As a member of Phipps for many years, I am continually pleased & awed by how they reinvent themselves & the ways they serve the public. My family & friends enjoy the times we spend seeing new shows while I act as tour guide. But I am most proud of the environmental & scienticific experiences the Phipps & I have provided my grandaughters over the last 9 years. Thank you Phipps from the bottom of my heart!
A Pittsburgh treasure for over 120 years, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is still the premier cultural venue in the region. From its old Victorian glass house to its Tropical Forest Conservatory to its new Center for Sustainable Landscapes, Phipps presents one of the greenest and most beautiful botanical garden in the land. So much to see and enjoy. And their award winning Cafe Phipps has a wonderful menu of healthy, delicious food choices. Don't forget to visit The Shop at Phipps! This is hands down a must see in Pittsburgh!
Phipps Conservatory is one of the most loveliest gardens ever. After entering thru the LEED certified Welcome Center and viewing the Chihuly chandelier, you walk into another world, filled with all sorts of flowers and various plants from absolutely everywhere. For a volunteer, I don't consider this work @ all, but a wonderful garden oasis that brings delight to all who visit Phipps. The special flower shows throughout the seasons ensure a continuim of beautiful garden displays all year long. Indoors and outdoors, there's truly always something blooming in the gardens.
One of the newest features of Phipps is the Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL). Truly a showcare to the world that building & operating a green sustainable office building is achievable & architecturally beautiful. From the green roof to the sustainable landscaped hillside, Phipps extends it's commitment to living green by sharing the CSL with us & to all future generations. As a CSL docent, I get to share Phipps story of the CSL but als get to hear Phipps visitors green stories. Phipps is truly a world class organization, devoted to caring for all that is green (plants) & blue (our planet)!
Whether an avid gardener or a botanical black thumb like me, Phipps provides a wonderful opportunity to appreciate all things green!! A great date with my husband or with the kids and their grandfather (very wheelchair friendly), we treasure having Phipps in our backyard!
My husband and I have volunteered for Phipps for the last several years and are so proud to be even a small part of such a well-run organization whose positive influence has spanned generations. Phipps remains the "jewel of our city" for many reasons -- their many displays and events provide a wide variety for folks of all interests and ages -- toddlers to seniors -- and their attention to detail with all of these offerings transcends language. On even the greyest of days, we know we will be surrounded by beauty, interesting and accomplished folks but most especially an organization that makes you feel valuable and appreciated for even the smallest of contributions.
It was our original intent to contribute and feel good about that so imagine our utter surprise when we actually "got" more than we "gave". Thank you Phipps -- may your many success continue!!
Carmen N. Sapir
Grateful Volunteer
The students at Shaler Area High School have worked with Phipps through the Fairchild Challenge for four years now. The level of positive competition and excellent, real-world challenges that the Fairchild Challenge creates for area students is top notch. No other cross curricular activity compares for its high level of rigor, well organized activities, and generosity to schools.
What can you say about Phipps? The Green Heart of Pittsburgh, it has been a destination for well over 100 years...yet, the Conservatory has become the "greenest" botanical garden in the US!! They raise the bar on sustainability and are writing the book on sustainable practices with the building of their Center for Sustainable Landscapes. We're privileged in Pittsburgh to have such a jewel. Eat you hearts out, America!
My most recent trip to Phipps was to see the Spring Flower Show, which is the biggest and best of the Phipps shows. This year was no exception :)
My family has been taking trips to Phipps at the holidays since I was a child. Today I have children of my own, and the warmth and blooming plants of Phipps are still the best way to beat the winter blues.
I had a very enjoyable evening greeting and directing guests as a volunteer for Phipps' recent collaboration with the Pittsburgh Opera. This was a unique event in which opera performances were held in the conservatory rooms. All the guests had a wonderful time.
I thoroughly enjoy every visit to Phipps Conservatory. When I first moved to Pennsylvania from Florida it was a dire search for greenery in the winter. Phipps helped get me through that first winter and I can't express how important that was. Now I'm hooked! I've been a member of Phipps for a year and a half and have visited countless times. Each time I go something new is in bloom and it's a wonderful experience. Every time someone visits Pittsburgh it's a must see!
I have been visiting Phipps for over a year, and it is a fantastic place. I go back every week or two to replenish my spirit. For me it is a place full of life and joy and special memories. And, of course, beautiful plants. :-)
Having a place like the Phipps in an urban area is a wonderful resource for adults and children to experience the calmness of green spaces. And a botanical garden is highly educational - not just about plants but about cultures. I visit botanic gardens all over the world when I get a chance and here I have a wonderful place right on my doorstep. The Phipps regularly holds events that draw in different groups from the area. They are LEED certified and work on grand schemes from how to green the planet right down to what a household can do to change in small ways. We took our two non-member friends in for the evening and they were so impressed they joined. This beautiful building reminds me of home and the great glasshouse at Kew and there is a historical link. But mostly I value The Phipps because it is a place that I can go and realx from the busy world amidst green things, beautiful plants and helpful people - with a great cafe!
Phipps Conservatory has become a haven for me over the years I have lived in Pittsburgh, PA - always a peaceful and welcoming place, the care and appreciation its wide variety of plants receive daily from staff and volunteers seem to permeate the atmosphere. No matter how stressful or sad a mood I'm in, Phipps never fails to put a smile on my face and lift my spirits, especially during the dark, cold days of winter. The Orchid room has colorful surprises lurking in every unexpected corner; the changing displays of the Serpentine Room and the Sunken Garden are always both inspired and inspiring; the outdoor kids garden provides family fun (and education!) spring through autumn; and the Tropical Forest, Phipps' newest edition, includes fascinating exhibits on Tibetan and Amazonian culture and the work done by researches on the biological and social systems to be found there. (And, the Phipps Café features delicious food made from local and/or organic ingredients for a very reasonable price! Plus fantastic desserts!)
I love Phipps. In fact my whole family loves Phipps. Going to an event at Phipps is one of the few cultural things my husband will do without complaining. We receive email updates of all their current events. The emails are easy to read and include all pertinent information for the topic. We recently attended a member and guest night. The event was better than I expected. My husband, 1 year old daughter, and I went, as well as my sister as our guest. We all had a great time. We try to go visit the gardens at least once a month. Phipps is family friendly, so I can bring my daughter along whenever we go.
It is always a delightfully calm and soothing experience to visit Phipps. The lovely plantings and soothing atmosphere is so restful. It was enhanced even more by the musicians who played in the central indoor courtyard. We also enjoyed the cooking demonstration. It was a delightful surprise and tasty treat to have the delicious treats too. The whole evening was an exceptionally charming event that appealed to our many senses. Thank you for the wonderful Conservatory.