This Week at Phipps: June 17 – 23

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: 

• NOW OPEN: Summer Flower Show: Under the Sea
  Starting Sat., May 4, dive into the magical underworld of the ocean with whimsical displays of an array of sea creatures, unique plant foliage and fantastic flora.
• NOW OPEN: Butterfly Forest
  Starting Sat., May 4, watch colorful butterflies break free of their chrysalises to soar and glide among beautiful Phipps blooms. One may even land on you!
• Sea Creature Creations: A Youth Art Exhibit
  In this annual exhibit in our Welcome Center, view sea creature creations from The Fairchild Challenge student participants.
• Highlands Flora Project: Fraged Plants of Southwestern Pennsylvania 
  Now open in Phipps' Garden Center, plant lovers of all ages can enjoy stunning illustrations of foraged plants commonly found in southwestern Pennsylvania. Foraged Plants of Southwestern Pennsylvania is part of the Flora Project, a collaboration between Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ Botanical Art and Illustration Program and the Allegheny Highlands Botanical Art Society.
• 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., June 17: 

• Meet Our Pollinators | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  There’s a lot of buzz about pollinators these days, but who are they? Take a look at bees, flies, beetles, and other important pollinators you may spot in your yard. Explore the fascinating lives of these pollinators, why they’re important, and how you can attract them to your area.

Tues., June 18:

• Pollinated Plates | 6 – 8 p.m.
  We’re celebrating National Pollinator Week in Botany Hall Kitchen! Pollinators play a vital role in our food ecosystem and without them, we humans would go hungry. In this class we’ll create culinary masterpieces that honor our local pollinators and the work that they do.

Wed., June 19: 

• 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.
• Beginner Bonsai: Juniper | 6 – 8 p.m.
  Master the ancient art of bonsai in our hands-on workshops, and learn the horticultural techniques of styling, wiring, potting and root pruning this outdooor tree. Style your own tree and take it home to build your collection. All classes are suitable for beginners.

Thurs., June 20: 

• Intermediate Bonsai: Next Steps | 6 – 8 p.m.
  So you have had your bonsai for a couple of months and are ready to learn some more- come for our Next Steps class! Learn more in-depth pruning for shaping, troubleshooting issues, and common pests that you may encounter on your bonsai journey. And feel free to bring your bonsai in for a check-up to make sure everything is going well.
• Summer Flower Show: Under the Sea and Drawing Class | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  Tour Phipps' new Summer Flower Show: Under the Sea at the conservatory then head to the classroom and enjoy hands-on drawing class with botanical artist Robin Menard, where she will guide you in completint a drawing reflecting elements of the show. 
• Cultivating a Four Season Native Pollinator Garden | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  Learn how to attract and retain pollinators in your outdoor space. Explore the world of North American native plants and their symbiotic relationships with local pollinators. Chris Kosin from GaiaScape will share insights on plant selection, seasonal considerations, and garden design principles. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a beginner, you will gain practical tips to transform your garden into a sustainable haven for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and more.

Sat., June 22:

• Plant Identification Walk: Native Plants | 10 a.m. – Noon
  The best way to learn about new plants is to see them firsthand in the landscape. On each walk, landscape architecture instructor and plantsman Joshua Beblo will introduce you to dozens of plants in the landscape. Walks will focus on different themes, and any plants you pass are fair game for identification and discussion.
• Solstice Cyanotype Printing Workshop | 12:30. – 2:30 p.m.
  Cyanotype, a photographic printing technique, has been used by artists, botanists, and architects for nearly 200 years. In this introductory workshop, you’ll learn how to create unique and captivating cyanotype prints from scratch using sunlight. Gather botanic materials on the Phipps campus or bring your own! 

Photos © Phil Johnson II