Winter Joy at The Phipps Conservatory

I miss visiting the Phipps Conservatory of Pittsburghthis year especially in the dead of winter in the dead of winter. When your skin is dry and you are cold and chilly it is wonderful to spend an hour or two in warm humidity smelling the blooms of orchids and other fragrant flowers. It’s almost as good as a spa treatment. I have no idea what the actual name is of this orchid but it brought me joy in the cold of winter so to me it is Winter Joy.

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Winter Joy

Missing the Phipps Conservatory

I am reading a novel by Stewart O’Nan entitled Emily Alone. The author is from Pittsburgh and his descriptions of our city are really accurate. The chapter I am reading today is about The Phipps Conservatory and he made me realize how much I miss going there. We are members and normally we visit three or four times a year. Not his year though, hopefully we will be able to go next year.

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Autumn at The Phipps

Autumn at The Phipps

Phipps Spring Flower Show

The Phipps Orchid Show #5

Nothing is better when its freezing outside than visiting The Phipps Conservatory Orchid Show. The orchid room is full of blooming orchids and so warm and moist you won’t want to leave.

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The Phipps Orchid Show #5

Croton at the Phipps Conservatory

Nothing is better when its freezing outside than visiting The Phipps Conservatory Orchid Show. The orchid room is full of blooming orchids and so warm and moist you won’t want to leave.

I assume that everything in The Orchid Room is an orchid but that is not so. Fortunately I always visit with my wife who is somewhat of an expert. There are many succulents and tropical plants like this beautiful croton.

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A Tropical Croton

The Phipps Orchid Show #4

Nothing is better when its freezing outside than visiting The Phipps Conservatory Orchid Show. The orchid room is full of blooming orchids and so warm and moist you won’t want to leave.

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Orchid #4

The Phipps Orchid Show #3

Nothing is better when its freezing outside than visiting The Phipps Conservatory Orchid Show. The orchid room is full of blooming orchids and so warm and moist you won’t want to leave.

The color of this one is just amazing.

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Orchid #3

The Phipps Orchid Show #2

Nothing is better when its freezing outside than visiting The Phipps Conservatory Orchid Show. The orchid room is full of blooming orchids and so warm and moist you won’t want to leave.

This one is hard to photograph because it is so white it can be difficult to capture the detail in the white leaves. I needed to adjust the highlights and white in photoshop but I think the result is stunning.

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Orchid #2

The Phipps Orchid Show #1

Nothing is better when its freezing outside than visiting The Phipps Conservatory Orchid Show. The orchid room is full of blooming orchids and so warm and moist you won’t want to leave.

This one is hard to photograph because it is so white it can be difficult to capture the detail in the white leaves. I needed to adjust the highlights and white in photoshop but I think the result is stunning.

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Orchid Number One

Phipps Conservatory Roof Reflections

One of the most wonderful things about the Phipps Conservatory is the construction of the many roofs. The entry is special and beautiful but the real art is in the computer control of the windows, fans and louvers. This allows them to create different habitats for different exhibits in every season.

The reflection of the roof in the pond is a reminder of how the roof and passive solar environment allow this room to be used in all seasons. Even winter.

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Roof Reflections

Behold The Bilateral Symmetry

When our daughter was around 8 years old my wife took her to The Phipps Conservatory with her grandmother. When they got to this room my daughter proclaimed, “…behold the bilateral symmetry.” It is impossible for me not to think of that each time I visit.

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Behold The Bilateral Symmetry