This Week at Phipps: Nov. 4 – 10

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: 

• COMING SOON: Phipps Holiday Magic
  With a whimsical theme of “Enchantment”, guests are sure to be captivated by a forest of fantasy. Phipps has pulled out all the stops for this year's Winter Flower Show with magnificent new displays featuring mystical creatures, gorgeous holiday trees and our signature floral delights, including amaryllis, orchids and 21 varieties of poinsettias. Plus, the beauty isn't just indoors: our celebrated Winter Light Garden fills our outdoor spaces with spectacular lights in vivid shades that will awe guests of all ages.
• 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.
• 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., Nov. 4: 

• Composting for Beginners | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  Turn your waste into a valuable garden resource. In this class for beginners, learn strategies for creating a healthful garden amendment. Composting can be done at various levels from those living in small apartments and composting only kitchen scraps to those on large properties with lots of kitchen scraps and yard waste. Learn how to scale your bin to just the right size for you. 

Tues., Nov. 5: 

• Botanical Drawing II: Volume, Texture and Details | 6 – 9 p.m.
  Continue to develop your observation and drawing skills to accurately render leaves, stems, roots and flowers in varying positions, capturing details and textures unique to the botanical subject.

Wed., Nov. 6: 

• 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.
• Entertaining Made Easy: Appetizers | 6 – 7:30 p.m.
  Grab a beverage and tune in for this holiday inspired series. We will focus on show-stopping dishes that can be prepared in advance with easy finishing touches so hosts can spend time with their guests while still blowing them away at the table. Each week features a different course of a traditional holiday meal, from grazing appetizers to a sit-down balanced meal, to drinks and desserts. Make everyone say wow without breaking a sweat!
• Autumn Gourds in Watercolor Using Masing Fluid | 6 – 9 p.m.
  In this 3-session class learn how to use masking fluid while painting colorful fall gourds in watercolor. The class will consist of demonstrations, practice exercises, individual and group discussion culminating in a final finished single or multiple gourd piece. Students will need to provide their own colorful gourds for the class. 

Thurs., Nov. 7:

• Biophilia | 6 – 7 p.m.
   Speaker Stefani Danes will address how creating the Rachel Carson EcoVillage allows for opportunities to understand and strengthen our connections with nature and with each other. Inspired by the life and work of Western Pennsylvania’s Rachel Carson, this intentional neighborhood is striving to realize her vision for a community “where all life seemed to live in harmony with its surrounding”. This talk focuses on one of our biggest questions: What does it mean to live in harmony with nature?
• Fairy Garden Terrarium | 6 – 7:30 p.m.
  Join us in mixing horticulture with magic by creating your very own whimsical fairy garden terrarium! Natalie from Phipps horticulture staff will guide you through placing your plants and props; while giving you plant care tips along the way to keep your fairy garden thriving. Supplies for this class include: a glass terrarium, soil, plants, props.
• Fall Tree Identificaltion | 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
  When the leaves have fallen you can still identify trees by their bark and buds. In this class, you will learn to identify the patterns of various trees so that you can recognize those commonly found in the area. Join botanist Kyle Filicky for a walk through Schenley Park to learn the characteristics of local trees.

Photos © Phil Johnson II