This Week at Phipps: Oct. 3 - 9

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: Fall Flower Show: Blooms Under the Big Top 
  Starting Sat., Oct. 8, Phipps’ Fall Flower Show: Blooms Under the Big Top will take you on a whirlwind tour of stunning circus- and carnival-inspired botanical displays.
• COMING SOON: Garden Railroad: Our National Parks
  Starting Sat., Oct. 8, Garden Railroad: Our National Parks pulls into the station with miniature recreations of the beautiful National Parks of the United States, bustling with chugging trains and filled with live plants.
• Ikebana International Exhibit 
  Ikebana International Exhibit showcases the Japanese art of flower arrangement; with arrangements from the five schools of Ikebana.
• Tropical Forest Hawai‘i: Aloha ‘Aina
  Tropical Forest Hawai‘i: Aloha ‘Aina invites guests to take an exciting, immersive journey through the rich history, nature and culture of the Hawaiian archipelago. 
• 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., Oct. 3:

• Organic Lawn Care | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m
  Discover the best practices for mowing, watering, fertilization and aeration, and discuss insect and weed control with a focus on fall lawn care.

Tues., Oct. 4:

• Phipps Family Dinner: Pasta Lovers | 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 
  Join Chef Emily for familiar favorites like pierogies, tacos and of course pasta! Learn how to make from-scratch pici pasta paired with a homemade algio e olio sauce. 
• Pen and Ink II | 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
  Pen and Ink II students will have improved stroke making and wash skills with the introduction of color through various tools and inks.

Wed., Oct. 5:

• ​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!
• History of Botanical Art | 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
  Explore the history of botanical art from its earliest beginnings in herbals through present-day contemporary works.
• Landscape Design III: Design Development | 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
  Utilizing skills learned in Landscape Design I and Landscape Design II, the student will work through design development to create a master plan.

Thurs., Oct. 6:

• Autumn Gourds in Watercolor Using Masking Fluid | 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
  In this 3-session class learn how to use masking fluid while painting colorful fall gourds in watercolor.
• Sustainable Gardening for Western PA | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
  Native plants are essential to a thriving backyard ecosystem – join us to learn more about what makes a plant “native” to western Pa. and how they support birds and butterflies.
• Backyard Composting Workshop | 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 
  This workshop thoroughly covers the importance and benefits of composting, the process, setting up a compost pile, proper maintenance, and ways of using finished compost.

Fri., Oct. 7: 

• Cozy Beverages: Cocktails and Mocktails for Fall | 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  Grab a partner and join Drew Cranisky and Hanna Mosca for this at home- experience in this virtual, hands-on cocktail workshop.

Sat., Oct. 8:

• Introduction to Printmaking with Botanical Imagery | 2 p.m. – 5p.m.
  This course will take you through the multi-step process of creating a design, carving a plate and printing your design using the linoleum block method of printmaking.

Photo ©  Paul g. Wiegman