This Week at Phipps: March 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: 

• 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., March 3: 

• Yoga for Gardeners: Awakening Potential | 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  The theme for March's yoga class is "Awakening Potential". As winter nears its end, the energy beneath the soil builds towards new growth. Though the seed may not yet break through the surface, its roots deepen and expand, gathering the strength needed to emerge when the time is right. This month symbolizes the powerful preparation for growth, embodying the balance between rootedness and expansion as we gather our energy for what lies ahead.
• Natural Dyeing: Shibori Indigo Dyeing | 6 – 8:30 p.m.
  Join local artist Amy Garbark of garbella to explore the wide world of natural dyeing. Workshop participants will learn about indigo and a variety of shibori techniques to prepare fabric for dyeing in a natural indigo vat. Join us to explore various folding, binding, and clamping techniques to make beautiful blue and white patterns.
• Watercolor I: Techniques and Color Theory | 6 – 9 p.m.
  Students will learn the basics of transparent watercolor as a medium, and gain a foundational understanding of the brushes, paper, and paints suitable for botanical watercolor. Using a limited palette, students will explore techniques such as washes and glazes, and practice creating a full range of hues, shades and tones using the limited palette. Through demonstrations and exercises, students will produce a series of studies that demonstrate the foundational techniques of transparent watercolor and application of those techniques to rendering plant forms.

Tues., March 4:

• Herbal Medicine Making: Rejuvenating | 6 – 8 p.m.
  Join Michelle Soto from Cutting Root Farm to explore a variety of different medicine-making techniques and mediums. In this class session, Michelle will explain how different herbs and modalities can be used to rejuvenate both the spirit and physical body. Reawaken your body and mind with our herbal medicine making class centered on rejuvenating remedies.
• Lore and Mythology: The Stories that Plants Tell | 6 – 7:30 p.m.
  Plants surround us with their beauty and the pleasure they bring. But what about the stories they tell, the secrets they share among themselves, their histories, where they got their names and perhaps their magic. Come learn the lore or the garden and what secrets the common plants that you see every day may have to share with you.  
• Indoor Seed Starting and Garden Planning | 7 – 8:30 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.

Wed., March 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.
• Hunt Institute Presentation on Fungi | 7 – 8 p.m.
  Despite having more in common with people than with plants, fungi had been included under the Kingdom Plantae until the mid-20th century, when a new kingdom was established. This Kingdom Fungi is estimated to contain 2.2-3.8 million species, an enormous range of taxa that includes yeasts, molds, rusts and mushrooms. This presentation will give an overview of these organisms, their historical depictions and the many ways they shape the world we experience every day. 

Thurs., March 6: 

• Pen and Ink III: Applications | 6 – 9 p.m.
  In this course, students will be working with plants that have more complex structures and textures such as pinecones, artichokes and ferns. Each student will develop a plan to complete an advanced botanical art piece of a full plant of their choice with all the major parts including the roots and seeds.
• Gardening Certificate Orientation | 6:30 – 7 p.m.
  We are hosting a short online orientation for those interested in pursuing a certificate in the Ecological Gardening or Landscape and Garden Design programs. Join us to hear more about the program, and contact Juliette Olshock at jolshock@phipps.conservatory.org for any one-on-one discussions over Zoom.

Fri, March 7: 

• Tropical Forest Panama: The Premiere Party | 7:30 p.m.
  On Fri., March 7, guests are invited to embark on a spectacular journey through the lush vegetation and vibrant culture of Panama at our Tropical Forest Panama: The Premiere Party! The evening’s festivities will include delicious Panamanian-inspired cuisine tastings, live music and dance, a chance to explore Pittsburgh’s new tropical paradise and so much more!

Sat., March 8: 

• A Celebration of Seeds: Thirteenth Annual Seed Swap | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  For 13 years, Phipps Conservatory, Grow Pittsburgh and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh have hosted seed swaps to help gardeners get the seeds you need to start the season off right. Bring your untreated, non-GMO seeds to share or just pick up seeds donated by local gardeners and seed companies! 

 

Photos © Paul Vladuchick