This Week at Phipps Feb. 6 - 12

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: Origin Stories
  Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show: Origin Stories is an experience filled with captivating displays of colorful orchids and exquisitely trained tropical bonsai specimens guide you through the origins of these fascinating plants.
•  BiblioBotany: The Work of Lisa Meek
  In our Welcome Center Gallery, Phipps is pleased to host the BiblioBotany sculptures of Lisa Meek who looks for symbolism in each page and flower she uses to encourage people to process ideas in new ways.
• Garden Railroad: Our National Parks
  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.
• 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.

Tues., Feb. 7:

• Make Your Own Terrarium | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
  Learn how to create a living garden under glass while discussing plant selection, visual design, proper care, and different styles of terrariums, such as open versus closed and wet versus dry.
• Sustainable Landcare Accreditation Program | 6 p.m. –  9 p.m.
  These classes are designed to help landscapers build the skills they need to offer more environmentally-friendly services while taking care of their bottom line

Wed., Feb. 8:

• ​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!
• Flowers, Jewels and Gold | 9:30 a.m. –  12:30 p.m.
  In this class we’ll explore the medieval and renaissance decorative art featuring flowers, insects, and gems on golden borders, and then students will create their own designs.
• Botanical Drawing I | 6 p.m. –  9 p.m.
  Learn to identify basic shapes in nature and use a step-by-step process to create the illusion of depth through light, shadow and perspective.
• Comfort Foods: Stuffed Chicken Breast | 6 p.m. –  8 p.m.
   Escape the cold and turn up the heat while learning how to make staple comfort foods with Chef Rachel. Learn the best way to stuff a chicken breast along with a classic French dish of green beans almondine.

Thurs., Feb. 9:

• Watercolor Materials: Paper, Brushes, Pigments and Charts | 6 p.m. –  9 p.m.
  We will learn about different aspects of these materials to understand how to use them in your paintings and which qualities to look for when purchasing new materials. We will also be creating helpful watercolor charts
• Sustainable Landcare Accreditation Program | 6 p.m. –  9 p.m.
  These classes are designed to help landscapers build the skills they need to offer more environmentally-friendly services while taking care of their bottom line
• Cooking for Life Series: Cooking for Heart Health | 6 p.m. –  7:30 p.m.
  A healthy diet and lifestyle are key to a healthy heart. Meet Let’s Move Pittsburgh’s registered dietitian Abby Wolfe to discuss a healthy diet and heart-healthy lifestyle.

Sat., Feb. 11:

• Botanical Drawing I: Foundations | 9:30 a.m. –  3:30 p.m.
  Learn how to be able to accurately draw three-dimensional shapes using line and tone and to employ geometric and aerial perspective in drawing botanical subjects
• Pop-Up Flower Cardmaking: Eastern Flowers | 10 a.m. –  2 p.m.
  Join Shawn Sheehy in building four striking pop-up flower cards each class using just a few tools and a kit of pre-cut pieces. You’ll leave the workshop with a set of completed cards- perfect for gift giving – and you’ll also gain insight into paper engineering and paper sculpture.

Sun., Feb. 12:

• Reduction Block Printing with Botanical Imagery | 2 p.m. –  5 p.m.
  This course will take you through the process of creating a print using the reduction block printing method in which part of the plate is carved away then printed, more of the plate is carved away and printed and so on working from the lightest color to the darkest.

Photo ©  Paul g. Wiegman