This Week at Phipps: Nov. 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: 

• COMING SOON: Phipps Holiday Magic
  This year’s theme, Botanical Brilliance, celebrates the beauty of plants through sparkling metallics, rich jewel tones and imaginative topiary displays. Poinsettias, amaryllis and narcissus fill the glasshouse with seasonal color, while gilded foliage and luminous sculptures reveal botanical beauty in unexpected ways. Outside, our iconic Winter Light Garden transforms the night with colorful displays for guests of all ages.
• Garden Railroad: Fairies and Gnomes
  Garden Railroad: Fairies and Gnomes will feature a fantastic forest of gnome and fairy realms, with dragonflies hovering above! Guests can watch these miniature fantasy characters hard at work in their villages while trains pass through the lush greenery. Full-size trees and playful figures of snails, beetles, birds, squirrels and other woodland creatures will complete the enchanted experience. Prepare to be fascinated!  
• 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
• Pennsylvania Fungi and Their Natural Habitat
  Now open at Phipps' Garden Center in Mellon Park, nature lovers of all ages can enjoy stunning illustrations of fungi species in diverse habitats. Pennsylvania is home to thousands of fungi species, thriving in diverse habitats ranging from mature hardwood forests to urban mulch, particularly in spring and fall. Fungi are a distinct kingdom of eukaryotic organisms—separate from plants and animals—that are essential for breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients in ecosystems.
• 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., Nov. 2: 

• Vegetable Garden Soils: Going Deeper! | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  Have you started growing vegetables and want to level up for healthier plants and better production? In this class you will learn best practices for improving the soil health of your home garden. You will also learn how to take a soil sample, how to interpret those results and what fertilizers can do for your garden.

Wed., Nov. 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.
   

Photos  © Paul g. Wiegman