12:10  - 12:55 p.m. 
Location: On Zoom

The garden may be dormant, but our excitement to teach and learn isn't! Join us at noon (almost) every Thursday to learn from Beal staff members all about the interconnectedness of plants, people, and place!

Growing Thanks
Join Angelica Bajos, Beal's Community and Sustainability Coordinator to discover the many ways cultures express gratitude through plants and botanical arrangements.

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Help preserve the crown jewel of MSU’s Campus Natural Areas, Baker Woodlot. Spend the afternoon helping remove trash and invasive species with Beal Botanical Garden led by Carolyn Miller. We will be meeting at the northwest entrance to Baker Woodlot (on Farm Ln.). Parking is available (for a fee) in the visitor lot located on the north side of Service Rd. between Farm Ln. and Bogue St. Please dress for the weather.

If you have questions, please email Carolyn at miller94@msu.edu.

12:10 - 12:55 p.m. 
Location: On Zoom

The garden may be dormant, but our excitement to teach and learn isn't! Join us at noon (almost) every Thursday to learn from Beal staff members all about the interconnectedness of plants, people, and place!

Planting for Pollinators
Not sure what to plant for pollinators and wildlife? This lunchtime talk will cover the areas you should “study up” and cover native plants that will thrive in your yard. Join Carolyn Miller, Arboretum & Invasive Species Coordinator as she gives you awesome native plant info!

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Beal Botanical Garden pond

Join us at Beal Botanical Garden during Halloween week for plant-tastic fall drop-in activities! Weather cancellations will be made two hours prior to event start through social media and registration emails.

October 28 - Falling for Tea
October 29 - Beal's Gone Batty
October 30 - Cornhusk Dolls
October 31 - Carve a Pumpkin or Turnip
November 1 - Paint a Sugar Skull or Alebrije Ornament

6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Beal Botanical Garden pond

Join us at Beal Botanical Garden during Halloween week for plant-tastic sunset tours of the garden. Weather cancellations will be made two hours prior to event start through social media and registration emails.

October 28 - Fall Plant Lore
October 29 - Toxins, Thorns, and Tricks
October 30 - Plants and Witchcraft

3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Join Beal Botanical Garden in beautifying the Sanford Natural Area. We will be cleaning up this jewel of campus by removing trash and invasive species. The MSU and greater East Lansing community are invited to participate. Please make sure to dress appropriately for the weather and working in a forested natural area. Meet at Sanford Natural Area between McDonel and Holmes Halls.

If you have any questions, please email Carolyn Miller at miller94@msu.edu.

12:10 - 1:00 p.m.

Join former Beal Botanical Garden Director, Frank Telewski, to wrap up the 150th anniversary of the Campus Arboretum with a tour of MSU's historic trees and their stories. Meet by the garden pond.

Instructor: Frank Telewski, Former Director

Location: Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum

Weeds Tour
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

What can weeds tell us about our perspective on the values of plants and people? Join Angelica Bajos, Community and Sustainability Coordinator, for a botanical deep dive into Esmaa Mohamoud's fall 2024 exhibit, Complex Dreams, at the Broad Art Museum.

Weeds Workshop
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Harness the power of weeds with Beal Botanical Garden and Candice "The Oracle," owner of Oracles Apothecary. Make medicinal materials out of weeds in conjunction with Esmaa Mohamoud's fall 2024 exhibit, Complex Dreams, at the Broad Art Museum.

Tours and dedicated workshops complement each other, but can be enjoyed independently. Registration for these free events are required.

The Black Botany series is a collaboration between Beal Botanical Garden and the Broad Art Museum exploring the relationship between plants, people, and the African Diaspora.

Image credit: Broad Art Museum

12:10 - 1:00 p.m. 
Location: Beal Botanical Garden, meet at the shed

Join us for a lunchtime tour of the Beal Botanical Garden to enjoy the signs of fall, vibrant changing leaves, splitting seed pods, and plants getting ready for a cozy Michigan winter.

Instructor: Bethany Troy, Lead Gardener

This program is a collaboration with the MSU Library.

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Beal Botanical Garden

Create a masterpiece while mastering peace at Beal Botanical Garden. Become familiar with the heart of campus while enjoying nature and art for your wellbeing. All programs will proceed while supplies last and with weather permitting.

Tea & Journaling: Take a moment to enjoy a personalized tea blend and journal away. Don't have a journal? No worries, we have one you can pocket.

Yoga in the Garden is a partnership between the Beal Botanical Garden and University Health and Wellbeing.

Summer Session 1 Dates
May 21, May 28, June 11, June 18, June 25

Summer Session 2 Dates
July 9, July 16, July 23, August 6, August 13

2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Beal Botanical Garden

Join us at the Beal Botanical Garden for a celebration of citizen science! The celebration will include a brief iNaturalist and SEEK (the youth version) training, a garden bioblitz, unveiling of our new photo stations, a tree give-away, and more!

This program series is a collaboration between the Beal Botanical Garden, MSU Herbarium, and the East Lansing Public Library.

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Beal Botanical Garden

Create a masterpiece while mastering peace at Beal Botanical Garden. Become familiar with the heart of campus while enjoying nature and art for your wellbeing. All programs will proceed while supplies last and with weather permitting.

Painting: Allow the garden to be your muse and paint to your heart's desire. Bring your own material to paint on such as canvas, a bag, maybe even some shoes! Supplies will be limited. The first to come will be the first to paint!

Featured guests:

- Sparty

- Zeke the Wonderdog

- River, the MSU DPPS comfort dog

12:10 - 1:00 p.m. 
Location: Beal Botanical Garden, meet at the shed

Join us for a lunchtime tour of the Beal Botanical Garden to hear some of the plant lore created to explain or protect against the shortening days and darker, colder nights of winter. What’s the connection between corn and Dracula, Santa and Mario, which plants will protect you, and which ones to avoid?

Instructor: Maeve Bassett, Education Program Director

This program is a collaboration with the MSU Library.

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Beal Botanical Garden

Create a masterpiece while mastering peace at Beal Botanical Garden. Become familiar with the heart of campus while enjoying nature and art for your wellbeing. All programs will proceed while supplies last and with weather permitting.

Mosaics: Be inspired by the shapes and patterns of nature and create a crafty mosaic out of textured materials you may not always think of. Use your mosaic to decorate your dorm or give to a friend. Allow your imagination to run wild!

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Beal Botanical Garden

Create a masterpiece while mastering peace at Beal Botanical Garden. Become familiar with the heart of campus while enjoying nature and art for your wellbeing. All programs will proceed while supplies last and with weather permitting.

Cyanotypes: Utilize one of the oldest photographic printing processes in history to capture the essence of Beal with botanical materials.

8:00 p.m.
Location: Beal Botanical Garden

Bring a blanket and a friend and join us in the Beal Botanical Garden for a movie under the stars! Popcorn provided while supplies last. Follow us on social media for featured movie hints!

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Breathe With Us
Take a deep breath - trees release oxygen and keep the air around us safe to breathe. What else is important for your personal wellbeing?

