Cattleya, a birthday flower of January 13th

The Cattleya カトレア is one of the birthday flowers of January 13th annually. The other birthday flower of January 13th is the white narcissus aka the white daffodil. 

The Cattleya is celebrated for its refined beauty and dignified presence. The flower was named after William Cattley, the British horticultural enthusiast who first succeeded in cultivating the bloom. Often called the “queen of orchids,” its flower language— graceful lady「優美な貴婦人」 and also the charm of a mature adult「成熟した大人の魅力」—reflects the graceful, almost regal aura that has long captivated admirers. 

There are different species and hybrids that bloom at different times of the year. But you can find some cattleya in bloom in Japan in winter. The cattlaya pictured in this post though, is one of the summer varieties presumably as I took the photo in June in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture.