User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 

Wednesday, 11 January 2012 01:00

Written by Doug Oster

I was at Phipps yesterday and saw the crew setting up for the Annual Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show that opens on January 14th. I love orchids and bonsai and there are some amazing things in between.

They were putting variagated elephant ears in place, I've never seen those before.

Georgia Wahl is the orchid manager, she was working hard getting everything in place.

I was at Phipps filming this week's Digging with Doug, all about plants the clean the air inside our homes. I learned a lot, I think you will too. It posts on Satuday January 14th.

There's nothing like a day at Phipps to reduce the stress of everyday life.

Here's some more information about the show-

The annual Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens places the spotlight on some of the most spectacular and unique specimens in its extensive permanent collections, delighting visitors with beautiful displays and offering gardeners and other nature lovers plenty of inspiration and practical growing tips to take home. Wonderfully varied and colorful, orchids come in all hues, shapes and sizes, providing a feast for the eyes with their delicacy, detail and splendor. Beyond highlighting its renowned collection, which can be viewed all year long, Phipps will also showcase plants more rarely exhibited, in addition to punctuating Conservatory gardens with the beloved flowers. Enthusiasts will have the chance to learn more about the characteristics and care requirements of the various types of orchids too, including Phalaenopsis with their moth and butterfly-like flowers and Paphiopedilums with their slipper-like pouches. Perfectly complementing the more exuberant orchids are tropical bonsai. An ancient Japanese art form, bonsai features miniature, potted trees cultivated to imitate the growth habits of their mature counterparts in nature. Classified by size and style based on the shape of their trunks and branches, they take many forms—a number of which will be displayed for guests to examine. From the iconic formal upright bonsai to the more dramatic slant bonsai that resemble windswept trees, these artful showpieces are incredible sights to behold on account of their intricacy and masterful precision. “The breathtaking and unusual specimens we have in our tropical bonsai and orchid collections are prime examples of the profound inspiration to be found in nature, and we hope that our guests will be moved by what they see and learn to cultivate some beauty in their own homes,” says Richard Piacentini, executive director of Phipps. Phipps’ Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show, which runs through March 4, 2012, will be open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 10 p.m. on Fridays. Admission costs $12 for adults, $11 for seniors (age 62 and older) and students (with valid ID), and $9 for children (ages 2-18). Members and children under 2 enter for free. During the month of February, guests are also invited to join the fun on Tropical Sundays, featuring live steel drum performances by Matthew Mazza of the Tropical Sands Steel Band and tropical fruit tastings. Plus, visitors who wear tropical flower shirts on these days will receive a 50 percent discount off of a regular admission ticket. To learn more, please visit www.phipps.conservatory.org.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed