photo by Paul G. Wiegman
The bonsai and orchid collection runs from Jan. 16 through Feb. 28 at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden in Oakland.

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden is welcoming back the thoughts of warm, bright days with its newest exhibit. The display of tropical bonsai and orchids creates a mid-winter escape for visitors opened Jan. 16. 

“[Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden] is a nice escape from the cold… and like a nice way to kind of unwind,” Jenna Bodnar, communications coordinator, said in an interview Friday afternoon at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden. “I know I did it when I was a student, too.”

Currently, there are four exhibits showing: “The Winter Light Garden,” “Tropical Forest Congo,” “Garden Railroad” and “The Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show.” The most recent to open was the collection of orchids and bonsai trees. This selection will run through Feb. 28 at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden.

“The orchid and tropical bonsai show always gives us the opportunity to showcase our collections, here at Phipps,” Jordyn Melino, exhibit coordinator at Phipps, said Monday morning in a phone interview. “We actually have a fairly extensive orchid collection and this is the time of year orchids are in bloom.”

Melino said this year Phipps wanted to feature the horticulturist Georgia Wahl who specializes with the orchids.

“Growing orchids really takes a lot of skills and technique,” Melino said. “We are really putting a highlight on our horticulturist who grows the orchids and what an excellent job she does here.” 

Wahl dedicates her time to growing the orchids and maintaining the displays.

“There are three different houses because there are so many different kinds of orchids,” Wahl said. “They have different temperatures and light requirements.”

For Wahl, seeing the orchids bloom and getting to showcase them in the exhibits is her favorite aspect.

“It’s a challenge getting them to bloom sometimes, so that’s always exciting,” Wahl said. 

Bodnar added that the orchid selection is among one of the more distinguished areas, and the slipper orchid collection is held in “high regards nationally.”

For the bonsai exhibit, Melino said the bonsai tree collection is in “full leaf” at the moment, too.

“Bonsai, again, is a form of art too,” Melino said. “We have one bonsai person who is dedicated to sculpting, manipulating and growing these bonsai.”

Kevin Haughey, a display horticulturist at Phipps and the bonsai manager, takes on the responsibility of training the trees.

“Throughout the year, I am keeping them alive and constantly making sure they are in their best health,” Haughey said Friday afternoon in a phone interview. “It’s seeing how resilient trees really are and how much of an art piece they can be.”

Haughey said when others visit the display he hopes they will realize with bonsai trees it’s not important how old they are, but mostly how old the tree looks.

“It’s an art of illusion. We are trying to make these trees look old…and [show] characteristics that old trees possess,” Haughey said.

Haughey believes students could benefit seeing how the bonsai trees are works of art.

“They follow all of the other rules and regulations of all these various other kinds of art forms like painting and sculpting,” Haughey said. “It’s an art form that is never finished. They are always growing.”

Melino said planning for these exhibits begin in a year advance and a lot of consideration goes into how well the plants will work well together. The overall set up takes between one to two weeks.

“The most difficult is probably getting the plant selections right,” Melino said. “For this show, we wanted to choose some plants that would really let the orchids shine.” 

Throughout the orchid and bonsai show, Phipps is hosting classes that focus on growing and maintaining these plants. With the cost of admission, these classes are free to the public and hosted on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Bodnar said the other event throughout the year students might take interest in, is the “Parties in the Tropics.” The next one is being held on Feb. 5 for the students who are 21 years-old and older. With the cost of admission, there is a DJ, food and purchasable drinks in the “Tropical Forest Congo” exhibit. 

With a current university I.D., students receive the discounted admission fee of $14. If interested in future events or for more information, visit their website phipps.conservatory.org. For some behind the scene fun, add Phipps Snapchat at “phippsnews.”