Pittsburgh's Gorgeous Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

I can't say enough good things about our visit to the 
Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA!

This horticulture heaven has breathtaking themed gardens around every corner. 
What a thrill it was to explore this gorgeous, Taj Mahal-esque structure!

Just inside, this astounding chandelier by artist Dale Chihuly fills the glass rotunda!

Banners like this one piqued our curiosity.

It just so happened that we were in town when the giant corpse flower
was expected to bloom at any time, so it was garnering much attention.
Native to the rainforests of Sumatra, it blooms only once every few years, 
and when it does, it emits an odor similar to rotting flesh. I know- eew, gross!
We missed the big event by only a few days, however, so our noses were spared.
Here's the infamous corpse flower in all its pre-bloom glory.





The Serpentine Room features seasonal plants & flowers.

Phipps has an outstanding collection of Bonsai. Here are just a few.

A huge variety of lush ferns in every shade of green.

Beyond-beautiful orchids! 

More of Chihuly's art glass is situated throughout the conservatory,...

...including this spectacular sunburst called "Desert Gold Star" 

located in the cactus-filled Desert Room.

A circle of bromeliads.




Loads of info available on the Phipps website!

More of my Pittsburgh posts:
Riding the Duquesne Incline
Vegetarian Brunch at The Zenith
Wowed by the Nationality Rooms at Pitt's Cathedral of Learning

You may also enjoy these past posts:
An Autumn Afternoon at Longwood Gardens
The September Gardens of Stan Hywet - Akron, OH

The September Gardens of Stan Hywet – Akron, OH

This is the Akron, Ohio country estate of F. A. Seiberling, a self-made man 
of the Industrial Age as founder of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
Because of a quarry located on the property, the home was named
"Stan Hywet" (HEE-wit), Old English for "stone quarry."
Built from 1912 to 1915, it is a National Historic Landmark,
the 6th largest home in the United States that is open to the public as a museum.

On a recent trip to Ohio, we spent an afternoon here,
by happenstance in the year of Stan Hywet's 100th anniversary!





We chose not to tour the Manor House itself, but instead to take full advantage of
the warm autumn weather and explore the estate's renowned gardens.

Slowly meandering along beds, terraces and pathways, we enjoyed a day of calm.
It was easy to appreciate the landscape architecture,
and the unlimited varieties of flowers, plants and colors!
We reveled in the breadth of God's imaginative, glorious creation!

The tranquil Japanese Garden.

This is the Birch Tree Allée. 

Over 100 birches line up to form a 550 foot natural alley

under a cozy canopy of leaves!

The Grape Arbor with The Corbin Conservatory in the distance.

Stan Hywet is located at 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, Ohio.
Learn more at their website.

Also view this Stan Hywet post:
Glass Garden Sculptures by Craig Mitchell Smith


Love ya, Sis!