Quartet Fiume
The award-winning quartet from MSU's saxophone studio will present a range of musical selections that reflect nature and wellbeing. Quartet members include Nathan Salazar, Parker Fritz, Owen Kilpatrick, and Michael Keeler.

Event Schedule

Thank you to our sponsors!

Season Sponsor
Dr. Craig Fedore

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48823

Interested in becoming a Citizen Scientist or just want to learn more about the natural world around you? Join MSU Life Sciences Librarian Jodi Coalter and ELPL's Dr. B for an introductory workshop about iNaturalist, a free app that allows everyone to collect observations of nature that can be shared with scientists around the world as it becomes part of a global network of research data. At this workshop, you'll learn how to use iNaturalist and about some of the amazing ways in which scientists and others use the observations collected to better understand and protect nature. Weather permitting, we'll then head outside to survey the biodiversity around the Library in our own local BioBlitz! You'll also be able to utilize these skills at upcoming BioBlitz events across the community.

This program series is a collaboration between the Beal Botanical Garden, MSU Herbarium, and the East Lansing Public Library.

12:10 - 1:00 p.m. 
Location: Beal Botanical Garden, meet at the shed

Join us for a lunchtime tour 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!

Instructor: Maeve Bassett, Education Program Director

This program is a collaboration with the MSU Library.

Location: Beal Botanical Garden
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Dates:
June 16, 2024 
July 14, 2024 
August 4, 2024 

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 at the Beal Botanical Garden with Maeve Bassett, Applied Ethnobotanist and Education Program 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.

6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48823

Join us at the East Lansing Public Library to talk about herbaria! During this talk, you’ll learn what an herbarium is, their origin and history, and how plants are curated into an herbarium collection. At the end of this talk, you’ll be given resources to start collecting and you’ll be able to practice mounting your own herbarium specimen to take home.

This program series is a collaboration between the Beal Botanical Garden, MSU Herbarium, and the East Lansing Public Library.

6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Deer Park Natural Area

Join us at the historic Deer Park (don’t worry, we’ll explain the name!) for an introduction to the importance of urban wild areas. There will be a brief training on iNaturalist and identification tools, and time to explore, identify, and participate in Citizen Science.

This program series is a collaboration between the Beal Botanical Garden, MSU Herbarium, and the East Lansing Public Library.

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Thank you to our sponsors!

Season Sponsor
Dr. Craig Fedore

EVENT CANCELLED

Join Peter Carrington, former curator and collections manager of Beal Botanical Garden to learn about some of his favorite plants!

Instructor: Peter Carrington

This program is a collaboration with the MSU Library.

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Thank you to our sponsors!

Season Sponsor
Dr. Craig Fedore

12:10 - 1:00 p.m. 
Location: Beal Botanical Garden, meet at the shed

Join us at the Beal Botanical Garden for a lunchtime introduction to digital identification tools such as iNaturalist, and their importance in conducting research. This tour will cover methods of plant identification, the Flora of Michigan, how to use dichotomous keys, and how herbarium specimens helped create these resources.

Instructor: Jennifer Apland, Collections Coordinator, MSU Herbarium

This program is a collaboration with the MSU Library.

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Thank you to our sponsors!

Season Sponsor
Dr. Craig Fedore

Location: Beal Botanical Garden, meet at the pond
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Register Here

Turn an ecological problem into a culinary solution with the Beal Botanical Garden and MSU Museum! Garlic mustard is an invasive menace that threatens Michigan-native plants in late-spring. Luckily for us, it is also quite delicious. Come learn how to identify and pull garlic mustard from the banks of the Red Cedar River and turn it into a delectable, sustainable pesto.

This is a free program, but please register in advance for planning purposes.

Image credit: MSU Museum

Join Beal Botanical Garden to explore the Campus Natural Areas as they come alive for spring!

Dates:
April 5, 2024 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. - Sanford Natural Area
April 12, 2024 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. - Sanford Natural Area
May 4, 2024 (Saturday) from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - Sanford Natural Area
May 10, 2024 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. - Baker Woodlot

For Sanford Natural Area, meet at the entrance between Holmes and McDonel Halls. For Baker Woodlot, meet at main entrance on Farm Lane.

12:10 - 1:00 p.m. 
Location: Beal Botanical Garden, meet at the shed

Join us for a lunchtime tour of the Beal Botanical Garden to enjoy spring wildflowers, discover what the garden staff are doing to restore native plants and habitat along the Red Cedar River, and see what birds have begun visiting the Botanical Garden. Bring binoculars if you have them!

Instructor: Carolyn Miller, Plant Recorder 

This program is a collaboration with the MSU Library.

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

Dates:
February 18, 2024 
March 24, 2024 
May 5, 2024

What can art tell us about the relationship between plants and humans? Join Maeve Bassett, Applied Ethnobotanist and Education Program 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 collection.

Image credit: Kim Kauffman, Joy in Repetition, 2001.

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: The Rock, planting along the river behind the Auditorium

Join Beal Botanical Garden and IPF Landscape Services as we celebrate Arbor Day and the 150th Anniversary of the Campus Arboretum! Adopt a tree to take home and plant, learn about MSU sustainability resources, and help us plant 150 trees and shrubs along the Red Cedar River. Each planting volunteer will receive a special gift!

Visitor Parking Options (check Parking Services for closures or special events)
- Ramp #1 (Shaw Ln)
- Ramp #6 (Grand River Ave)
- Lot #39 (Shaw Ln)

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
Location: Meet at the garden pond

Final exams can be stressful. Reset and relax with us in the garden at noon for a week of wellbeing activities.

April 22 - Weeds for Wellness
Hang out with the Beal Botanical Garden team learning about easy to recognize weeds you can forage while getting your hands into soil and your mind off of finals.

April 23 - Amazing Aromas
Enjoy the sights, sounds, but most of all, the smells of the garden and create a little memory of the garden to smell whenever you need a breath of fresh air.

April 24 - Pressed for Plants
Hangout in the garden with Jennifer Apland from the MSU Herbarium, coloring specimen sheets and making a pressed plant bookmark to take home.

April 25 - Joy in Journaling
Take a break from studying/testing, breathe in the spring air, and explore the garden with facilitated reflection and our Pocket journal.

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Join us in the garden to welcome the spring season! Explore the refreshed 2024 Nurture Your Roots rooting station content and celebrate the Campus Arboretum’s 150th Anniversary with some TREE-mendous activities.

• 10:00am-12:00pm
  Join us for a volunteer work day in the garden!

• 12:00-1:00pm
  Spring Garden Opening celebrations begin!
      - Live performances from Nurture Your Roots contributors
      - Self-guided activities
      - Light refreshments
      - Discover what’s new in the garden!

Photo credit: Derrick Turner, MSU University Communications

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Location: meet at the Beal Botanical Garden pond

Join artist and Beal Scholar Shreya after the Spring Garden Opening to learn all about drawing with Pastels!

A free festival for lifelong learners of all ages!

