This Week at Phipps: June 3 – 9

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 3: 

• Watercolor II: Applications | 6 – 9 p.m.
  Build upon your knowledge from Watercolor I to learn additional techniques used in transparent watercolor. Practice manipulating watercolor using different brushes and papers, plus discover some new colors and techniques for mixing colors. Apply your new skills to studies of plant forms, including a final project that demonstrates your control of watercolor techniques for an accurate rendering of botanical forms.

Tues., June 4:

• Native Woody Plants and Their Uses in the Landscape | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  Identify woody plants that reflect local native plant communities and survey the taxonomic features of these plants, including growth habit, size, flowering sequence and cultural requirements. Using these attributes, learn the importance of site placement and create ecologically informed landscape designs.

Wed., June 5: 

• 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.
• Pen and Ink I | 6 – 9 p.m.
  Beginning with the fundamentals of pen and ink techniques, learn how to use different strokes to create a compositional balance of black and white tones.
• Herbal Medicine Making: Summer Semester | 6:30 – 8 p.m.
  This class is hands-on from the comfort of your home. Learn how to work with various plants and make medicinal syrups, teas and tinctures. Michelle Soto of Cutting Root Apothecary will share stories and information about each plant and how to use them medicinally.

Thurs., June 6:

• Gluten Free Bagels | 6 – 8 p.m.
  Learn the secrets to crafting chewy, flavorful bagels without gluten. Join us in Botany Hall Kitchen for this hands-on workshop with Oliver Pinder of Wild Rise Bakery.

Photos © Paul g. Wiegman