This Week at Phipps: June 24 – 30

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 24: 

• Revery Alone Won't Do: Pollinating Plants at the Hunt Institute | 7 – 8 p.m.
  Using historical and contemporary botanical art from the collection of the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, this talk will showcase the variety of plant and pollinator interactions and adaptations that have fascinated scientists and laypeople alike for ages. Included in the discussion will be early studies of pollinator relationships by artists like Maria Sibylla Merian as well as more contemporary works from field guides and even from children’s books.

Wed., June 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.

Thurs., June 27: 

• Phipps Medicinal Plants Walking Tour | 5:30 – 7 p.m.
  Join herbalist and Permaculture garden designer Therese Robbins of Heart Beet Herbal on a tour of the outdoor garden areas at Phipps. We will meet and interact with many medicinal, edible, and native plants and discuss their medicinal, culinary, or horticultural uses.
• Intro to Fermented Veggies: Sauerkraut and Beyond | 6 – 8 p.m.
  Join Trevor Ring of Community Cultures for fermented fun! Enter the world of microbes in this introductory class! You will learn about the nutritional, cultural, historical, and flavorful components of fermenting vegetables safely in your home. This is a great class to help you understand the significance of fermentation and how to troubleshoot the simple process of making sauerkraut.
• Painting Pollinators with Watercolor Pencil: Capture Native Plant and Pollinator Interactions in Loose Watercolor Sketches | 7– 8 p.m.
  Watercolor pencils are a great tool for quickly creating dynamic scenes that are bursting with movement and energy, perfect for capturing the buzzing of bees or pulsing of hummingbird wings. In this relaxed, beginner-friendly Zoom class, nature illustrator Rosalie Haizlett will guide students through a complete watercolor pencil painting of a native plant and its insect or bird pollinator.

Sat., June 28:

• Phipps After Dark: Pittsburgh Pride Night | 7 – 10 p.m.
  Phipps is excited to celebrate Pride Month in style! Join us for an inclusive, friendly gathering under glass and a healthy dose of revelry and rejuvenation! Guests are encouraged to grab a drink at Cafe Phipps, visit our Palm Court to strike a pose with a fun photobooth from Clicks~Burgh, dance to the sounds of DJ Jimmy, and explore our spectacular Summer Flower Show: Under the Sea displays.

Sun., June 30: 

• Peek Behind the Petals | 10 – 11 a.m.
  Join us for a member-exclusive, in-person presentation of Peek Behind the Petals! This special members-only event will be presented by Youth Climate Advocacy Committee (YCAC) youth and YCAC Coordinator Jennifer Torrance. Enjoy the chance to learn about Phipps’ youth-led program and hear about their environment-related projects!

Photos © Phil Johnson II