The MSU Science Festival is a free annual celebration of science, fueled by some of the basic elements essential to scientific inquiry: curiosity, wonder, and discovery. https://sciencefestival.msu.edu/

Beal Botanical Garden will have TREEmendous activities in the STEM Building from 10am-4pm on April 13-14. 

Tree Tours in Beal Botanical Garden will also be held this weekend.
April 13:
- 11am and 3pm: Unique Trees from Around the World
- 1pm: Native Trees of Beal

April 14:
- 11am and 3pm: Tall Tree Tales
- 1pm: Native Trees of Beal

12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
Location Update: Due to weather, this program is in the Main Library, Beal Instruction Room (3rd Floor W)

Join us for a lunchtime tour of the Beal Botanical Garden to learn about programmatic and physical changes to Beal Botanical Garden Beal from Interim Director Dr. Alan Prather. The audience will be introduced to our new strategic plan and how we will be using it to help us illuminate the connection between people, plants, and place.

Instructor: Alan Prather, Interim Director

This program is a collaboration with the MSU Library.

10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location Update: Beal Botanical Garden and Student Organic Farm. Due to weather, we will start in the garden, but then move into the Main Library, Beal Instruction Room (3rd floor W).

Register

We invite you to grow with us at the Indigenous 4 Sisters Gardening Workshop hosted by Beal Botanical Garden, the Native American Institute, RISE, and the Student Organic Farm. Mikayla Thompson (Cherokee Nation descendent) will be sharing 4 Sisters history, methods, and related stories. This workshop is the first in a series that will culminate in enjoying the bounty of our harvest in the fall.

We begin our day at Beal Botanical Garden and will travel to the Student Organic Farm in the afternoon. This is a free workshop open to participants on and off campus, but please register in advance.

Location: Beal Botanical Garden, meet at the pond
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Register Here

Spring ephemerals, plants that bloom for brief periods of time in the spring, provide much-needed food for native bee and bird species and hint at warmer weather to come! Join the Beal Botanical Garden and MSU Museum to learn about the first signs of spring as we take a guided walk through the Garden in the fresh spring air. This is a free program, but please register in advance for planning purposes.

This program is presented as part of the MSU Science Festival.

Image credit: MSU Museum

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Baker Woodlot

Join the Beal Botanical Garden to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the campus arboretum by giving Baker Woodlot some spring love! Participants will learn all about this important work and help remove woody shrubs, vines, and herbaceous invasive plants such as garlic mustard.

Meet Plant Recorder, Carolyn Miller, by the Baker Woodlot entrance on Farm Ln.

This work day is being presented in conjunction with MSU Science Festival.

Photo credit: Derrick Turner, MSU University Communications

Location: Beal Botanical Garden, meet at the pond
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

No, not that kind of weed – stinging nettle! Though they’re often known for their eponymous “stinging” sensation when touched, nettles are also a nourishing ingredient for herbal tea. Join the Beal Botanical Garden and MSU Museum to learn all about the history and lore around stinging nettles, try safely harvesting the plant, then enjoy a cup of freshly brewed nettle tea.

This program is presented as part of the MSU Science Festival.

Image credit: MSU Museum

Location: Beal Botanical Garden, meet at the pond
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Register Here

Discover the uses of common chickweed (Stellaria media), a humble yet nutritious and delicious weed that thrives in Michigan gardens. Join the Beal Botanical Garden and MSU Museum to learn about and forage this plant, one of the earliest to emerge in the spring. Participants will learn how to identify the plant, harvest it, and make a chickweed salad to sample.

Image credit: MSU Museum

1:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Dates:
February 9
February 16
February 23
March 15
March 29 (cancelled)

Help preserve the crown jewel of MSU’s Campus Natural Areas, Baker Woodlot. Spend the afternoon helping remove invasive species with Beal Botanical Garden led by Plant Recorder, Carolyn Miller. We will be meeting at the northwest entrance to Baker Woodlot (on Farm Ln.). Parking is available (for a fee) in the visitor lot located on the north side of Service Rd. between Farm Ln. and Bogue St.

If you would like to work one of these dates, please email Carolyn at miller94@msu.edu to sign up.

Location Moved: MSU Museum, Food Fight! Commons inside the Food Fight! exhibit
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Embrace the Spring Equinox and celebrate the changing seasons with the Beal Botanical Garden and MSU Museum. This workshop invites you to extend your garden’s growing season by delving into the world of cold-hardy vegetables and sustainable planting techniques. We’ll plant carrots and radishes as we learn how to have fresh veggies earlier in the season with permaculture techniques like hügelkultur. Get your hands dirty and usher in a new season of growth and abundance.

This is a free program, but please register in advance for planning purposes.

Image credit: MSU Museum

From March 1 to March 17, 2024, the MSU Museum and its campus partners will host the REDress Project, an evocative art installation that spotlights the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. This striking exhibition features approximately 60 red dresses suspended along West Circle Drive in public spaces near the MSU Museum and Beal Botanical Garden, symbolizing the haunting absence and powerful presence of these women and girls.

More information on the exhibition can be found on the MSU Museum's website.

Location: Beal Botanical Garden
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Step into the rich cultural and ecological tapestry of the Great Lakes Region with the Beal Botanical Garden and MSU Museum. We’ll learn about the significance of Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata), a plant deeply rooted in both heritage and nature. Participants will make single strand twine from this plant and similar grasses, hear about the stories and practices interwoven with Sweetgrass, and gain a newfound appreciation for this vital plant in the Great Lakes Region.

Location: Beal Botanical Garden, meet at the pond
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Come chill with the Beal Botanical Garden and MSU Museum and learn about seeds! Some Michigan-native seeds require scarification or cold stratification to sprout, and the shape of seeds gives us clues about how they’re sown in the wild. Start planning for spring, pick seeds to take home, and make wildflower seed bombs.

Attendees are invited to bring their extra seeds to swap with others! This is a free program, but please register in advance for planning purposes.

Image credit: MSU Museum

6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. 
Location: Main Library, Green Room (4th floor West)

Join the Beal Botanical Garden and MSU Library for Freaky Flora February, a weekly movie series exploring the weirder side of plants and the environment. Doors open at 6:30 pm for a movie-relevant activity. Movie starts at 7:00pm.

Batman and Robin (1997)
Batman and Robin try to keep their relationship together even as they must stop Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy from freezing Gotham City. (Run time 2 hrs. 5 min.)

12:10 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
Location: On Zoom

The garden may be dormant, but our excitement to teach and learn isn't! Join us at noon (almost) every Wednesday over the winter to learn from different staff members all about the interconnectedness of plants, people, and place!

Black Botany
Join Angelica Bajos (Beal Wellbeing Coordinator) and Mark Powers (Beal Education Scholar) to learn about plants significant to wellbeing within the African Diaspora. Celebrate Black History Month exploring plants important for beauty remedies, medicine, spiritual care, and more.

