We’ve recently purchased a 2.5 acre property that’s been standing unattended for several years. I do not know a thing about gardening but think bug already got to me. My biggest problem however is not having a clue what some of the plants are so I’m desperate for help in identifying them. Here are some images:
First photo is a violet - probably a native variety. Has small purple flowers in spring. Reseeds and will spread everywhere, but it's easy to pull out from places where you don't want it. Happy in shade. Makes nice little bouquets. Second photo is adenophora. Will get bell shaped blue flowers in summer or from summer to fall. Grows in sun to partial shade. Spreads. Not sure about 3 & 4. #5 five is a ground cover that grows in shade - don't remember the name. #6 is evening primrose (oenetherea). Blooms for a few weeks in early summer. Spreads in clumps. Very easy to pull out and keep to the area you want. Leaves get reddish in fall. Likes sun.
Your picture #5 is Aegopodium (other names are Bishop's weed, goutweed, snow on the mountain). I spent several weeks one autumn digging it out of one of my garden beds and sifting the soil to remove any of the root pieces that remained. It is very invasive, which may not be a problem since you have 2.5 acres. In an urban garden it is a pest. As we were removing it from the garden, we discovered spindly rose bushes, Phlox, False Goat's Beard and some other things that had been choked out by a thick mat of its roots. It had also spread through the native plant beds, but digging it out wasn't feasible in those areas because of the oak tree roots and other shrubby plants. Here is a link about it from the US National Park Service: http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/aepo1.htm Allison
Thank you very much Amym, Eric and Allison! You helped a great deal. Allison, thanks for the advice, I’m taking out the Aegopodium as fast as I possibly can!
