This Week at Phipps: June 2 – 8

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
  Opening Sat., May 10 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
  Opening Sat., May 10 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
• 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.
• 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.

Tues., June 3:

• Soil Testing | 6:30 –  8:30 p.m. 
  Soil is an important aspect of any garden. Understand the importance of a soil test and its use in managing the health of your garden soil. Learn how to collect a soil test sample, how to submit the soil for a soil test and to inperpret your test results.

Wed., June 4: 

• 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.
• Sensory Inclusive Time | 5:30 – 7 p.m.
  In collaboration with the Autism Connection of Pennsylvania, join our team for a self-guided visit to the Conservatory to enjoy Summer Flower Show: Jungle Quest. To ensure a peaceful walk through the Conservatory, lights and sounds will be minimized. Participants will receive a social story via email detailing the experience prior to arrival.

Thurs., June 5:

• Biophilia: Moving Through Change with Resilience |  6 – 7 p.m.
  In this session, join speaker Lisa Story in acknowledging how as we move through change, reflection and engaging our senses with nature by spending moments of time outside builds resilience. Learn some quick ideas to help you become motivated to try to engage more deeply with nature as an incentive to cultivate wellness of mind, body and spirit.
• New Garden Design on a Budget | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  This class will focus on how to cut corners without limiting the functionality of establishing a new garden bed. It will focus on using native perennials as well annual vegetables. Chris Kosin from GaiaScape will share his experiences of where to save and where to spend as well as reusing as much material as possible. This class is designed for gardeners of all experience levels but having some ideas of your end goals is encouraged to fully understand these techniques, principles and sourcing methods.

Sun., June 8: 

• BioBlitz Family Fun Festival | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  Our tenth annual BioBlitz festival will bring together families, students, local scientists and naturalists, teachers and community leaders to explore the biodiversity of Schenley Park. All free and open to the public, attendees will meet local experts while engaging with community organizations and agencies!

Photos © Paul Vladuchick