From the Harrison to Sherley and Rees-Jones halls, TCU’s campus is filled with buildings named after generous benefactors.

One donor chose to invest in petals and roots. Mary Evans Beasley crafted a legacy that has grown far beyond her lifetime.

Established in 1987, the Mary Evans Beasley Endowment Fund for Campus Beautification is dedicated to ensuring TCU’s campus is a haven of natural beauty, year after year and generation after generation.

Her endowment, which stands at $7.4 million, pays for the planting of the seasonal gardens that have become a hallmark of TCU’s campus.

Depending on the time of year tulips, dianthus, geraniums, snapdragons and petunias bring vibrant bursts of color to campus.  

“Our landscape is unique in that it has a consistent design throughout campus,” Erik Trevino, the TCU director of landscape and grounds, said.

He said his predecessor, Robert Sulak, “learned what plants do best in our area and implemented the plan to use only these plants, which provides a consistent, beautiful, healthy landscape for the campus community to enjoy.”

Beyond the flowers, the Beasley legacy helps to foster a sense of community, between TCU’s three largest populations  – faculty, staff and students. The planting of the tulips bulbs  is of course managed by the grounds crew, but all are welcome to join.  

Preparing for spring

The last day of the fall semester brought cool temperatures, drizzle and about 30 people including President Daniel Pullin together to sow next spring’s blooms.

Gathered with shovels and tulip bulbs in hand. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as small groups worked together, digging neat rows in the soil.

“This event is my favorite of the year because it breaks barriers between students, faculty, staff, and the hardworking grounds crew who rarely interact with those they serve or get a lot of recognition for their dedication and work,” said Kim Rahebi, a health science doctoral student and founder of Garden Frogs. “I also support it for its proven mental health benefits, as collaborative participation and hands-on gardening foster connection and well-being.”

Pullin knelt beside students, sharing stories and laughter as he placed bulbs into the ground.

“I hold deep gratitude for the Beasleys' decades of dedication to enhancing the beauty of our campus,” Pullin said. “Their commitment has given students the gift of learning in an environment that inspires and uplifts. Planting flowers is a profound reminder of their vision—a representation of investing in something unseen, nurturing it with care, and witnessing it blossom into something extraordinary with time and effort just like our students.” 

For some, this was their first time participating in the tulip planting; for others, it had become an annual ritual.

Senior business management major Cooper Krudwig said he had looked forward to the event.

“It was a wonderful experience being able to plant tulips on our campus," he said. "I cannot wait to go back in the spring to see how much they have grown in a few months. We planted the seeds, but only God can make them grow into something beautiful”.