Annual orchid and tropical bonsai show opens at Phipps Conservatory
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens added “A Splash of Brilliance” to the drab winter landscape with the opening of its annual orchid and tropical bonsai show, highlighting specimens from two of its renowned collections.
“Our orchids are displayed in a variety of new and exciting ways this year to resemble flowing water,” said show co-designer Jordyn Melino. “A theme focusing on fountains provides tranquility, with added water features and rooms dripping with color.”
Different specimens will be showcased throughout the course of the show as they come into bloom.
Although some of the Phipps’ bonsai are quite old, “the age of the plant is not important,” said Phipps’ bonsai specialist Kevin Haughey. “Although many bonsai are in training for several years, what really matters is visual interest and how old they appear to be. This is what the practitioner strives for and how they can be so evocative to the viewer.”
Running through Feb. 28, the show includes these features:
• Two Christmas palms towering over a three-tiered fountain cascading with white orchids and dripping with silver Spanish moss
• The sounds of water trickling from various water features
• The Sunken Garden, where orchids in planted chandeliers, ring baskets and hanging baskets fill the air
• Vibrantly colored orchids arranged in 6- and 9-foot towers in the shape of dripping fountains
• Tropical bonsai specimens that have been in training for decades, showcasing a wide variety of species and pruning techniques
• A bamboo shishi-odoshi, or deer scarer fountain, providing a gentle, repeating thud as the bamboo fills up and tips over
• “Garden Railroad: Rails and Trails,” a display of miniatures in Phipps’ Biophilia Park.
“Our Garden Railroad is full of many model trains, chugging through miniature landscapes depicting people enjoying the sights and sounds of nature,” said communications manager Jenna Bodnar. “In addition to the pontoon boat, guests can see figures enjoying classic park activities, such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, camping, swimming and more.
“Trains move through the park, over bridges and around the lake, and live tiny junipers, hemlocks and flowering plants create the lush landscapes,” Bodnar said. “Guests of all ages will enjoy the touchless interactive stations, which send the pontoon boat cruising across the lake, strike up the band at an outdoor concert and set a carousel into motion, complete with lights and music.”
“The annual Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show started at Phipps in 2011, but there were many dedicated (if not annual) orchid shows at Phipps in prior years,” said Joe Reed, director of marketing and communications. “Orchid display has been a key feature at Phipps since at least 1931, when 800 rare orchids valued at $50,000 were donated to the Conservatory by Charles D. Armstrong, owner of the Armstrong Cork Co., greatly enhancing our collection.”
Open daily
Katie Schuller joined Melino and Haughey in designing “Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show: A Splash of Brilliance.”
Hours are 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. Admission is $19.95, $17.95 for those 62 and older and students older than 18, $11.95 for ages 2-18.
Timed-entry tickets must be reserved in advance to avoid crowding. Other safety protocols include:
• Guests 2 and older must wear masks with two or more layers; neck gaiters and bandanas are not allowed.
• Guests should maintain at least 6 feet of distance with others and follow the one-way flow through the conservatory to minimize interactions.
• Guests should refrain from touching surfaces unless absolutely necessary; hands-on areas and activities are currently suspended.
Details: 412-622-6914 or phipps.conservatory.org
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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