2 crueltyfre: Compare Kosteletzkya fruits (see link) and the fruits on the pictures mudsnake posted. Definitely Rhexia. Here is a link that might be useful: Kosteletzkya

egyptianqueen, I see you are in zone 5B so I am assuming that these are fairly hardy. We thought they were just beautiful!! From a distancde they reminded us of our blood lilies but without the leaves. Thank you!

Sounds like a perfect description of Indian Paintbrush as planterman stated above. I think it would be to short to be milkweed and this time of year the Indian Paintbrush is everywhere. I had a little cousin that died a few years ago at the age of 98 and she said that as a child, born in Indian Territory, she was always told that Indian Paintbrush only grows where an Indian has lived. Not that I believe that story, but I thought it was an interesting piece of Oklahoma folklore that I always remember when I see it blooming. Yesterday as I came down Hiway 10 I was admiring the fields of red and I remembered what she said. I looked across to the other side of the Hiway and saw a large herd of buffalo. I thought to myself -- Oklahoma is (STILL) OK.

thankyou Kirstenz - I actually 'thought' of the name last night and thought also that I'd managed to add a reply to my post but it hasn't shown afterall. After reading more about the coreopsis being a bushland disaster (and my hubby doing Landcare here by the lake); I'm surprised that you can actually go buy it in the nurseries. I must say I love the flower itself - my grandson picked the little bunch for me in the photo - and they stay open for days. The chocolate coloured one sounds beautiful too.