Save the Date! Phipps Conservatory's Native Plant and Sustainability Conference Returns Sat., Jan. 31 This year's Native Plant and Sustainability Conference , held in-person on Sat., Jan. 31, will feature an exciting line up of speakers and topics on plants, landscapes and our roles as environmental stewards, along with other timely subjects in garden design and management. This one-day forum invites guests that are interested learning more about how our landscapes can be managed with sustainable practices and techniques. We will also announce the 2025 Sustainable Garden Awards Winners, with the categories of Native Plantings and Wildlife Gardens, Micro-Gardens, Abundant Edible Gardens, Gardens that Manage Rainwater and Gardens for Personal Retreat. Check the link below to stay up to date on tickets, speakers and more! Become a Sponsor of Phipps' Native Plant and Sustainability Conference As a sponsor, you’ll have the importance of knowing you’ve made poss...
A Scene from Texture Contemporary Ballet's "The Nutcracker" Credit All: Gary Stone Photography Saturday, when the weather forecasters predicted 3 to 5 inches of snow by evening, I procrastinated over whether or not I should drive on over to Greensburg to catch the Texture Contemporary Ballet’s 3 p.m. matinee performance of “The Nutcracker.” Casting my fate to the wind Vince Guaraldi-style, I started up the car and drove 45 minutes to the Palace Theatre. Snowflakes be damned. It was clear sailing all the way into town, cold but flakeless. For my debut with the Texture Ballet, the only thing I knew about what to expect was that the dancing would be accompanied by live music provided by the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra. As WSO executive director, Michael Rozell, announced before the first note sounded, the venue was the only place in the area where “The Nutcracker” would be accompanied by a live orchestra. The others, including the Pittsburgh Ballet, it seems, uses re...