Location: McDonel Hall, Room 42 (basement level)

Dates:
February 1, 2024, 12:00-1:00pm
February 7, 2024, 5:30-6:30pm
February 15, 2024, 12:00-1:00pm
February 21, 2024, 5:30-6:30pm

Relax and reconnect with nature as we bring the garden to life in an immersion space with dynamic projected videos exploring the garden and its many inhabitants. Experience Beal Botanical Garden from the warmth of indoors, reminding us of greener days to come! Bring a blanket and unwind in our garden.

Make a tea blend, paint a clay pot, grow herbs, and enjoy other mindful activities with us! Plant offerings will change weekly. Attend each event to collect them all!

Restore Your Roots is a collaboration with the Neighborhood Student Success Center and features wellbeing resources from Beal Botanical Garden’s Nurture Your Roots program.

Location: MSU Museum
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

From forbidden fruit to economic force – celebrate Valentine’s Day with our favorite sweet. “Single-origin” and “terroir” aren’t only for coffee and wine. Do you prefer Caribbean, Malagasy, Venezuelan, or Ghanian cacao? Join Beal Botanical Garden Education Director and Ethnobotanist Maeve Bassett and Science On a Sphere to learn about the global spread and impact of our world’s most influential plant. Tasting samples are included in the program!

This is a free program, but please register in advance for planning purposes.

Image credit: MSU Museum

6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. 
Location: Main Library, Green Room (4th floor West)

Join the Beal Botanical Garden and MSU Library for Freaky Flora February, a weekly movie series exploring the weirder side of plants and the environment. Doors open at 6:30 pm for a movie-relevant activity. Movie starts at 7:00pm.

Day of the Triffids (1981)
With most of the world blinded, the dangerous, walking, carnivorous Triffids escape confinements and spread chaos. The remaining blind are helpless and many fall prey to the Triffids' lethal whipping sting, but can the plucky band of sighted survivors keep this fearful plant at bay? (Note: Very long run time at 2hrs. 37 min.)

12:10 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
Location: On Zoom

Register here

The garden may be dormant, but our excitement to teach and learn isn't! Join us at noon (almost) every Wednesday over the winter to learn from different staff members all about the interconnectedness of plants, people, and place!

Valentine's Day Plant Lore
Join ethnobotanist and Beal Botanical Garden Education Director Maeve Bassett to learn about the plant stories of Valentine's day and the many 'love' plants throughout history!

6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. 
Location change: Main Library, Green Room (4th floor West)

Join the Beal Botanical Garden and MSU Library for Freaky Flora February, a weekly movie series exploring the weirder side of plants and the environment. Doors open at 6:30 pm for a movie-relevant activity. Movie starts at 7:00pm.

FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
Magic and adventure await in FernGully, a spectacular rainforest where a bat named Batty, whose radar has gone haywire, joins together with Crysta, Pips, and the Beetle Boys to save their marvelous world from the evil Hexxus. (Animated. Run time 76 min.)

Event Cancelled
Unfortunately, due to scheduling, this event has been cancelled. Be sure to check out our other online lunchtime learning opportunities in February!

The garden may be dormant, but our excitement to teach and learn isn't! Join us at noon (almost) every Wednesday over the winter to learn from different staff members all about the interconnectedness of plants, people, and place!

Beal Scholar Feature
Join us on February 7th and 21st to learn botanical topics from our amazing Beal Scholars. The specific topic for this Lunch and Learn will be announced shortly.

Location: MSU Museum
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Tea has been spilled, literally and figuratively, in its journey around the globe. Join Beal Botanical Garden Education Director and Ethnobotanist Maeve Bassett in collaboration with the MSU Museum to learn more about the cultural significance, medicinal properties, and ecological impacts of tea. Using Science On a Sphere, we’ll explore the global spread and impact of the world’s most delicious plant. Participants will have the opportunity to taste different tea varieties and try preparation methods with centuries-old traditions.

This is a free program, but please register in advance for planning purposes.

Image credit: MSU Museum

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Event rescheduled to February 2 from January 19, 2024

Help preserve the crown jewel of MSU’s Campus Natural Areas, Baker Woodlot. Spend an afternoon helping remove invasive species with Beal Botanical Garden led by Plant Recorder, Carolyn Miller. We will be meeting at the northwest entrance to Baker Woodlot (on Farm Ln.). Parking is available (for a fee) in the visitor lot located on the north side of Service Rd. between Farm Ln. and Bogue St.

Please email Carolyn at miller94@msu.edu to register.

6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. 
Location: Main Library, Beal Instruction Room (3rd floor West)

Join the Beal Botanical Garden and MSU Library for Freaky Flora February, a weekly movie series exploring the weirder side of plants and the environment. Doors open at 6:30 pm for a movie-relevant activity. Movie starts at 7:00pm.

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1978)
A musical comedy-horror show which parodies horror films made by Alfred Hitchcock and others. A government task force investigates reports of people and pets being eaten by giant tomatoes. (Run time 90 min.)

12:10 - 1:00 pm
Location: On Zoom

Register here

The garden may be dormant, but our excitement to teach and learn isn't! Join us at noon (almost) every Wednesday over the winter to learn from different staff members all about the interconnectedness of plants, people, and place!

Introduction to Horticulture Therapy
Join Education Director Maeve Bassett to learn the basic principles and concepts behind horticulture therapy. Maeve will use anecdotes from her time working with the youth in the South Bronx and refugees in Baltimore to show the diverse impacts it can have.

12:10 - 1:00 pm
Location: On Zoom 

The garden may be dormant, but our excitement to teach and learn isn't! Join us at noon (almost) every Wednesday over the winter to learn from different staff members all about the interconnectedness of plants, people, and place!

Planning for Our Next 150 Years!
Join Interim Director of Beal Botanical Garden, Dr. Alan Prather, as we think about how the garden’s legacy informs our vision of what our future should look like. Let’s explore the interconnectedness of people, plants, and place as we begin our next 150 years!

Location: MSU Museum
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Chile peppers make everything spicy, including geopolitics! Join Beal Botanical Garden Education Director and Ethnobotanist Maeve Bassett in collaboration with the MSU Museum’s "Food Fight!" exhibition to dive into the fiery world of chili peppers to learn how they ignited cultural exchanges and shaped international relations. Using Science On a Sphere, we’ll explore the global spread and impact of our spiciest plant family. Tasting samples are included in the program!

This is a free program, but please register in advance for planning purposes.

Image credit: MSU Museum

12:10 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
Location: On Zoom

This program was rescheduled to January 17, 2024.

Register here

The garden may be dormant, but our excitement to teach and learn isn't! Join us at noon (almost) every Wednesday over the winter to learn from different staff members all about the interconnectedness of plants, people, and place!

Native Plants for Urban Environments
Join Carolyn Miller, Beal Botanical Garden plant recorder, to learn all about the best native plants for your yards and other urban landscapes. Whether you want to garden for birds, pollinators, water conservation, or a landscape that requires as little oversight as possible, this virtual workshop will have something useful for you!

