MSU’s Beal Botanical Garden earns rare international accreditation

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Michigan State University’s W.J. Beal Botanical Garden has received a rare international accreditation.

MSU announced the garden was recently recognized by the Botanic Gardens Conservation International for demonstrating “success in conservation of plant species, inspiring people, sharing knowledge and addressing global challenges,” the university wrote.

Beal Botanical Garden is the first and only BGCI-accredited garden in Michigan. It is the first year in the Beal’s 152-year history that it has been recognized by the BGCI.

Katie Fry, the collections manager for the garden, led the accreditation effort. She said the recognition is the result of years of effort.

“The most important thing to me about achieving BGCI accreditation is that it formalizes the gard