August Reds

I have never seen the cardinal flower in person, but I am taken aback by its orangey-red hue and distinct natural design. It is a native of the Eastern North-American woodlands and proves a hardy plant, especially in persistently wet conditions. Another characteristic to the cardinal's credit: it is long-lasting and late-blooming, sometimes showing through the beginning days of September. It must be a beautiful thing to witness a flower survive into the autumn months, flourishing when so many others have gone to sleep for the colder months.