Location: Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum
Time: During art museum business hours

Visit our exhibit in the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum created by our History Scholar, Bill Hodgkins, Videography Scholar, Ethan Seelig, and communications staff, Molly Taylor. Discover how this living laboratory has become a beloved spot in the heart of our campus. The garden has evolved over time, but the ways people engage with it remain the same—it is a place to learn, relax, and grow. Whether you’ve enjoyed the garden over the years, or are just learning about it now, we invite you to celebrate this historic moment with us and to help us define the next chapter of its significance as we look to the future.

Exhibit Information

Image credit: Derrick Turner, University Communications

12:10 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
Location: On Zoom

Register here

The garden may be dormant, but our excitement to teach and learn isn't! Join us at noon (almost) every Wednesday over the winter to learn from different staff members all about the interconnectedness of plants, people, and place!

Holiday Plant Lore
Tis the season, sit around the fire with Maeve Bassett and enjoy the plant stories created throughout human history over many dark long winter nights! This presentation will cover winter and holiday plant lore, supplying you with plenty of weird plant stories to take home for the holidays.

12:10 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
Location: On Zoom

Register here

The garden may be dormant, but our excitement to teach and learn isn't! Join us at noon (almost) every Wednesday over the winter to learn from different staff members all about the interconnectedness of plants, people, and place!

Conferring Conifers + Origami
Join Beal Collections Manager, Katie Fry, for this pre-finals workshop to learn about our favorite winter trees, conifers! This lunch session will cover the unique conifers of the Beal Botanical Garden while also learning how to make your origami tree to enjoy on those days when you can’t make it to the garden.

12:10 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
Location: On Zoom

 Program Cancelled

The garden may be dormant, but our excitement to teach and learn isn't! Join us at noon (almost) every Wednesday over the winter to learn from different staff members all about the interconnectedness of plants, people, and place!

Tails from the Garden
Join Beal Technician and ultimate dog lover, David Price, to learn all things plants, gardens, and dogs. This program will cover plants that relate to dogs in good, bad, or weird ways (why are you eating grass!?!?). The program will end with etiquette for bringing your furry friend to visit the Beal Botanical Garden and a plant-based recipe for your pup.

12:10 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
Location: On Zoom

Register here

The garden may be dormant, but our excitement to teach and learn isn't! Join us at noon (almost) every Wednesday over the winter to learn from different staff members all about the interconnectedness of plants, people, and place!

Promiscuous Plants
Whether in love potions, aphrodisiacs, medicinal treatments, or chocolates on Valentine’s Day, plants have always played an important role in our love lives as well as having distinctive methods of their own. Join Maeve Bassett to learn about what new rabbit hole she has discovered during her research!

12:10 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
Location: On Zoom

Register here

The garden may be dormant, but our excitement to teach and learn isn't! Join us at noon (almost) every Wednesday over the winter to learn from different staff members all about the interconnectedness of plants, people, and place!

Introduction to Ethnobotany
Join Maeve Bassett, Beal Botanical Garden's resident ethnobotanist, to learn all about Ethnobotany - the study of the relationship between people and plants, and the amazing stories and larger discussions that can be found when looking at plants through the human perspective.

6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Dates:
October 5: The Thing from Another World (1951)
October 12: The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
October 19: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
October 26: The Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Enjoy a classic botanical monster movie in the Main Library Green Room. Popcorn will be provided while supplies last.

This event is free and open to the public.

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Hear some of the plant lore created to explain or protect against the shortening days and darker, colder nights of winter. What's the connection between corn and Dracula? Santa and Mario? Which plants will protect you, and which ones should you avoid?

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Meet at the picnic tables in Beal Botanical Garden

Take a tour along the Red Cedar River and learn about some of the gardens and greenspaces that make MSU's parklike campus so special. This two-mile round trip walk will leave from Beal Botanical Garden to Sanford Woodlot and back. Staff from Beal and the MSU Office of Sustainability will be present to share their expertise. 

Please be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

Walk will be cancelled in the event of rain.

Location: Baker Woodlot, East Entrance, MSU campus
Time: 1:00 p.m.

Baker Woodlot is now a member of the Old Growth Forest Network! Please join us in celebrating this important designation. 

This program will feature brief remarks followed by a guided walk through the woodlot by MSU experts. Bring your friends and family!

This event is presented by the MSU Campus Natural Areas Classroom, Curriculum & Conservation Committee and the MSU Department of Forestry.

8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Dates:
September 7 - Cancelled due to weather
September 14
September 21
September 28 - Cancelled due to weather

Bring a blanket and a friend and join us in the garden every Thursday in September for a movie under the stars! Insect repellent recommended if desired. Popcorn will be provided while supplies last.

Yoga in the Garden is a partnership between the Beal Botanical Garden and University Health and Wellbeing.

Summer Session 1 Dates
May 21, May 28, June 11, June 18, June 25

Summer Session 2 Dates
July 9, July 16, July 23, August 6, August 13

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Join Education Director Maeve to learn about some of the less than successful botanical remedies throughout history. Tour often covers adult materials and meets at the Beal Botanical Garden pond.

Program cancelled due to weather.

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Join us for an interactive experience of music, art, and science at the heart of the MSU campus. The Beal Botanical Garden and the College of Music present free, family-friendly events on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer. Activities start with drop-in family-oriented art and science activities. Bring your lawn chair or a blanket to set up for a concert that begins at 2:00 featuring MSU College of Music groups and ensembles. After the concert, learn about plants and take-home tips for your own garden or favorite green space.

Family-friendly Activities
Beginning at 1:00, take part in hands-on educational activities for all ages that focus on different science and history topics.

About the Music Program
Performance will feature a group composed of a violin, piano, and clarinet from the College of Music.

In the garden after the concert
Post-concert activities will illuminate the interconnectedness of people, plants, and place.

Events happen rain or shine. In the event of rain, activities may take place within the Music Building across from the garden on West Circle Dr. Signs will be posted to direct patrons where to go.

The Music and the Garden Series is presented by Beal Botanical Garden in partnership with musicians coordinated by the MSU College of Music. Pre- and post-performance activities are arranged by the staff of the Beal Botanical Garden.

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Join Education Director Maeve to learn about some of the more politically divisive plants. This tour will end with addressing a 300 year old smear campaign and trying yaupon tea. Tours often contain adult materials and meet at the Beal Botanical Garden pond.

12:10 p.m. - 12:55 p.m.

Join us for a lunchtime tour with Beal Botanical Garden’s Interim Director, Dr. Prather, to learn all about the Red Cedar Riverbank restoration efforts. Learn the importance of this work, what the Garden is currently working on, future work plans, and what you can do to help! 

Instructor: Alan Prather, Interim Director, Beal Botanical Garden

September 13, 2023
Location: Beal Botanical Garden
Time: 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Join us in Beal Botanical Garden for a day full of celebratory festivities! We have plans for family activities, games, tours and education programs, art performances, and more!

Details will be added to the 150th anniversary page as they develop.

