Father Pitt

Category: Phipps Conservatory

  • Entrance to Phipps Conservatory

    Above, looking up into the dome. Below, exterior and interior views of the lobby.

    Cameras: above, Canon PowerShot A590 IS (hacked); below, Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3.

  • Outdoor Garden, Phipps Conservatory

    Camera: Konica-Minolta DiMAGE Z3.

  • Tomatoes That Hate You

    The Phipps Summer Flower Show this year was devoted to “weird and wonderful” plants. It closes tomorrow, though you’ll be able to see bits and pieces of it a while after that during the gradual transition to the Fall Flower Show.

    Here are two members of the tomato family that want to kill you. Above, Malevolence (Solanum atropurpureum) from Brazil, absolutely stuffed with poisons and guarded by horrible thorns, but decorative in its own quirky way. Below, Porcupine Tomato (Solanum pyracanthos) from Madagascar, which is also prickly and toxic, but quite beautiful in flower.

    Camera: Konica-Minolta DiMAGE Z3.

  • Blackberry Lilies in the Phipps Outdoor Garden

    Although they are grown more for their spotted orange flowers, Blackberry Lilies (Iris domestica) are almost as interesting for the decorative black seeds they produce. These were growing in the Outdoor Garden at Phipps Conservatory.

    Camera: Konica-Minolta DiMAGE Z3.

  • Ornamental Grass and Fountain in the Outdoor Garden at Phipps Conservatory

    Camera: Olympus E-20n.

  • Victoria Lilies Are Back at Phipps

    Problems with pumping equipment, according to Phipps staff, have kept the famous Victoria Lilies out of the Victoria Room for years. But now they are back and in full bloom.

    Cameras: Konica-Minolta DiMAGE Z3 and Canon PowerShot A590 (hacked).

  • Blue Hyacinth in Phipps Conservatory

    Camera: Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3.

  • More of the Spring Flower Show at Phipps

    The Broderie.

    Triumph Tulip “Princess Irene.”

    The East Room. If you look closely, you will notice some curious breaks in the leaves to the right. This extreme wide-angle shot was made from multiple photographs, and the leaves were moving in the breeze.

    Poor Man’s Orchid: Schizanthus × wisetonensis “Star Parade.”

    Double daffodil “Westward.”

    Delphinium elatum “Guardian Blue.”

    Late tulip (Tulipa tarda).

    Trumpet daffodil “Dutch Master.”

    Toadflax: Linaria reticulata “Flamenco.”

    Camera: Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3.

  • Himalayan Blue Poppies at the Spring Flower Show, Phipps Conservatory

    Meconopsis “Lingholm,” planted in the Palm House for the Spring Flower Show.

    Camera: Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3.

  • Pansies at the Spring Flower Show, Phipps Conservatory

    “Frizzle Sizzle Blue Swirl”

    These pictures were all taken with the Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3, which, as old Pa Pitt never tires of mentioning, he bought for 99¢.

    Father Pitt disclaims all responsibility for the names of these cultivars.

    “Hip Hop Cranbunny”

    “Spring Matrix Midnight Glow”