The Michigan State University Horticulture Gardens are a collection of plants and trees located on Bogue Street on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing, Michigan. The gardens are open to the public every day at no cost.

These gardens are a well-known place for visitors on campus and have been since the early years of the university. Gardens were first established on campus when the Michigan Agricultural College was founded, which later became Michigan State University. Over time, the gardens were moved to make space for new buildings. Today, they are located next to the Plant and Soil Science Building, which is home to the Department of Horticulture and its teaching greenhouses.

The main features of the gardens are as follows:

History

The first gardens on campus were the botanical gardens, which began in 1877 (Beal 252). Before the botanical gardens became popular, there was also the Horticultural greenhouse. It was a favorite place for visitors and was considered the most interesting spot on campus at that time (Lyon 204). Before horticultural gardens were created, the entire campus grounds were described as "A happy rural seat of various views," a phrase inspired by Milton's description of Eden (Lyon 203).

The first horticultural gardens were test plots for growing plants. For example, trees were used to test fungicides in 1889 (Davidson 76). The first display gardens had two purposes: to show plants to students and visitors and to provide plants for classes. These gardens included roses, annuals, perennials, and bulbs. They were designed in the early 1930s by T. Glenn Philips, who was the college landscape architect at the time (76). They were located in the center of what is now East Circle and extended to where the Student Services Building now stands. These gardens were very popular, with about 40,000 visitors in the summer of 1935.

In the late 1940s, the Horticulture gardens were separated from the botanical gardens after a disagreement about responsibility. President Hannah assigned the botanical gardens to the botany department and the horticulture gardens to the horticulture department. The horticulture department also provided floral arrangements for all campus buildings (76).

Changes were needed for the gardens because of the construction of the Natural Science Building and the Student Services Building. The new garden design included a grassy area with a fountain surrounded by ‘Red Jade’ crab apples in the center. Jack and Perkins released its ‘Spartan’ rose in 1955 to honor Michigan State University's 100th anniversary. By 1971, the gardens became a popular place for special events, including weddings, with twelve weddings held that year (77).

In 1978, Michigan State University was asked by All-America Selections and seed companies to join a network of trial gardens across the United States. Lowell Ewart managed the Michigan State University Trial Gardens. Trial gardens allow plant companies to see how different plants grow in various climates. Seed companies choose plants to test, and thousands of varieties are submitted for testing in Michigan. Bedding plants were started in the Horticulture Teaching Greenhouse in March and April and then planted in May. Each variety was given a number and evaluated three times during the summer. Results were published at the end of each growing season. Seed company representatives met in August to review the trials and decide what to grow next. The trial garden covered about half an acre with 30,000 plants. The trial gardens were moved to their current location in the late 1980s, and the current manager is Katie Carver.

Fundraising for the newest and final gardens began in 1987. Despite doubts from some faculty, $3 million was raised by the time the gardens were dedicated in 1993. Work on the new gardens started in 1989 after the Plant and Soil Science Building was completed. The gardens were moved next to the Plant and Soil Science Building because the horticulture department was relocated there. All the perennials from the old garden were moved to the new site, and more plants were added (78). The square footage of perennials increased from 1,500 to 18,000. The Michigan 4-H Children's Garden was created in 1991 and completed in 1993. Today, the gardens cover 7.5 acres and welcome about 300,000 visitors each year.

After the gardens were moved to their current location, the department could no longer maintain the old gardens near the Old Horticulture Building. That area was turned into a green space, which upset many students who had enjoyed it.

Explanation of people and companies mentioned (in order of appearance)

President Hannah was the twelfth president of Michigan State University. He is known for increasing the number of students at the university from 6,000 to 40,000. Jack and Perkins is a plant company that focuses on breeding roses. All America Selections tests new plant varieties and helps gardeners learn about the varieties that perform well and receive approval. Lowell Ewart works in the horticulture department and creates new plant varieties.

Current garden exhibits

One of the largest areas in the gardens is the Annual Trial Garden. According to the trial garden website, plants for this garden are submitted by private breeding companies and All America Selections. These plants are grown in the trial gardens at Michigan State University to test how well they grow in a Michigan climate. Every two weeks, garden staff evaluate the plants based on their health, how evenly they grow, how attractive they look, how likely they are to get sick, and how well they handle extreme weather, such as very hot days or very cold, rainy nights in Michigan. At the end of each season, a summary of these evaluations is published in a booklet. This booklet is available online (Cameron).

Recently, the trial gardens at Michigan State University have tested more than just annual plants. Usually, only annuals are tested because they have a short life cycle, making it easier to see results quickly. While most trials take place in the Annual Trial Garden near the Plant and Soil Science Building, vegetables, herbaceous perennials, and native plants are tested in other areas of the gardens. Vegetables are tested in the Vegetable Demonstration Garden, and native plants are tested to the east of the Food Safety and Toxicology Building (Cameron).

The Judith A. Delapa Perennial Garden features a large display of perennials. This garden has ten island beds covering 6,500 square feet. Because perennials bloom throughout the year, visitors can enjoy something to see from March until late November, sometimes later. Like all the other gardens, this one is an educational resource for students and visitors. Each plant is labeled with its scientific name and common name so visitors can learn about the plants they see. The entrance pavilion is the main entrance to the garden, and there is also a pond in the northeast section where visitors can view water lilies and other aquatic plants.

A popular attraction for young visitors is the Michigan 4-H Children's Garden. This garden is located between the demonstration gardens and the Lewis Arboretum. The 4-H Children's Garden includes several small theme gardens. Outdoor areas include the ABC Kinder Garden, the Teddy Bear and Animals Garden, and the Storybook Garden. The indoor section has food-themed areas, such as "My Favorite Foods," "Rainforest in My Kitchen," and "Around the World Herb."

Gallery

• The Perennial plants section.
• The Rose Garden area.
• A water fountain located between the Gardens and the Plant Biology Lab.
• A pond with fish.
• Clarence E. Lewis Landscape Arboretum.