This Week at Phipps: Sept. 23 – 29

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: Fall Flower Show: Rhythm and Blooms
  Starting Sat., Oct. 5, Phipps’ Fall Flower Show: Rhythm and Blooms celebrates an array of musical genres accompanied by countless chrysanthemums in marvelous shapes, sizes and colors. Each room is inspired by a different genre of music, from rock and roll to classical, jazz, hip hop and more! 
• COMING SOON: Garden Railroad: Movie Magic 
  Starting Sat., Oct. 5, Phipps’ 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.
• COMING SOON: Ikebana International Exhibit
  In this recurring exhibit in our Welcome Center Gallery, view gorgeous floral displays courtesy of the Ikebana International Pittsburgh Chapter. 
• 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., Sept 23:

• Growing Garlic Basics | 6 – 7 p.m.
  Discover the essentials of growing your own garlic! Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner, this virtual workshop covers everything you need to know from the different types of garlic varities to the proper methods of garlic curing! Join us and cultivate flavorful, homegrown garlic!
• Bulbs for Spring Blooms | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  Since autumn is the optimum season to plant bulbs, now is the time to decide what will work best in your garden. Learn a variety of hardy native and non-native bulbs that will bloom during the spring season, from snowdrops to fritillaria and camas, their required growing conditions, and how to properly plant them.

Tues., Sept 24: 

• Mastering Mushrooms: This is a Mushroom?: Mushroom Biscuits and Gravy, Lion's Mane "Crabcakes" & Candy Cap Brownies | 6 – 8 p.m.
  Chef Emily Larsen of Spilling the Soup and Jill and Britt from Flannel Roots Farm are back for more mushroom mastery! Learn all about local mushroom varieties, their culinary attributes, and tips for preparing them in the kitchen. In this class we're totally transforming mushrooms! We'll use mushrooms to make a Mushroom Broth which will be used to make Mushroom Biscuits and Gravy, Lions Mane Mushroom Crabcakes*, Mushroom Coffee and Candy Cap Mushroom Brownies!
• 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. If your bonsai is at least 3 years old, you may be eligible for a repotting!
• Botanical Drawing I: Foundations | 6 – 9 p.m.
  Botanical illustration differs from traditional drawing because it captures a subject with scientific accuracy through observation, form and detail.  Learn to identify basic shapes in nature and use a step-by-step process to create the illusion of depth through light, shadow and perspective.

Wed., Sept. 25: 

• 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.
• Pressed Flower Stained Glass | 6 – 8:30 p.m.
  Get crafty with us on a small scale! Using dried and pressed flowers, collages, and foil, preserve natural wonders and your memories into a cabinet of curiosities that you can cherish in the form of your choosing. Make 2 pieces of your pressed glass: brooches (pins), magnets, or curious objects. 

Thurs., Sept. 26:

• Creating a Beautiful Habitat | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  Aesthetic beauty and ecological function don’t have to be mutually exclusive in a home garden. Learn strategies to increase the ecological effectiveness of your garden by combining non-native plants with natives that thrive in a garden environment while still using the design techniques of form, color, texture and structure that appeal to the eye. Covered are plant and design choices for maximum beauty and pollinator value in a garden setting, dealing with invasives, and developing an attractive habitat in your western Pennsylvania garden that could qualify as a pollinator or wildlife certified garden. 

Sat., Sept. 28: 

• Mushroom Forage, Foray and Fun! | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  Come enjoy a collaborative exploratory art forage walk with Phipps, Western PA Mushroom Club, and Flannel Roots Farm, combining all things the imaginative outdoors and fungi can offer! We will talk about different species of fungi, where to find them, and tips and tricks for easy identification.

Photos © Paul g. Wiegman