Phipps annual winter flower show goes 'Home for the Holidays'

The Winter Flower Show: Home for the Holidays will open Nov. 20 at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh’s Oakland section.

“There’s no better place to celebrate the holidays than Phipps’ Victorian glasshouse jewel,” said Joe Reed, director of marketing and communications. “This year’s show presents a ‘horticultural home away from home’ with living room furniture, chandeliers, a cozy cabin and more.”

Ticket reservations are open to members now, with tickets for the general public going on sale Nov. 9.

Tickets will be made available on a week-by-week basis, allowing guests to reserve up to four weeks in advance of their visit. They must be purchased in advance.

This year’s displays will include:

• Poinsettia trees made up of 50 poinsettias each as a shower of paper star lanterns glows above

• The living room furniture — such as armchairs, a mantel, chandeliers and tree skirts — brought to life with plant materials

• The flashing lights of Phipps’ magical carousel reflected in the pond of the Victoria Room

• The cozy cabin nestled in a snowy forest made up of blue, purple, white and silver plants, while twinkling lights overhead create the effect of falling snow

• Topiary bears, foxes, groundhogs and more providing information on different animals’ winter habitats

• Special varieties of winter plants, such as Euphorbia ‘Christmas Mouse,’ which has small rounded bracts that resemble mouse ears; and Euphorbia ‘Diamond Snow,’ which has pure white bracts that look like they’re covered in freshly fallen snow.

While the outdoor Winter Light Garden will be on hiatus this year, a number of the fan-favorite colorful orbs and cones will make appearances in the winding display beds of the Serpentine Room and other spaces.

To protect guest safety, Phipps will significantly limit crowd capacity. Masks are required, and guests are asked to to refrain from touching surfaces and maintain 6 feet of distance from other visitors. One-way traffic flow has been established through the exhibit rooms to facilitate social distancing.

“We can’t wait to share the season’s splendor and continue the Phipps tradition of fantastic Winter Flower Shows in a safe way for our guests this year,” Reed said.

Winter Flower Show: Home for the Holidays, designed by Associate Director of Exhibits Jordyn Melino, will continue through Jan. 3. Hours are 9:30 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.

Phipps will be closed all day on Nov. 26 and Dec. 25 and will close at 5 p.m. on Dec. 24.

For more information and to reserve tickets, visit phipps.conservatory.org.