Cardinal flower mandala card is digitally printed using archival pigment inks on silky, bright white, acid-free paper. Folded card is 5.25" by 5.25" and comes with a beautifully made, bright white envelope. The photograph I used to create this wildflower mandala is printed on the back of the card with the photo location. Interior of the card is blank and the paper is super smooth, not slick, and takes gel, ballpoint, and other inks well. Perfect thinking of you card, birthday card, note card, or gift to frame for a nature lover, lover of wildflowers, gardener, fan of hummingbirds, and anyone interested in native plants, pollinators, or sustainability. Red is also associated with the root chakra and can be a grounding color for some people. The card and envelope are packaged together in a plastic sleeve and mailed in a stiffened mailer. Note: orders of one or two cards are shipped USPS First Class without tracking. Larger orders are shipped via the most economical means, which usually, but not always, includes tracking.

Framing. This cardinal flower card is created using high-quality materials, such as might be used in a museum. The print is sharp, bright, and frameable. To protect the vibrancy of the artwork, I frame using UV glass or acrylic, and I recommend it. If you use plain glass or acrylic, make sure you hang this sweet, little piece and all your beautiful art away from direct sunlight.

About the Art. The mandala art on this card, titled Red Machine, began as a photo of a cardinal flower taken in late afternoon sun at the West Virginia Botanic Garden near Morgantown. The ultimate hummingbird magnet, cardinal flower has recently become easier to find at nurseries but is also easy to start from seed via winter sowing in a milk jug.

Cardinal flower is native to most of the U.S., found everywhere but the Pacific Northwest and the northernmost portion of the Plains States. In nature, cardinal flower is most often found along pond edges or in wet areas, although the plant will do equally well in a moist, fertile place in your garden, where the red of the blooms will attract and please hummingbirds. As an adaptation to wet soils, cardinal flower has shallow roots and is easily heaved out of the ground during winter freeze/thaw cycles. If you do include cardinal flower in your garden, make sure to regularly seek out and replant any displaced root balls.