This Week at Phipps: Feb. 17 – 23

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: 

• Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show: A Moment of Beauty
  Remedy Pittsburgh winter's chill will a visit to Phipps' stunning Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show: A Moment of Beauty! With all-new engaging displays guests will be immersed in room after room of ephemeral and entrancing nature. Join us for a respite from the cold and explore this warm oasis featuring a vast variety of orchids and classically trained bonsai.
• COMING SOON: 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
• Tropical Delight: The Art of Deborah Sudran
  When you visit our Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show, enjoy the work of Deborah Sudran, a gifted painter who communicated her emotional response to nature with compelling color and powerful imagery.
• Garden Railroad: Movie Magic
  Garden Railroad: Movie Magic will allow guests to explore a bustling movie lot home to genres like fantasy, western, science fiction, horror and action with whimsical and interactive aspects! With an abundance of fascinating features surrounded by a beautiful plant palette, our Garden Railroad is sure to bring Hollywood magic to the glasshouse.
• 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., Feb. 17: 

• Gardening for Birds | 7 – 8:30 p.m.
  Our local birds are an engaging bit of the wild that we can easily see right in our own backyards. And you can provide for those birds beyond just a basic birdfeeder or bird house. Join us to learn how to plant your way to a Bird-Friendly Backyard, while making your property both more beautiful and an ecosystem asset. Explore planting concepts, native plant species suggestions, and other simple changes that will have a positive impact on birds and beyond!
• Houseplants 101 | 7 – 8:30 p.m.
  Whether you just bought your first plant or can’t decide, join this fast and fun overview of how to care for houseplants. All the fundamentals are covered, including sensible plant selection for your lighting conditions, watering, fertilizing, grooming, and troubleshooting. Learn through pictures and diagrams to nurture your green thumb into bloom. 

Tues., Feb. 18:

• Canning Esstentials: Jellies | 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  Get your jars ready! For those who have some canning knowledge, this class will deep dive into a variety of fruit preserves. From butters & sauces to jams & jellies, there is a lot to learn about food safety and food science when preserving fresh fruits. We will create single fruit juices from scratch to then create various jellies to can. Each participant will take home several samplings of jelly prepared in class. As a bonus we will also make fruit flavored syrup, a great additioin for coffee or tea. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. 
• Living with Flowers: Floral Design at Home | 7 – 8:15 p.m.
  Have you ever purchased a gorgeous bouquet of flowers and felt unsure on how to arrange them once you brought them home?  Join Polly for a casual and informative weekly design session to learn a variety of design tips to develop your skills for pleasing results.

Wed., Feb. 19: 

• 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.

Photos © Paul Vladuchick