Plant Where You're Grown

The Victor M. and Alice K. Guernsey Michigan Garden and patio are located in MSU's Clarence E. Lewis Landscape Arboretum

A granite patio in the shape of the state of Michigan.

After they graduated from MSU in the 1950’s, Victor and Alice Guernsey got to work planting seeds of Spartan pride in all the future generations of Guernseys.

“We are busy indoctrinating all Guernsey children on how great it is to be a Spartan,” jokes Scott Guernsey, son of Victor and Alice. Scott, his wife and their children are all graduates of MSU. They are among the many Guernseys who call themselves Spartans.

To gain some perspective on just how much this family loves their school and their home state, you need only take a stroll through the Clarence E. Lewis Landscape Arboretum and visit the Victor M. and Alice K. Guernsey Michigan Garden, which was funded in their memory by their family members.

“It represents Alice's love of gardens, flowers and the beauty of the MSU campus and Vic's unwavering devotion and love of MSU and his valuable degree,” says Scott.

In the eleven years since its installation, the garden and its mitten-shaped granite patio have become a beautiful, permanent part of MSU, akin to the way MSU became a beautiful, permanent part of one very green-blooded—and green-thumbed—family.

For more information on making a gift to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, contact Senior Director of Development Tami Baumann at bauman13@msu.edu or call (517) 355-0284.