vic said:Well for crying out loud Chelle - do I feel stupid

That IS it Thank you so much for identifying it - I only thought of cardinal flower as the cardinal vine which I have grown on my shepherd's hook.

Didn't know it was a real plant that grew in the wild - Duh!

Thank you so much

and edited to say I've even loaded that flower into the db - several times - double DUH!

No need to feel odd, Vic, I do the same thing all the time. I get something identified, know that I'll never forget that plant again, and a short time later find myself searching for it again!

Whoo-eee! That's a lot of acorns for an ID. Thanks!

I'll add that this plant seems to like wild living much more than it does in my garden. I had it once, but it wasn't very reliable. I started some seeds for it this year, but I haven't noticed if any sprouted yet. I really wish it would; I'd like a bit more red in my wildflower areas.

I think I will just leave it along then. I hope your seeds germinate, you know how that goes, even if they don't this season, they might next.

It's such a bright splash of color back there and then with the Joe Pye blooming as well, it was really colorful.

We have had so much rain this season, I was afraid they had washed away and how in the world they ended up where they did is a mystery I'll never figure out because the birds didn't have time in one season to do that.

I am late also, beautiful flower Vicki, I love it too and wish i could grow it, but it is too hot and dry for it in my area of Texas,