Pittsburgh Botanic Garden
Among the top 10 largest American botanical gardens, the Garden provides inspiration and education about the quality of life resulting from living in harmony with the earth.
IMAGE BY: Scott Goldmith Photography
Garden of the Five Senses
The Garden of the Five Senses at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is an inclusive space to engage with nature. We all have connections to plants – through the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the things we see. Just minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, The Garden of the Five Senses is a wonderful place to for people of all ages and abilities to explore the outdoors. (And the Garden is dog friendly! And the people who work there are super nice! And they have quiche! And the best gift shop! And did I mention the nature??)
GARDEN OF THE FIVE SENSES SIGNAGE
With over 60 acres of land to explore, signage is important not only for wayfinding, but also for communicating the friendly, educational, and welcoming personality of the Garden. It’s important that the signage be clean and simple, and fit in with the landscape – at the Garden, nature is the star of the show.
A plinth-style sign marks the entrance of the Garden of the Five Senses.
Painted metal letters identify the Weisbrod Learning Pavilion, an open-walled space that hosts school field trips and adult learning programs like this Dahlia exhibit.
Each of the five zones in the Garden of the Five Senses focuses on a specific sense, and each has its own “lollipop” plinth-style sign including an identifying icon and color.
The circle form used to identify each of the five areas of the Garden is repeated in the donor appreciation wall signage.
THE WELCOME CENTER
Visitors to the Garden check in at the newly constructed Welcome Center. The Center houses: Canopy Cafe, serving lunch and/or beverages – you can dine among the treetops inside or out on the large deck (you gotta try the quiche); Forage & Finds, an unique and eclectic boutique that I can’t ever visit without buying several items (please remind me that I DO NOT NEED ANY MORE HOUSEPLANTS); an art gallery with rotating exhibits by local artists; an education space that hosts classes for all ages; plus areas both inside an out for lounging, contemplating nature, and thinking about getting another slice of quiche.
Invitation for the Opening of the Garden’s Welcome Center. A very beautiful — and very long — mid-century modern building.
Don’t look now, it’s the most delicious quiche on earth. And the most fresh and seasonal little side salad that just compliments it so darn well. All here in a little print ad I made to promote the Canopy Cafe. (Scott Goldsmith had to take this photo real fast before I ate everything.)
A woman can’t live on quiche alone! It must be washed down with a tasty beverage. These fun hot and cold beverage cups keep Garden visitors both amused and hydrated. Below: t-shirts for Cafe employees echo the design of the beverage cups.
Floral coasters created for Garden events that offer adult beverages.
Who doesn’t love a good sticker…or 15?? When asked to design “a few stickers” for the Garden, I got a bit excited. They printed three to sell in their Forage & Finds boutique – please go buy all of them so we can print more!!!
Rack cards and brochures on display at the Welcome Center.
FUNDRAISING
The Garden wouldn’t be possible without contributions from the people who love it. Here are a few ways I’ve helped the Garden grow.
Donations are key to helping the Garden flourish. Above: a spring appeal mailer. Below: series of email appeals for fall.
PRINT AND DIGITAL ADVERTISING
New growth, seasonal blooms, art exhibits and installations, classes, activities, and fresh menu items at Canopy Cafe. There is always something new and exciting happening at the Garden.
Fall Festivity-themed stickers were handed out to children at each event.
Above: Storefront display at The Mall at Robinson. Below: Signage in the Pollinator Garden.
