This Week at Phipps: Feb. 24 – March 2

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: 

• Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show: A Moment of Beauty
  Remedy Pittsburgh winter's chill will a visit to Phipps' stunning Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show: A Moment of Beauty! With all-new engaging displays guests will be immersed in room after room of ephemeral and entrancing nature. Join us for a respite from the cold and explore this warm oasis featuring a vast variety of orchids and classically trained bonsai.
• NOW OPEN: 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
• Tropical Delight: The Art of Deborah Sudran
  When you visit our Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show, enjoy the work of Deborah Sudran, a gifted painter who communicated her emotional response to nature with compelling color and powerful imagery.
• Garden Railroad: Movie Magic
  Garden Railroad: Movie Magic will allow guests to explore a bustling movie lot home to genres like fantasy, western, science fiction, horror and action with whimsical and interactive aspects! With an abundance of fascinating features surrounded by a beautiful plant palette, our Garden Railroad is sure to bring Hollywood magic to the glasshouse.
• 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., Feb. 24: 

• Natural Dyeing: Botanical Bundle Dyeing | 6 – 8:30 p.m.
  Join local artist Amy Garbark of garbella to explore the wide world of natural dyeing. Sign up for all three Natural Dyeing classes to get a taste for everything, or only take one class to learn about a specific topic of interest. Each class will cover the basics of natural dyeing in relation to the topic of class and participants will walk away with one finished product made in class.
• Indoor Seed Starting and Garden Planning | 6:30 – 8 p.m.
  Get a head start on your vegetable garden before spring arrives! In this workshop, you'll learn how to successfully grow seedlings indoors under lights for later transplant, including seeing the seed-starting operations of Homegrown. We'll also guide you through the process of laying out your garden with good spacing and timing. Bring an outline of your garden beds and leave with a solid plan for your own layout.

Tues., Feb. 25:

• Nature Illustration of Beach and Shore Finds | 6 – 9 p.m.
  Each class will explore the various categories of “finds” which include natural species such as: shells, rocks, wood, plants and more. Drawings will focus on the beautiful details each “find” still posesses. Study guides or a finished piece completed with various mediums will be demonstrated.

Wed., Feb. 26: 

• 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.
• One Pot Meals: Turkey, Broccoli and Sweet Potato Skillet | 6 – 8 p.m.
  Join us in Botany Hall Kitchen with Chef Rachel Homan for some simple but satisfying weeknight dinner ideas! In this hands-on class we’ll make a turkey, broccoli and sweet potato skillet dish, an easy, tasty one pot dish that you’ll surely add to your weekly rotation! Ideal for busy week nights or meal prepping, this dish is full of nutrients and endlessly adaptable to your taste. For dessert we’ll have baked oatmeal apples!

Fri, Feb. 28: 

• Garden Railroad Farewell Party | 5:30 – 7 p.m.
  Choo-choo! All aboard the last trip for our Garden Railroad: Movie Magic! We're saying "farewell till fall" to our beloved miniature world of trains and landscapes by throwing a family-friendly celebration. Kids can look forward to exciting and educational activity stations, a photo opportunity and more! They'll also receive a train ticket that will include a scavenger hunt to help you chug along in the Conservatory.

Sun., March 2: 

• Dancing with The Wizard of Oz | Noon and 2 p.m
  Put on your dancing shoes for this adult-and-me creative movement session brought to you by Let's Move Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT), featuring dancers from PBT's production of "The Wizard of Oz"!

Photos © Paul g. Wiegman