Past Events
A look back on all the incredible events we have had.
A look back on all the incredible events we have had.
Fridays in February & March
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.
March 20 2024
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
March 1-17 2024
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.
March 13 2024
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.
March 6 2024
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
February 22 2024
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.)
February 21 2024
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.
Multiple Dates in February
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.
February 17 2024
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
February 15 2024
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.)
February 14 2024
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!
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!
February 8 2024
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.)
February 7 2024
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.
February 3 2024
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
February 2 2024
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.
February 1 2024
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.)
January 31 2024
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!
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.
January 24 2024
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!
January 20 2024
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
January 17 2024
12:10 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: On Zoom
This program was rescheduled to January 17, 2024.
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!
September 2 - December 17 2023
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.
Image credit: Derrick Turner, University Communications
December 13 2023
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!
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.
December 6 2023
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!
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.
November 29 2023
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!
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.
November 8 2023
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!
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!
November 1 2023
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!
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.
Thursdays in October 2023
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.
October 12 2023
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?
October 11 2023
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.
October 7 2023
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.
Thursdays in September 2023
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.
September 27 2023
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.
September 24 2023
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.
September 20 2023
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.
September 14 2023
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
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.
September 10 2023
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.
September 6 2023
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.
August 30 2023
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!
August 23 2023
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!
August 16 2023
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!
August 13 2023
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.
august 10 2023
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
August 9 2023
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.
August 2 2023
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 & 20 2023
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
July 16 2023
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.
July 15 2023
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
July 13 2023
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 & 30 2023
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
June 25 2023
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 & 23 2023
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
June 20 2023
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
June 8 2023
may 24 2023
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!
may 22 2023
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.
may 11 2023
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
may 11 2023
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
may 4 2023
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.
may 3 2023
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.
April 28 2023
Frank Telewski Commemorative Tree Planting
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.
April 26 2023
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.
April 22 2023
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.
April 22 2023
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.
April 19 2023
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.
April 17, 18, & 20 2023
Second show: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Abrams Planetarium: 755 Science Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824
April 13 2023
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.
April 12 2023
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).
April 1 & 2 2023
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
March 29 2023
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).
march 27 2023
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.
March 22 2023
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!
March 16 2023
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
March 15 2023
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
March 15 2023
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!
March 14 2023
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
March 13 2023
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
March 1 2023
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.
February 22 2023
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!
February 11 2023
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.
November 2 2022
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.
October 19 2022
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).
October 12 2022
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.
October 5 2022
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.
September 28 2022
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.
September 23 2022
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.
September 21 2022
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.
September 15 2022
8:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Bring a blanket or chair and join us in the Garden for a screening of WALL-E with the MSU Museum. This program is in conjunction with the exhibition 1.5° Celsius which explores the global climate crisis on view in the MSU Museum’s Main Gallery. In the event of rain, this event may be rescheduled.
September 11 2022
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.