It looks like a member of the bean family, and those are pods, not buds. Other than that, just guessing. Will continue research.

Could it be some kind of peanut ? Just clutching at straws really

groundnut [peanut] looks a strong possibility to me too.

It could be Apios americana - the American groundnut. I thought peanuts had the pod underground.

I don't think groundnut, Wylie. Leaves and pods are wrong. You are right in that peanut pods aren't of signifigant size until they are already underground. Hmmm...maybe a species of cleome, or one of its family? Does the foliage have a sharp odor, Bettersm?