The Michigan Botanical Society

The Michigan Botanical Society is the native plant society for the state of Michigan and the entire Great Lakes Region, as well as the home of the Michigan Big Tree Program

Join us for the 2025 Grand Foray in Gladstone, MI

The 2025 MBS Grand Foray will be held at the Terrace Bay Hotel in Gladstone, MI from July 7 through the 10th. It is being coordinated by the White Pine Chapter of the MBS. Enjoy Upper Michigan! There will be field trips to various natural areas daily, and natural history lectures in the evenings. A block of discounted rooms is available at the Terrace Bay Hotel - make your reservation asap! Use the discount code MBS25 to receive the discounted room rate. There are also other hotels in the area, more information will be coming with the Foray information

….and the 2025 Mini Foray in Traverse City, MI

The Great Lakes Chapter will be hosting the 2025 Fall State Board Meeting and Mini-Foray on September 20th at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s new Conservation Center on 3-Mile Road near East Bay in Traverse City. Expect a Saturday morning board meeting followed by guided hikes at nearby natural areas. There will be opportunities for additional hikes at Sleeping Bear Dunes on Sunday. There are a plethora of hotels and motels on the east side of Traverse City to choose from. If you prefer camping, unfortunately the Traverse City State Park will be closed for construction in September, but you could look into Timber Ridge Resort and Arbutus Lake State Forest Campground. More details to come!

The 2025 MBS Grand Foray will be held at the Terrace Bay Hotel in Gladstone/Escanaba from July 7 through the 10th. It is being coordinated by the White Pine Chapter of the MBS.

Thank you to The Huron Valley Chapter for coordinating the 2024 Grand Foray at

Adrian College.

Join Us!

The Michigan Botanical Society has four local Chapters and one regional Chapter.Chapters organize field trips with knowledgeable leaders and a speaker series. Twice a year, the membership gathers for speakers and field trips. The Society publishes a newsletter “Arisaema” and a professional journal “The Great Lakes Botanist” which are sent to all members.

About the Michigan Botanical Society

(formerly the Michigan Botanical Club)

The society was founded in 1941 and consists of five chapters. The focus of the Michigan Botanical Society is:

Conservation of all native plants.
Education of the public to appreciate and preserve plant life.
Sponsorship of research and publication on plant life.
Sponsorship of legislation to promote preservation of Michigan native flora.
Establishment of suitable sanctuaries and natural areas.
Cooperation in programs concerned with the use and conservation of all natural resources and scenic features.

Please join us by becoming a member. Membership is handled through the individual chapters. If you do not have a chapter near you, you can join us through our online Great Lakes Chapter.

Each chapter holds monthly meetings and sponsors field trips. Every Memorial Day, the Michigan Botanical Club sponsors a Foray to a different area of Michigan.

We sponsor the publication of The Great Lakes Botanist a scientific peer-reviewed journal and Arisaema, our State Newsletter.