Phipps Conservatory Announces Summer Flower Show: Under the Sea and Butterfly Forest

For Immediate Release: Thurs., March 28
Contact: Joe Reed | Senior Director of Communications
412-622-6915, ext. 3801 | jreed@phipps.conservatory.org 

Phipps Conservatory Announces Summer Flower Show: Under the Sea and Butterfly Forest
Dive Into the Magical Underworld of the Ocean and Celebrate the Return of Fluttering Friends in Whimsical New Shows

Pittsburgh, PA –Starting Sat., May 4, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is presenting Summer Flower Show: Under the Sea and welcoming the return of its beloved Butterfly Forest. The Conservatory’s fun-filled new flower show invites guests to set sail on an underwater adventure through scenes from the sea. Highlighting the vibrant life in the ocean, these engaging displays feature charming sea creatures, unique foliage and fantastic flora! 

Exhibit Features

• Upon arrival, you’ll be “whale-comed” to the show by a giant whale prop swimming through a sea of bright blue blooms
• View a larger-than-life octopus sitting beneath a canopy of glowing jellyfish in our Palm Court
• Watch topiary seahorses float in the Victoria pond as a scuba diver captures the beauty from above
• Stroll among sea turtles, angelfish and cardinalfish in the Gallery Room as an eel makes its way through blue, yellow and coral flora
• Gaze at a glowing treasure chest and an animatronic shark amid the shipwreck scene in the South Conservatory
• Marvel at a 16-foot-long whale sculpture by artist Sayaka Ganz in the Serpentine Room

Prepare to be wowed as you behold amazing aquatic displays that will be an exciting kickoff to your summer! Don't miss this one-of-a-kind, all-ages experience that only Phipps can provide. 

Opening the same day, Butterfly Forest returns to awe visitors with an up-close look at some of nature's most prized pollinators alongside the blossoming flowers that feed them. Guests are invited to stroll along a winding forest path over a bridge, past ponds and through a tunnel to discover beautiful butterflies as they flutter, eat and rest inside our Stove Room. 

Summer Flower Show: Under the Sea was designed by Associate Director of Exhibits Jordyn Melino. The show runs from May 4 – Sept. 8. Phipps is open from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily and until 10 p.m. Fridays. Timed tickets must be reserved in advance and will be available for presale in March. For more information and to reserve tickets, visit phipps.conservatory.org.

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About Phipps: Founded in 1893, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA is a globally recognized green leader with a mission to inspire and educate all with the beauty and importance of plants; to advance sustainability and promote human and environmental well-being through action and research; and to celebrate its historic glasshouse. Encompassing 15 acres including a historic 14-room glasshouse, 23 distinct indoor and outdoor gardens and industry-leading sustainable architecture and operations, Phipps attracts more than half a million visitors annually from around the world. Learn more at phipps.conservatory.org.

Watch TEDx: What We Can Learn From an Old Glasshouse: A look at the evolving way we connect people to nature at Phipps, demonstrate how human and environmental health are inextricably connected, and show that to age gracefully, we must continually reinvent ourselves to evolve with the rest of the world.