Spiranthes odorata (Fragrant ladies'-tresses orchid)

The reflections in the background are composed of the sky and also leaves floating in the water behind the plants. The orchids were growing along the edge of the creek within a few feet of the bridge over Rice Creek.

On the last day of our photography field trip in the Green Swamp (Brunswick County, North Carolina), we went to Rice Creek. This location is always reliable for a robust orchid species which has a wonderful, sweet-earthy scent. I could even smell these from five feet away...

This year, they were beautiful -- large flowers in perfect bloom. Even though I have dozens (maybe hundreds) of images of this species, I never tire of seeing and photographing them every autumn...