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Cornelian Cherry Dogwood

Featured

Experience the spectacular colors of harvest as thousands of chrysanthemums come into full bloom.

Capturing the richest and most vibrant colors of autumn, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ Fall Flower Show opens on Oct. 13, 2012 with an elaborate display of nearly 3,000 chrysanthemums arranged in festive, and often whimsical, garden scenes. Always a treat for the senses, this is one seasonal exhibit of blooms and foliage in hues of harvest-inspired deep purples, bright greens, brilliant yellows, bold reds, and warm oranges that you will not want to miss.

With a long history of cultivation recorded as far back as the 15th Century B.C., chrysanthemums—the season’s signature flower—are grown using a variety of techniques to produce an array of results (from elegant cascades to showy, single-flowered disbuds) and form blossoms that fall into 13 classes (from large “spiders” with tentacle-like florets to small button-like “pompons”)—all of which will be on display at Fall Flower Show. Other delightful sites that await you include:

• A clever Serpentine Room display illustrating the autumnal color changes of plants from green to yellow, orange, red, or purple to brown;
• Smoke-breathing dragon fountain heads with oak leaf scales, and 120 yellow and red Chinese lanterns in the Sunken Garden—one for each year Phipps has been in existence;
• Wine barrel and fruit crate planters, grape vines and a living wall in Palm Court;
• And, an under-the-sea East Room exhibit with “coral reef” flower beds, “jellyfish” hanging baskets and silk wind sock “fish.”

Our ever-popular Garden Railroad in the South Conservatory will also make its debut for Fall Flower Show, taking you back in time to 1893—the year that Phipps opened—as the very first Conservatory plants make their railway journey from the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, winding past farms and industrial centers, and crossing over vast rivers, to reach Pittsburgh. Presented in conjunction with a complementary exhibit at the Carnegie Museum of Art, this bustling living landscape celebrating Phipps’ past is sure to capture your imagination and carry you away!    

Behind the Scenes: Take a look at this time-lapse video documenting the installation of our new East Room exhibit for a preview of Fall Flower Show.



Other Featured Exhibits & Events

Summer Flower Show:
Glass in the Gardens
April 27 – Oct. 6, 2013
The dazzling glass creations of artists working in Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania will make our gardens shimmer and shine all summer long. Highlights include lifelike floral forms, whimsical long-legged birds, rotating stained-glass towers, and a large, articulated woolly mammoth skeleton.
Butterfly Forest
April 20 – Sept. 2, 2013
Like flowers that fly, our butterfly residents will enchant nature-lovers of every age. Watch as gorgeous species such as Monarchs and Zebra Longwings emerge from their chrysalises to flutter among cheerful, bug-friendly blooms.
Party in the Tropics
Select Fridays in 2013, starting Feb. 8
7 – 11 p.m.
Ages 21+
Gather your friends and get ready to dine, drink and dance the night away at Phipps! Make our paradise your own as you indulge in sweet and savory morsels, taste unique cocktails, and dance to the beats of a live DJ in our Tropical Forest Conservatory. Entry is free with Conservatory admission.
Butterfly Weekend
June 1 and 2, 2013
Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
In celebration of one of nature’s most important pollinators, Phipps and Carnegie Science Center are hosting Butterfly Weekend on June 1 and June 2. This two-day celebration will give visitors a chance to learn about the life cycle of butterflies and discover why these amazing insects have a remarkable ability to navigate, orient and migrate.
Farmers at Phipps
Wednesdays, June – October 2013
2:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Refresh your food shopping experience! Visit our sustainably managed front lawn to browse organic and Certified Naturally Grown fruits, vegetables and more from local farms.
Inspire Speakers Series
Second Thurs. of every month, Oct. 2012-June 2013
5:30-8:30 p.m., except where noted
Green Building Alliance (GBA) and Phipps are collaborating to host a monthly speaker series at the new Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL) on our Oakland campus. Join us to enjoy captivating presentations from local and national experts  on the subject of healthy, high-performance green buildings. Registration with GBA is required.
Floral Notes: Jazz in the Garden
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
6:30 – 9 p.m.
Ages 21+
As the summer heats up, enjoy an evening of cool jazz surrounded by colorful flowers and lush plants. Relax in our Outdoor Garden with the live music of Pittsburgh’s own Elevations and Velvet Heat as you savor small bites and delicious drinks.
Garden Variety:
A Farm-to-Phipps Dinner
Sunday, July 21, 2013
6:30 – 9 p.m.
Enjoy a rustic yet elegant farm-to-table dinner experience with fresh, handpicked selections from our region’s farms. If you love a food adventure, you won’t want to miss this chance to join local growers and artisans for this one-of-a-kind meal.
Tropical Forest India
Now Open
Explore our new exhibit showcasing one of the most botanically rich regions of the world. Highlights include an Ayurvedic healing garden, spice and tea market displays, a stunning temple facade on Special Events Hall, and more!