This Week at Phipps: Aug. 11 – 17

By Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

There's always something new to see and do at Phipps! This weekly blog post provides a run-down of the latest happenings so you can plan your visit. Events listed below require no advance registration unless noted otherwise. 

Open Daily: 

• Summer Flower Show: Jungle Quest
  Open now through Sept. 21, Summer Flower Show: Jungle Quest invites you on an unforgettable exploration! This spectacular show features room after room of carefully crafted topiary animals, beautiful blooms,exciting interactive stations and so much more!
• Butterfly Forest
  Open now through Sept. 7, watch colorful butterflies break free of their chrysalises to soar and glide among beautiful Phipps blooms. One may even land on you!
• Tropical Forest Panama: Bridge to Biodiversity
  Embark on a spectacular journey through the lush vegetation and vibrant culture of Panama, the incredibly biodiverse land bridge connecting North and South America, in our immersive new Tropical Forest Conservatory exhibit
• Growing Community Through Food
  Open now in Phipps' Edible Garden, Growing Community Through Food celebrates six of our dedicated and resourceful neighbors working in large and small ways across our region to ensure that everyone can enjoy fresh, affordable (and tasty!) food.
• Bountiful Bouquets: A Youth Art Exhibit
  In this annual exhibit in our Welcome Center, view blossoms of the jungle crafted by Fairchild Challenge student participants.
• Metamorphosis: A Youth Sustainable Art and Fashion Exhibit
  Enjoy a sustainable gallery full of art created by the Pittsburgh Youth Leaders in Sustainability Network from Carnegie Mellon University’s Sustainability Initiative and Phipps' Youth Climate Advocacy Committee (YCAC) now in Phipps' Center for Sustainable Landscapes.
• Native Plants of Southwestern Pennsylvania and Their Bird Associates and Pollinators
  In Phipps' Garden Center, plant lovers of all ages can now enjoy stunning illustrations of native plants and their pollinators symbiotic relationships. 
• Planets Earth Virtual Exhibit
  A dynamic exhibit at the Center for Sustainable Landscapes (and now online) addresses the pressing environmental issues of our time and proposes a new way of thinking about how to solve them.

Mon., Aug. 11:

• Grass to Garden | 7 – 8:30 p.m.
  This class teaches you how to transform your lawn into a thriving garden. Learn various ways to remove your lawn without disrupting the existing soil structure or losing valuable nutrients. Match the best method of grass removal with the type of garden you want. Do you have dreams of a mini meadow? Just want more flower beds? Learn how to prepare your garden, then start selecting your plants!
• Fabric Collage Insect Portrait | 6 – 9 p.m.
  Come bug out with us! Explore the art of applique while making adorable portraits of some creepy crawly friends. Working from templates, we'll learn about fabric collage and explore a handful of embroidery techniques to enhance and embellish our insects. You'll leave with everything you need for a finished portrait, ready to display!

Wed., Aug. 13: 

• In-Person Story Time | 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
  Kids will love visiting Phipps to listen to our storyteller weave tales about gardens, fruits, vegetables, animals and other fun topics. Attend weekly sessions with a special child in your life.
• Slicing Up Summer Produce Series: BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad | 6 – 8 p.m.
  Sharpen your knife skills this summer with Chef Rachel Homan! In this hands-on series you’ll learn essential cutting techniques while preparing delicious, seasonal dishes. From slicing and dicing to julienning and chiffonading, you’ll gain confidence handling a variety of fresh ingredients. For our third session we’re making a BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad with a Mango and Strawberry Cream for dessert.

Thurs., Aug. 14:

• Jazz in the Garden | 6:30 – 9 p.m.
  Enjoy an evening of light refreshments and botanical beauty as the superb instrumentalists and heartfelt vocalists of Paul Cosentino’s Boilermaker Jazz Band perform unique interpretations of jazz classics and pieces from the Great American Songbook!

 

Photos © Paul g. Wiegman