Phipps recommends:
Cornelian Cherry Dogwood

Featured

Join Phipps and Green Building Alliance for a series of captivating presentations on the future of green building.

Green Building Alliance (GBA) and Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens are collaborating to host an all-star line-up of both local and national guest speakers who are working to plant the seeds of inspiration and help others  create healthier and better-performing places to  live, work, learn and play.  Join us on the second Thursday of every month for new information and unique perspectives on a variety of topics. Registration with GBA is required for all talks. You may register for the entire series or choose individual events from the links below. 

2012-’13 Series Calendar:


Cultural Sustainability for Healthy and High-Performing Places
Thurs., Oct. 11, 2012; 5:30-8:30 p.m.
National Guest: George Bandy (corporate sustainability expert; vice president, Interface)
Local Guest: Christine Mondor (healthy spaces expert and advocate; cofounder, evolveEA) 



Come Alive Through Regenerative Design
Thurs., Nov. 8, 2012; 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Lunch and Learn Special Edition)
National Guest: Bill Reed (nationally recognized consultant and lecturer; founding board member, U.S. Green Building Council; president, Integrative Design Collaborative)



Thinking Big: Interdisciplinary Sustainability Learning
Thurs., Dec. 13, 2012; 5:30-8:30 p.m.
National Guest: David Orr (author, healthy building pioneer, environmental education expert and distinguished professor at Oberlin College) 



Pushing Limits: The Living Building Challenge
Thurs., Jan. 10, 2013; 5:30-8:30 p.m.
National Guests: Members of the Bertschi School Project Team (Seattle) 



Breathe Easy: Healthy Places and Indoor Air Quality
Thurs., Feb. 14, 2013; 5:30-8:30 p.m.
National Guest: Steve Ashkin (known as “The Father of Green Cleaning”)
Local Guests: Vivian Loftness (nationally recognized author, speaker and Carnegie Mellon University professor) and Erica Cochran (Doctoral candidate and Carnegie Mellon University adjunct professor) 



Food for Big Thoughts: Eat and Live Healthy
Thurs., March 14, 2013; 5:30-8:30 p.m.
National Guests: Stephen Ritz (educator, TED Speaker and healthy food advocate) and his South Bronx students 



Taking Action and Making Change for Sustainable Communities
Thurs., April 11, 2013; 5:30-8:30 p.m.
National Guest: Majora Carter (award-winning advocate known for “Greening the Ghetto”

(Update: This edition of Inspire Speakers Series will be held at Carnegie Lecture Hall) 



Defying Boundaries: Integrating Sustainability Practices
Thurs., May 9, 2013; 5:30-8:30 p.m.
National Guest: David Orr (author, healthy building pioneer, environmental education expert and distinguished professor at Oberlin College) 



Celebrating Success and Looking Ahead
Thurs., June 13, 2013, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
National Guests: TBA
Registration coming soon



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.
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!