Jan 9, 2013 2 min read

As the New Year begins, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will soon change its colors for the Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show, opening Jan. 12.

Always a welcome escape from the cold, and a great place to recover from the holiday hustle and bustle, the public garden is never short on inspiration and beauty. This exhibit, highlighting nature’s inspired art forms, is no exception.

An absolute treat for the senses, the Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show features elegant and vibrant exhibits of orchids in many hues – including pink, yellow and white – planted in garden beds, hanging baskets and decorative planters; others will be incorporated into cascading tree-like forms.

The show will also provide plenty of practical tips gardeners can implement at home, too. And, new this year, a special display of laboratory equipment used to cultivate these beloved blooms will also be on view, offering an inside look at what it takes to allow such beauty to thrive.

Offering a striking contrast to the extravagant orchids, Phipps’ bonsai – the Japanese art of training dwarfed trees to take on the shapes of their larger counterparts in nature – will also be on display, giving guests a rare chance to see Phipps’ entire permanent tropical collection all at once. Said to give those who practice the art form a sense of peace and well-being, this time-honored tradition is adopted by newcomers every day.

In addition to the exhibition featuring tools of the trade, Phipps’ adult education program also includes several bonsai classes throughout the year.

Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show, designed by Phipps staff, runs from Jan. 12-Feb. 24. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and until 10 p.m. Fridays. Admission is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors and students, and $11 for children (ages 2-18). Members and children under age 2 enter for free.

For more information, visit phipps.conservatory.org.