Phipps Spring Flower Show 2013- Secret Garden

Entrance into the Serpentine Garden

I feel ashamed how long it has been since I last posted a new blog entry but that is what happens when you are finishing up the last semester of a doctoral program. So this post is a little late since the the Spring Flower Show finished over a month ago and the Summer Flower Show is now in full bloom.

Garden gate in the Palm Court

Broderie Room

The theme for the 2013 Phipps Spring Flower Show was the Secret Garden, based on the beloved book. I admit I haven't read the book but I have seen the movie and have always wanted to have my own secret garden someday. I want my own small space of organized chaos full of flowers, trees and garden art to have in my future home.

Water spicket in the edible garden

Topiaries and winding path

Overall the spring flower show was a nice relaxing stroll for the afternoon, giving me a small sense of escape from my busy schedule. The flowers were pretty typical of the spring flower shows in the past with the regular display of tulips. But it is hard to feel disappointed when seeing an array of such cheery flowers.

Orange tulips, one of my favorites

Red tulips

I love the orange flowers with the ivy against the brick wall

goddess sculpture

Hopefully you enjoyed these photos, sorry it wasn't very informative but I will have more up soon!

Phipps Fall Flower Show 2012

Life has been crazy I haven't had much time to blog in the last month or really stop and think at all. Today however, I had the chance to go and visit Phipps Conservatory early in the morning and see the Fall Flower Show before it ended. Overall, the displays were very similar with the show last year but there were a few new pieces. I don't have time to go into too much detail but here are a few of the pictures that I took while I was there.

The Broderie Room. 

The yellow mums really pop against the black urn.

White and yellow mums

Official wishing well

 The Broderie Room was by far my favorite room for this show. The limited color palate of yellow, white and green helped accent the clean lines throughout the parterre garden. 

Zululand cycad.

If you have a chance to go to Phipps soon don't miss out on seeing the Zululand cycad. This is the first time this African seed plant has been blooming since 2006.

Note: when I went to Google this to find out what it is, everything online called it a zululand cycad, but the plaque at Phipps says Zuzuland cycad, somebody really messed up there...

Green mums

red/orange spray mums

Miniature Phipps 

 The biggest draw for all of the kids at Phipps is the train set with tiny town. While I was standing in front of the display taking pictures at least a dozen families with small children came and every child no fail went "oh wow" and stood awe struck watching the train. Within the the town was a model of Phipps as it would have looked in 1893 when it first opened.

Chinese dragon in the Sunken Garden. 

 A tribute to Chinese New Year was on display in the sunken garden. A large red dragon was in the middle of room among the fountains while yellow and orange flowers lined the walls and hanging plants.

Under the sea

The final display was probably the best this room has ever looked. There were a variety of flowers planted to mimic the coral along the ocean floor and paper fish were hanging from the ceiling as though they were swimming. 


Hopefully you enjoyed some of these pictures.
The Christmas exhibit is going to open in 3 weeks and I can't wait to see it!

Spring Around The World: Phipps Flower Show 2012

Last week I visited the Spring Flower Show at Phipps Conservatory where the theme was a Trip around the World. Each room depicted a different country showcasing spring flowers and  highlighting some unique pieces of each culture.

Flags were displayed in the Palm Court when you first walked in showing some of the countries included in the flower show.

 A huge Dutch tulip display with a moving windmill was one of my favorite rooms due to the variety of tulips and other flowers included. Of course my favorites were the orange tulips which I took many pictures of, one of which you can see below.

 

Dutch Display

Pretty Pink Tulips

Triumph Tulip in orange. Tulipa. 'Anne Schilder'

 A close second favorite was the Great Britain display.It was set up in the Sunken Garden ans included a British red phone booth filled with white flowers and the Union Jack depicted by red, white and blue blooms.

Red phone booth filled with white snapdragons and surrounded by tulips.

I like the contrast of the white delicate tulips against the red frame of the booth.

One half of the Union Jack created by the flowers in the sunken garden. 

France was also represented during the Spring Flower Show. Of course the display was in none other than the Broderie Room which is the wedding or love room at Phipps Conservatory.

The Broderie Room was filled with pink, white and green flowers.

Little touches like this bike were placed around the room to feel like you were outside in Paris.

Official wishing well.

Variety of plants and flowers filled the bed along the back wall.

 Other countries such as Greece, China and the Polynesia Islands were also represented in the exhibit along with the permanent India display and Orchid room. Pictures from the rest of the rooms will be up soon but since this post is getting long I will end it now.

The show closes soon so hopefully you will be able to go and see it and experience all the wonderful spring flowers.

Orchids: Part IV

So here is my final post about all the lovely orchids that were on display this year at the Phipps Conservatory Orchid and Bonsai exhibit 2012.  I wanted to share some of the less common orchids that made me stop and stare.

It is amazing that there can be so many different varieties of one single genre of flower; some looking so unique that you wouldn't even suspect that they are orchids.



Here are some pictures. Enjoy!

Onicidium

Cymbidum:
  Moira

Fredclarkeara:
After Dark
'SVO Black Pearl' FCC/AOS

Cymbidium:
Via Mar Tranquila
'Mt. Cook'

Epidendrum ciliare var.oerstedii

Rhyncholaeliocattleya:
Honolulu Sunset

Dendrobium: 
 Remy Hartman

Cymbidium:
Happy Days
'Sanbar's Green Envy'

Cymbidium:
Showgirl
'Marion Miller'

Odontocidium:
Wildcat
'Bobcat'

Dendrobium: 
Starlet Beauty
'Robsan' AM/AOS

Laeliocattleya:
Melody Fair
'Carol'

Aliceara: 
Memoria Jay Yamada

Laeliocatanthe:
 Cosmo-Cerrito

Bakerara:
Clownish
'Cotton Candy'

Cymbidium: 
Red Beauty 'Evening Star'
HCC/AOS

Since orchids need to be kept in a warm climate visiting the  the orchid room at Phipps can be a nice reprieve from the snowy Pittsburgh weather. So I encourage you to go out and visit your local conservatory bask in the warmth of flowery scented air and view some beautiful flowers.