Dancing Christmas Trees

Finals are quickly approaching and time to sit down and write another post has been scarce but I wanted to take a break from my paper writing and share some more about the Phipps Christmas Exibit.
The serpentine room has been set up with an overflow of Christmas trees. Each tree has been decorated with a specific theme that goes along with one of the dances from the Nutcracker; Spanish, Arabian, Chinese, Russian, Waltz of the Flowers and Merliton Flute. These pictures are from the daytime but I'm sure the trees look even better at night when the lights really pop.  My favorite was the Arabian dance tree because it had lots of peacock feathers on it which is something I never thought to decorate a tree with before.  Next to each large decorated tree was another smaller tree decorated all in white with plain white lights; not sure if that was supposed to represent something or just to add more light at night.

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy!

Spanish Dance

Love this ornament, you can also see one of the Spanish fans.

Arabian dance

Love the peacock feathers on top

Chinese dance

Topper made of chopsticks.

Russian dance

Russian doll soldier

top of the Russian dance tree

Waltz of the flowers

Another interesting topper

Merliton Flute Dance

Phipps Conservatory.

Unexpected Surprises

So here a few things that I found at the Christmas Show that don't fit into any real theme that I want to post about so I decided to throw them all together here.
The first are some pictures of the front of Phipps. I got there at 8:30am so there was still frost on the ground. I learned that conservatory doesn't open until 9:30 during the week so I came back later but I'm glad I got these pictures first. 

The front of Phipps at 8:30am with frost on the ground. 

Light post with Christmas wreath.

The frost on the ground adds a new layer of color, white, green and red.

Close up of the dome with the wreath and garlands.

 The next are a few new surprises from within the Orchid room. I'll have a whole post of Orchids in the future since I have hundreds of pictures of them on my computer but here are a few new things I saw.

A small terrirum. I think this is because the display case of miniature orchids is still not back in circulation.

                          This is one of my favorite types of orchids but the fist time I saw it in this coloring.                      Paphiopedlium Leeanum

 These window boxes were just sitting in the little entry way between the Palm Court and the train set up and they are one of my favorite things I saw.

I love the look if the iron window casing with the flowers.

Amaryllis, 2 types of Poinsettia and Varigated English Ivy.

 Phipps Conservatory

Broderie Room for Christmas

Post 3 on the Phipps Conservatory Christmas Show 2011.
The Broderie Room as I have described in previous posts is often described as the wedding room. During this exhibit it was decorated to represent Clara's love for the Nutcracker that helped transform him from a doll to the Prince. It was even recommended that you make a wish in the wishing well to find your own true love.
The set up was simple but still gave a dramatic effect with the red and white poinsettia against the green hedges. Height was given by urns with poinsettia trees along the sides.  Red fabric swags gave a romantic quality against the windows surrounding the room.  Again I strongly suggest that you go and see this exhibit, and who knows your wish may come true.

View of the room as you walk in.

Poinsettia tree

 

I love the look of the fabric with the windows and plantings

3 goddesses

Wishing well

Planter against the back row. Sasanqua Camellia, Florist Kalanchoe, and Rosemary.

Phipps Conservatory

Living Wreaths

Anyone who has ever come to my apartment knows that I always have a wreath on my front door that I change for the different seasons. I think it is a fun and easy way to show a little bit about your personality before anyone even steps inside your home.
Wreaths were also a prominent part of the Christmas Flower show at Phipps this year, with the majority of them being living wreaths. This means that they were made out of live plants and flowers that continue to grow as they are in the wreath form. Of course there were also the typical evergreen wreaths with red bows but I think the living wreaths are just a bit more special.
Here are some pictures of the wreaths at the Phipps Christmas show.

Wreaths surrounding the portraits of the founders as you first walk in.

Absolutely love this! Wreath around the clock from the Nutcracker.

Giant wreath made of clover. Last year they had a big red bow on it, wish they had done that again.

So you can get an idea of the size.

Not a living wreath but it was so pretty I had to share it anyways.

For information on how to make your own living wreath I found this great blog you can check out.
DIY Living Wreath

For more information about Phipps Conservatory.

Floating Christmas Tree

Today I went to the 2011 Christmas Flower Show at Phipps Conservatory. I plan on going back again at night so that I can see the effect all of the lights have on the trees and flowers.
Normally when I blog about Phipps I start with the Palm Court and then progress around the conservatory in the order that I saw it. Instead I am going to blog about the rooms in random order starting with the Victoria room because it is so spectacular. 
The distinguishing thing about the Victoria room is the shallow pool of water that takes up the center of the room. During Christmas time they always have a large, I think about 25 foot, Christmas tree in the center of the room. This year the theme of the exhibit was the Nutcracker and the Victoria room represented the endless ocean; when the Nutcracker and Clara (sometimes called Marie) sail away in a walnut shell. The tree is decorated in blue, white and silver and takes your breath away when you walk through the door. I also loved looking at the reflection of the tree and lights in the dark colored pool. I strongly suggest that if you only go to Phipps once a year that this would be the show to see.

The 25 foot tree

Close up of some ornaments

Ribbon bow on top

Reflection of the tree

Garlands made from small plants that hung from the tree to the railing

Phipps Conservatory