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Join us for an interactive experience of music, art, and science at the heart of the MSU campus. The Beal Botanical Garden and the College of Music present free, family-friendly events on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer. Activities start with drop-in family-oriented art and science activities. Bring your lawn chair or a blanket to set up for a concert that begins at 2:00 featuring MSU College of Music groups and ensembles followed by post-concert topics about plants.

Family-friendly Activities
Beginning at 1:00, take part in hands-on educational activities for all ages that focus on different science and history topics.

About the Music Program
Music performances will feature a MSU graduate vocalist and pianist Mengyao Zhao.

In the garden after the concert
Post-concert activities will illuminate the interconnectedness of people, plants, and place.

Events happen rain or shine. In the event of rain, activities may take place within the Music Building across from the garden on West Circle Dr. Signs will be posted to direct patrons where to go.

The Music and the Garden Series is presented by Beal Botanical Garden in partnership with musicians coordinated by the MSU College of Music. Pre- and post-performance activities are arranged by the staff of the Beal Botanical Garden.

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Join Maeve in this series of tours to explore the weird, wild, and wonderous world of plants. Tours often cover adult themes and meet at the Beal Botanical Garden pond.

Promiscuous Plants: Join an (uncensored!) tour to learn about the salacious sex lives of plants and how they have long been incorporated, from aphrodisiacs to abortifacients, into the sex lives of humans.

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Join Maeve in this series of tours to explore the weird, wild, and wonderous world of plants. Tours often cover adult themes and meet at the Botanical Garden pond.

Colonizing Chiles: Originating in Bolivia around 6 million years ago, the chile pepper has circumnavigated the globe being incorporated into every cuisine and culture it has come across. Join this Botanical Garden tour to learn all about the history of chiles!

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Join Maeve in this series of tours to explore the weird, wild, and wonderous world of plants. Tours often cover adult themes and meet at the Botanical Garden pond.

Amazing Adaptations: Plants have adapted to survive in conditions all over the world and have developed some very unique skills and workarounds for the daily challenges of being a plant. Join this Botanical Garden tour to learn about some amazing adaptations!

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Join Maeve in this series of tours to explore the weird, wild, and wonderous world of plants. Tours often cover adult themes and meet at the Botanical Garden pond.

Botanical Baddies: Tricks, traps, and toxins – from catching food, to defending themselves, or even human bad behavior, enjoy a tour learning about the botanical baddies throughout history!

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Join us for an interactive experience of music, art, and science at the heart of the MSU campus. The Beal Botanical Garden and the College of Music present free, family-friendly events on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer. Activities start with drop-in family-oriented art and science activities. Bring your lawn chair or a blanket to set up for a concert that begins at 2:00 featuring MSU College of Music groups and ensembles followed by post-concert topics about plants.

Family-friendly Activities
Beginning at 1:00, take part in hands-on educational activities for all ages that focus on different science and history topics.

About the Music Program
“Floral Arrangements” explores pieces that are connected with flowers to create a collaboration of music and visualization in nature.

In the garden after the concert
Post-concert activities will illuminate the interconnectedness of people, plants, and place.

Events happen rain or shine. In the event of rain, activities may take place within the Music Building across from the garden on West Circle Dr. Signs will be posted to direct patrons where to go.

The Music and the Garden Series is presented by Beal Botanical Garden in partnership with musicians coordinated by the MSU College of Music. Pre- and post-performance activities are arranged by the staff of the Beal Botanical Garden.

12:10 p.m. - 12:55 p.m.

Join us for a lunchtime tour with Garden Manager Katie Fry to learn about Garden Staff plant favorites (and maybe even some archnemeses!). This tour will cover favorite plants, what makes them so special, and how you can incorporate them into your own landscaping.

This event is free and open to the public. Tours meet at the Beal Garden shed/pond.

Instructor: Katie Fry, Garden Manager, Beal Botanical Garden

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Join Maeve in this series of tours to explore the weird, wild, and wonderous world of plants. Tours often cover adult themes and meet at the Botanical Garden pond.

Promiscuous Plants: Join an (uncensored!) tour to learn about the salacious sex lives of plants and how they have long been incorporated, from aphrodisiacs to abortifacients, into the sex lives of humans.

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Join Maeve in this series of tours to explore the weird, wild, and wonderous world of plants. Tours often cover adult themes and meet at the Botanical Garden pond.

Nefarious Nightshades: As one of the most notorious plant families, nightshades can range from killing half a million people in the US annually to an essential ingredient in pizza. Join this tour to learn about our nefarious nightshades. 

July 18, 2023 at 6:00-7:30 p.m.
July 20, 2023 at 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Explore herbals, the doctrine of signatures, and how different plants have been utilized medicinally throughout history (successful… or not)!

This event is free and open to the public. Tours meet at the Beal Garden shed/pond.

Instructor: Maeve Basset, Education Program Director, Beal Botanical Garden

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Join us for an interactive experience of music, art, and science at the heart of the MSU campus. The Beal Botanical Garden and the College of Music present free, family-friendly events on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer. Activities start with drop-in family-oriented art and science activities. Bring your lawn chair or a blanket to set up for a concert that begins at 2:00 featuring MSU College of Music groups and ensembles followed by post-concert topics about plants.

Family-friendly Activities
Beginning at 1:00, take part in hands-on educational activities for all ages that focus on different science and history topics.

About the Music Program
Award-winning saxophone quartet, Clap7 (Charlotte Jansky, Jacob Feldman, Aaron Plegue, Natalia Warthen, and guest Noah Miller) performs The Best of Clap7 (music they love).

In the garden after the concert
Post-concert activities will illuminate the interconnectedness of people, plants, and place.

Events happen rain or shine. In the event of rain, activities may take place within the Music Building across from the garden on West Circle Dr. Signs will be posted to direct patrons where to go.

The Music and the Garden Series is presented by Beal Botanical Garden in partnership with musicians coordinated by the MSU College of Music. Pre- and post-performance activities are arranged by the staff of the Beal Botanical Garden.

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

Join us for a guided historic tour of the Beal Botanical Garden at Michigan State University to celebrate its 150th anniversary. Beal is the oldest continuously operated university botanical garden in the United States. The tour will be given by Bill Hodgkins, recent MSU graduate in history and Beal history intern.

Meet at the West Circle Dr. entrance near the library fountain at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 15th. This event is free and open to the public.

Instructor: Bill Hodgkins, Beal history intern

Photo credit: Historical Society of Greater Lansing

12:10 p.m. - 12:55 p.m.

Join us for a lunchtime tour to learn where plants get their names, including the stories of the good, the potentially problematic, the downright weird, and debate common vs. scientific names!

This event is free and open to the public. Tours meet at the Beal Garden shed/pond. 

Instructor: Maeve Bassett, Education Program Director, Beal Botanical Garden

June 28, 2023 at 6:00-7:30 p.m.
June 30, 2023 at 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Touch, Taste, and Smell your way through the garden to experience the sensory adventure of the outdoors, exploring how the good, bad, and weird came about.

This event is free and open to the public. Tours meet at the Beal Garden shed/pond.

