Fall Fun

Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of spending some quality time with three close friends at Soergel Orchards in Wexford, PA about 12 miles outside of Pittsburgh. This weekend marked the beginning of the Fall Festival and the line of traffic getting off 79 attests to the popularity of the orchard. We had gone in hopes of apple picking but unfortunately only pumpkin picking was available but we were able to buy some apples in the well stocked market. Food stands boasted delicious fall foods such as caramel apples, roasted corn on the cob and apple cider, and children were able to enjoy the many games and activities including pony rides. My friends and I visited the animals in the petting zoo but we mostly enjoyed going into the gift shop and market. Along with pumpkins and gourds (I got some little ones to display on my window sill) the garden center hosts a whole variety of flowers and trees for sale. Hope you have a chance to go enjoy some fall fun this autumn!

Nothing says fall as much as pumpkins and sunflowers

Display of the flowers for sale at the garden center

Colorful mums line the stairs leading up to the gazebo; a prime picture taking spot

For more information about Soergel Orchard click here.

Titan of the Pond

For all of the times that I have visited Phipps Conservatory I just recently wandered around the aquatic garden. Since this garden is outside of the conservatory it can be explored by anyone walking down the street or through Schenley Park. Two large ponds display water lilies and other aquatic plants while beautiful  flowers such as the orange cana lily, line the edges. At the end of the ponds with a backdrop of pine trees stands a statue of Neptune. This titan  watches over the aquatic garden giving a central view point and focus to the design.

View of both ponds

Overview of the second pond

Close up of water plants.

The difference in flower and plant heights give a look of a second border along the pond.

Beautiful Cana Lily

Statue of Neptune; god of the Sea

Phipps Conservatory: Aquatic Garden

The Lone Impatien

Walking through the fern room at Phipps Conservatory I happened to notice a solitary pink impatien. Surrounded by a mass of green leaves and brown rocks this little burst of color stands its ground. I'm not sure if it was left over from a previous exhibit or just happened to seed itself there without any gardener interference; I like to believe the second. Sometimes it is the small little things like this flower that make me smile and brighten up your day.

In a sea of green and brown stands the little pink flower.

For more information on Phipps Conservatory

A Firecracker and a Gold Digger

Sometimes when I see the common name of a plant or flower I just start laughing. I first saw the Russelia equisetiformis in the Butterfly room at Phipps Conservatory where I was drawn to the cascading arms covered in small red bell shaped flowers. When I read the common name of firecracker plant I thought it was appropriate since it gave a burst of color against the green plants surrounding it. They are commonly used to cover walls such is the case at Phipps and attract butterflies and bees with the brightly colored flowers.

Firecracker Plant

Some describe the flowers as vases but I think of them as bells

To show the size of the flowers compared to my fingers

The Gold Digger is the common name for the yellow Laeliocattleya; I had to stifle a giggle the first time I read that name. The Gold Digger is an orchid that is a genetic bred of the laelia and catattleya and is characterized by yellow petals with reddish pink on the inside. Not sure if this is what I would have called this flower but it does make you smile when you see it.

Click here for more information about Phipps Conservatory

Dahlia Garden

Here are some picture to brighten up the dreary rainy days I've been having in Pittsburgh; beautiful dahlias. A garden of these friendly flowers are planted outside at Phipps Conservatory. I don't know if they are a new addition or if I have always missed them but this was the first time I notice the rows of colorful dahlias supported by the white picket fence. The dahlia tubers from which they grow need to be dug out before the first frost and stored away during the winter; so hopefully you will get a chance to see these enchanting flowers while there is still some sunshine left!

Giant white

The white picket fence adds a good back drop for the flower. Some of the stalks have to be tied to the green sticks to help against some of the strong rains we get in Pittsburgh.

Beautiful fuchsia color.

This one snuck onto the other side of the fence.

Click here for more information about Phipps Conservatory.

Fern Room with Reusable Art

The fern room at Phipps currently has art installations that reuse old materials such as plastic bottles, can lids and glass. The pieces were placed around the room in such a way that they integrated with the ferns and other plants and created a cohesive look to the setting. Often this is a room that I just walk right through in order to get to the connected Orchid Room. However, with the art displays up I took the time to enjoy this room and see some interesting ferns I haven't noticed before such as the Tasmanian Tree Fern.

Fabric made out of plastic bottles are hung in circles between metal and wood giving an added height to the display.

This Tasmanian Tree Fern is flanked by walls made of glass bottles and suspended can lids.

Close up of the can lid sculpture.

Click here for more information about Phipps Conservatory.

Salvaged Wood in a Feng Shui Room

The Serpentine Room is the first room you enter when you go around right from Palm Court of Phipps Conservatory. The one thing that I usually love about this room is that it is created in a way where you can take the same ideas and apply them to your own backyard or garden; it is displayed as a livable and functioning garden room. Currently this room showed how you can live Harmoniously with Nature (The theme of the exhibit) by using salvaged barn wood for your structures such as a bench or trellis. Feng Shui which is the notion of creating a living space which is in balance between the elements of fire, water, earth, metal and wood. Warm and cool colored plants were placed in balance to represent fire and water. A pond and a fake fire where also included in this space with the salvaged wood and of course earth. I couldn't quite find the element of metal except for the small wind chimes hanging from the pergolas in fire and water colors.
Hope you enjoy these pictures and are inspired to use some old wood pieces and create your garden to be in the Feng Shui style.

View as you enter

Giant hanging basket; love the ivy hanging down

Pond with lily pads

Close up off a water lily

These warm colored begonias help balance the element of fire

Wood bench with fire pit

Salvaged wood pergola with a fire wind chime

Water wind chime

Click here to learn more about Phipps Conservatory

Bamboo; The Sustainable Plant

View of the room as you enter.

Fabric balls hidden among tall grass.

Flowers made from bamboo fabric and mirrors.

Close up of a panda bear made of moss.

Bamboo Bench

Bamboo wall separating the in and out doors.

Another section of the Living Harmoniously with Nature exhibit at Phipps was about Bamboo in the sunken Garden. Bamboo is a very fast growing plant which is why it is an excellent food source for animals like the Giant Panda. This great renewable source is also used for making furniture and fabric when it is turned into a pulp. All three of these aspects of bamboo where shown in the garden from the giant panda made of lea, bamboo fabric flowers and walls of bamboo stalks. Here are some pictures to enjoy!
Phipps Website