This is a progress report on a bush, flower, plant of some kind that a parishioner with a green thumb has growing out back. That’s cool. She says that it’s a “Cardinal Flower.” I haven’t looked that up yet to know the history of it or why it’s called that. It looks ready to grow taller and explode in very many blossoms.
“Cardinal” refers to a “hinge”.
That’s why there are sins called “cardinal sins” or sins opening the door to other sins. There are different numbers in the lists that come up through the centuries. Here’s a list of eight cardinal sins:
- Gula (gluttony)
- Luxuria/Fornicatio (lust, fornication)
- Avaritia (avarice/greed)
- Superbia (pride, hubris)
- Tristitia (sorrow/despair/despondency)
- Ira (wrath)
- Vanagloria (vainglory)
- Acedia (sloth)
There are also cardinal virtues, which open the door, as it were, other virtues, upon which other virtues depend:
- Justice
- Temperance
- Fortitude
- Prudence
Those work as a good examination of conscience. Meanwhile, there are “cardinals” in the church hierarchy, presently those archbishops who are so named to be of special assistance to the Bishop of Rome, who is necessarily the Successor of Peter. It is upon them, it is said, that much hinges.
And here we become bewildered. No worries. The One upon whom the entire universe and all of time hinges is the Son of the Living God, the Divine Son of the Immaculate Conception, from whom we made red blood to flow. You saw it, Mary. A flower for you.
ARISE! LET US BE GOING! 
I never knew the word ‘cardinal’ referred to a hinge. I imagine the flower is called a cardinal flower due to its colour. I believe you have a cardinal bird in the US which is also bright scarlet or ‘cardinal red.’ It is amusing to note that you use the phrase ‘green thumb’ in the US whereas we in Britain refer to someone with ‘green fingers!’