Instructor: Maeve Basset, Education Program Director, Beal Botanical Garden

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Join us for an interactive experience of music, art, and science at the heart of the MSU campus. The Beal Botanical Garden and the College of Music present free, family-friendly events on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer. Activities start with drop-in family-oriented art and science activities. Bring your lawn chair or a blanket to set up for a concert that begins at 2:00 featuring MSU College of Music groups and ensembles. After the concert, learn about the 150-year history of the garden.

Family-friendly Activities
Beginning at 1:00, take part in hands-on educational activities for all ages that focus on different science and history topics.

About the Music Program
The Spartan Jazz Quartet - Members of the MSU Jazz Program will provide a concert full of exciting renditions of jazz favorites.

In the garden after the concert
Beal Garden celebrates 150 years. Post-concert treats and a guided tour focus on the garden’s history, the “Then and Now” photography series and the “Nurture Your Roots” well-being installation.

Library exhibit opening
This exhibit showcases the 150-year history and legacies of W.J. Beal's garden's influences with artifacts from Special Collections, Univ. Archives, and the W.J. Beal Dept. Utilized by the MSU community and visitors, the original intent of Beal’s pioneering garden has remained consistent – it’s a place to learn, a place to experiment, a place to sow, and a place to grow.

Events happen rain or shine. In the event of rain, activities may take place within the Music Building across from the garden on West Circle Dr. Signs will be posted to direct patrons where to go.

The Music and the Garden Series is presented by Beal Botanical Garden in partnership with musicians coordinated by the MSU College of Music. Pre- and post-performance activities are arranged by the staff of the Beal Botanical Garden.

June 21, 2023 at 6:00-7:30 p.m.
June 23, 2023 at 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Join education Program Director Maeve Bassett to learn the basic principles and concepts behind horticulture therapy. Maeve will use anecdotes from her time working with the youth in the South Bronx and refugees in Baltimore to show the diverse impacts it can have.

This event is free and open to the public. Tours meet at the Beal Garden shed/pond.

Instructor: Maeve Basset, Education Program Director, Beal Botanical Garden

12:00 p.m.

Connect and collaborate with fellow supporters as we celebrate the efforts of students and faculty dedicated to wellbeing at MSU. These stations highlight the connection between wellness and nature and we invite you to explore them with us.

This event is open to the public. Meet at Beal Botanical Garden, 330 W. Circle Dr., East Lansing, MI, 48824.

Organizers: Katie Fry, Beal Botanical Gardens Collections Manager and Angelica Bajos, Botanical Garden Assistant 

5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Join us at the Garden to learn all about stinging nettles, why they sting, their lore, nutritional value, and try out some nettle tea!

12:00 - 12:45 p.m.

Join us in the Garden for a lunchtime program exploring the scents of the garden, the good, the bad, and the weird.

12:10 p.m. - 12:55 p.m.

Join us for a lunchtime spring tour of the Beal Botanical Garden to enjoy spring flowers, discover what the garden staff are doing to restore native plants and habitat along the Red Cedar River, and see what birds have begun visiting the Botanical Garden. Bring binoculars if you have them! 

This event is free and open to the public. Tours meet at the Beal Garden shed/pond. 

Instructor: Carolyn Miller, Plant Recorder, Beal Botanical Garden

12:10 p.m. - 12:55 p.m.

Join us for a lunchtime spring tour of the Beal Botanical Garden to enjoy spring flowers, discover what the garden staff are doing to restore native plants and habitat along the Red Cedar River, and see what birds have begun visiting the Botanical Garden. Bring binoculars if you have them! 

This event is free and open to the public. Tours meet at the Beal Garden shed/pond. 

Instructor: Carolyn Miller, Plant Recorder, Beal Botanical Garden

6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

In celebration of Beal Botanical Garden’s 150th anniversary, join us in the garden a poetry reading in nature! MSU students Mikayla Thompson and Julia Rudlaff, who submitted the selected pieces for the garden’s Nurture Your Roots special commission project, will be reading their winning writing in addition to other original work. Anyone who is comfortable is also invited to read their own original poetry as part of the event. Bring folding chairs, blankets, or anything else you may need to enjoy a comfortable experience. This event is presented by Arts4U, a series of pop-up art activities created for students, by students. It is free and open to the public.

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

Not only are spring ephemerals bursting through the forest floor, but we might be able to find early amphibians in the vernal ponds in Baker. Join Carolyn Miller, Plant Recorder on a walk in the woods. 

Please meet at the NW corner of Baker woodlot.

Frank Telewski Commemorative Tree Planting

11:00 a.m.

Dr. Frank Telewski has retired after 29 years as Curator and Director of the W.J. Beal Botanical Garden and Campus Arboretum and Professor in Plant Biology. Frank’s family, colleagues, and friends are honoring Frank’s years of inspired service by adopting and planting commemorative trees in the Garden. Join us to celebrate Frank and enjoy this tree planting. 

Arbor Day Commemorative Tree Planting

12:00 p.m.

Join us in the Beal Garden to celebrate Arbor Day. A tulip tree sapling (Liriodendron tulipifera) descended from a mature MSU campus tree will be planted near the garden's new picnic tables.

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

As spring advances, the forest floor will come alive with spring ephemerals. Please join Plant Recorder Carolyn Miller for a walk in the woods. 

Please meet at the Sanford entrance between McDonnel and Holmes Halls. Bring binoculars as well, since we may see some early migrating bird species.

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

The Beal Botanical Garden Ambassador volunteer ambassador program is a group of trained volunteers that support the Botanical Garden on weekends and holidays from April – October when staff is unavailable. Ambassadors are stationed in the garden (often in pairs) to engage guests, answer questions, give directions, ensure safety within the garden, and report back to the staff about how the garden is being utilized and the most common questions that guests have. Through these responsibilities, they help guests better engage with the Botanical Garden and support staff to continually improve for better access and engagement. Meet by the Beal Garden pond/shed.

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Assist the MSU Office of Sustainability, the W.J. Beal Botanical Garden and Infrastructure Planning and Facilities to ready the university's pollinator gardens along the Red Cedar River. Volunteers will assist with invasive species removal, weeding, and laying mulch to create pathways. All materials needed will be supplied by MSU.

All volunteers should gather along the Red Cedar River directly behind the Minskoff Pavilion. Representatives from MSU Sustainability and Beal Garden will be waiting for you to provide instruction. Those volunteering for "Garden #1" will be serving with current MSU students participating in the Earth Day, Spartan Day of Service.

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

Join Plant Recorder Carolyn Miller as we continue to explore Beal Garden for Michigan native spring ephemerals that will begin to flower. 

Meet at the Beal pond at noon for a guided walk.

Second show: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Abrams Planetarium: 755 Science Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824

12:10 p.m. - 12:55 p.m.

Join us for a lunchtime tour to meet Beal's new Education Program Director, Maeve Bassett, and learn all about the origin of ethnobotany, the study of the relationship between people and plants. Tour will cover topics such as herbals, doctrine of signatures, role of botanical gardens, and a few weird plant stories. A great way to launch the 2023 season of tours at the Beal Botanical Garden!

