Encyclia cochleataYou can tell that spring is coming. In the orchid room at least (outside it snowed again yesterday and today it slush all over the place). There are a lot of new buds forming, and one of the coolest looking ones is the Encyclia (Prostechea) cochleata flower pod. It looks like a small embryo (or an alien, whichever) is growing inside the protective sheathing. In either case it is going to be fun to have it bloom again, last time it bloomed successively for over 8 months.