Encyclia alata - Orchid Board

smweaver · #1 06-30-2012, 08:48 AM

With around fifty blooms on a spike that's more than a meter tall, this one's not easy to photograph. Bringing a few flowers into focus means that you lose focus on dozens of others. So I tried to get as many in the frame as possible (which entailed lopping off--with the lens--a couple of the lower side branches).

Easy to grow and bloom species if you have the space (the plant is big even when it's not in bloom), this one appreciates year-round warmth. The ants are quite fond of it too--and since they're getting rather agitated since I brought it inside for the photo session, it's now going back on the front porch.

tucker85 · #2 06-30-2012, 08:53 AM

Very nice! You didn't mention the fragrance. Encyclia Alata is usually pretty fragrant.

smweaver · #3 06-30-2012, 09:56 AM

Yes, you're correct. It's extremely fragrant, especially during the morning between 8 AM and noon, when it's sitting in direct sunlight. I can't decide whether or not I actually like the fragrance since (to my nose) it's a little cloying when you're standing next to the plant. But it's better from a distance.