This event is free and open to the public. Tours meet near the shed/pond in the Beal Botanical Garden.

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 

Join the Beal Team and Dr. Georgia Peterson for an experience in 'forest bathing' at Baker Woodlot. 'Forest bathing' is concept also known as ecotherapy that allows us to reconnect with the forest and to simply relax and take in nature.

This event is free and open to the public. Meet at the northwest corner of Baker Woodlot at noon (entrance 4). 

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

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 

Join the Beal Team and Dr. Georgia Peterson for an experience in 'forest bathing' at Baker Woodlot. 'Forest bathing' is concept also known as ecotherapy that allows us to reconnect with the forest and to simply relax and take in nature.

This event is free and open to the public. Meet at the northwest corner of Baker Woodlot at noon (entrance 4). 

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.

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. - 2:00 p.m.

Stop by the northeast entrance of ComArts to learn about the Garden's upcoming 150th celebrations, opportunities for volunteers and student employment, games and art activities with garden staff, and giveaways!

 Communications Arts and Sciences Building: 

404 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Stop by Case Hall's North Lobby to learn about the Garden's upcoming 150th celebrations, opportunities for volunteers and student employment, games and art activities with garden staff, and giveaways!

Case Hall:

842 Chestnut Rd, East Lansing, MI 48825

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

As spring gets earlier and earlier, join Beal Staff member Carolyn Miller on a hike through Sanford Natural Area as we look for spring ephemerals beginning to emerge. Let’s just enjoy being in the woods, search for Skunk cabbage and other wildflowers,  listen to the winter birds, and taking in all the sights and sounds of beautiful Sanford Natural Area along the Red Cedar River.

Meet in between McDonnel and Holmes Hall at noon. Everyone is welcome. If you have binoculars, bring them!

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Stop by the new STEM Teaching and Learning Facility to learn about the Garden's upcoming 150th celebrations, opportunities for volunteers and student employment, games and art activities with garden staff, and giveaways!

STEM Teaching and Learning Facility: 

642 Red Cedar Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Stop by BPS to learn about the Garden's upcoming 150th celebrations, opportunities for volunteers and student employment, games and art activities with garden staff, and giveaways!

Biological and Physical Sciences Building:

567 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824

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

Reconnect with nature, get outside, slow down and take a breath and even learn a little botany. Ever wonder what tree species we have in the historic oval? Meet some of our beautiful, historic trees in person. Join Beal Botanical Garden team member, Carolyn Miller as she leads you on a winter tree hike around north campus. Even though leaves are absent, by looking at the bark and winter buds, you can learn to appreciate our lovely trees. Please join us.  

Meet at Beaumont Tower at noon. Everyone is welcome.

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

Join us for the first in our spring series, Beal Nature Walks. Reconnect with nature, get outside, slow down and take a breath and even learn a little botany. Join Carolyn Miller to explore the river trail and see the very first of our spring bloomers in action, check out the birds along the Red Cedar River, and talk about trees in winter. Please join us. 

Meet at the Beal Botanical Garden pond near the shed at noon. Everyone is welcome. If you have binoculars, bring them!

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Learn about climate change and plant adaptation from Beal Garden staff.

This presentation is part of the MSU Museum Darwin Discovery Day event.

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Elliot Pancioli, an MSU student with melded interests in psychology and horticulture/agriculture, has developed a pocket journal to help people utilize the beautiful MSU Beal Gardens for the intention of mindfulness and meditation. Elliot is hoping to have some MSU students, faculty, and staff members spend some time engaging with his journal and sharing their feedback. Health4U is partnering with Elliot in this effort.

If you are interested in spending some time in the gardens this fall using Elliot’s journal as a meditative guide, and would be willing to participate in a zoom focus group session to share your experience, reactions, and feedback please consider registering for this special offering.

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

This fall, take time to step away from your desk, explore campus, and be active with colleagues. The Wednesday Walk series is a collaborative program designed to bring Spartans closer to MSU’s beautiful campus spaces, all while learning from experts and engaging in a restorative wellness practice during the workday. Sponsored by MSU Health4U, MSU Sustainability and W.J. Beal Botanical Garden. Comfortable shoes recommended. Walks will be cancelled in the event of rain. Meet behind Holmes Hall at noon, or at MSU Bikes at 11:50 a.m for a group ride to Sanford Woodlot (BYO bike). 

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

This fall, take time to step away from your desk, explore campus, and be active with colleagues. The Wednesday Walk series is a collaborative program designed to bring Spartans closer to MSU’s beautiful campus spaces, all while learning from experts and engaging in a restorative wellness practice during the workday. Sponsored by MSU Health4U, MSU Sustainability and W.J. Beal Botanical Garden. Comfortable shoes recommended. Walk will take place in IM East in event of rain.

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

This fall, take time to step away from your desk, explore campus, and be active with colleagues. The Wednesday Walk series is a collaborative program designed to bring Spartans closer to MSU’s beautiful campus spaces, all while learning from experts and engaging in a restorative wellness practice during the workday. Sponsored by MSU Health4U, MSU Sustainability and W.J. Beal Botanical Garden. Comfortable shoes recommended. Walks will be cancelled in the event of rain.

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

This fall, take time to step away from your desk, explore campus, and be active with colleagues. The Wednesday Walk series is a collaborative program designed to bring Spartans closer to MSU’s beautiful campus spaces, all while learning from experts and engaging in a restorative wellness practice during the workday. Sponsored by MSU Health4U, MSU Sustainability and W.J. Beal Botanical Garden. Comfortable shoes recommended. Walks will be cancelled in the event of rain.

2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Take a stroll through the W.J. Beal Botanical Garden and learn about all the unique collections that are here. Join staff member Carolyn Miller as she guides you through the garden talking about all the plants that are on display. This event is part of the inaugural Spartan Family Weekend. Please register prior to attending.

2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Help preserve the crown jewel of MSU’s Campus Natural Areas, Baker Woodlot. Spend an afternoon helping remove invasive Japanese barberry with a team from the W. J. Beal Botanical Garden led by Carolyn Miller. Bring gloves and meet us at the NE entrance of Baker Woodlot (Service Road and Bogue Street) at 2 pm.

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

A hint of the fall season in the garden presents an MSU String Quartet to perform a range of traditional and contemporary classical chamber works.
Join us in the Garden at 1 p.m. for family-friendly Art and STEM activities followed by a 2 p.m. concert. After the music, at about 3:00, help plant our future and join us for an inaugural planning of our Pollinator Garden. This garden will support native plants and bees and is planned as a commemorative installation for our 150th Anniversary in 2023. A Community Bee Clinic hosted by the MSU Museum will also be held at 3:00 after the concert. Audience members are invited to bring their own chairs or blankets for seating. In the event of rain, activities may move indoors to the Music Building, located adjacent to W.J. Botanical Garden at 333 West Circle Drive.