Art Glass at Phipps Conservatory
Growing up in Pittsburgh, I remember the fun times running along the paths in the Phipps Garden Center eagerly anticipating the tropical jungle-like room, the desert cactus and the formal English garden. Today, Phipps Conservatory has transformed its old traditional greenhouse into a modern plant wonder. A recent renovation added the magnificent Welcome Center; a Silver LEED certified building entrance. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and was developed by the United States Green Building Council to provide a rating system to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible. Phipps is the first LEED®-certified visitor’s center in a public garden that is water and energy efficient, uses local and sustainable construction material and has improved indoor environmental quality.
As part of its new naturally lit underground entrance, The Café Phipps, offered a mouth watering menu featuring local and organic foods served on corn-based “plastic” cups and biodegradable recycled paper products, Café pre-consumer waste is composted to use in gardens and fair trade items are featured in the adjoining gift shop.
The reason I came to Phipps was a special exhibit: Chihuly at Phipps: Gardens & Glass. Dale Chihuly is an artist who has revolutionized the glass-as-art movement. A prolific artist, Chihuly’s works can be seen throughout the world, where his love of abstract natural forms brings a fantastical beauty to galleries, residences and a variety of unique venues. At Phipps, he combines flamboyant colors and monumental sculptural shapes of glass and plants them among the lush gardens.
Besides the special Chihuly installation there are several plant arrangements not to be missed. Particularly outstanding are the orchard and hatching butterfly tropics, the outdoors herb gardens, and the new wing housing the culture and plants of Tailand.
Chihuly At Phipps runs until November 11, 2007, daily from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm with Chihuly Nights on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. Be sure to call ahead for a reservation. They limit the tickets and weekends particularly are often sold out.
