I think the common mullein (Verbascum thapsus) looks good even in the winter. And look at those daffodils popping up early.

I found this nuts and bolts link that suggests that this plant is to be killed. But I've grown to like it.

This popped up in place of a crape myrtle that didn't make it this summer. Any guesses?

??

Monarda fistulosa. Also called Wild bergamot or Bee balm.

Michelle is right: it's young pokeweed.

?

?????

???

It's high weed season in my yard. Anyone know what this is?

Sheep sorrel (AKA red sorrel), Rumex acetosella. Thanks Michelle!

???

What's this? Could it be euphorbia? 5/13/11: No. Theora correctly IDed it as barberry.

Here's Theora's comment, posted and then lost because Blogger got sick yesterday and ate a lot of comments.

"Is it spiky? Maybe a baby japanese/european barberry."

She's right! It's almost certainly something called Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea. I have a couple of those shrubs in the front yard -- planted by The Husband a long time ago, as in possibly 20 yrs ago. They are pretty but I now know they are invasive. Although I wouldn't say they are highly invasive since this is the first time in 20 years that a volunteer plant has appeared.

Weeds CAN be beautiful! Fleabane and buttercups.

Could this be gaura? If so, I'll move it out of the "weeds" blog because, by my definition, gaura is not a weed.

???

Hairy bittercress is in full flower. To call it invasive is an understatement.

I have seen my bees checking out the bittercress flowers so I'm tempted to leave them be, but they are everywhere and so easy to pull out in this season of a very wet garden.

10/21/10 Update: Swamp sunflower is the best guess so far. The deer allowed some of these to bloom!

Nancy offered the opinion that these are swamp sunflowers (Helianthus angustifolius). So until more information comes in that's what they are. Thanks Nancy.

Laura says Helianthus aka sunflower.

Note cute kitty paws.

??? Next door near the pond.

Next door by the pond. [Theora says probably Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)]

Bad pictures of this latest mystery weed. Must try to get better ones tomorrow.

Found this one hiding in a neglected part of my garden.

Crown Vetch (Securigera varia) says Michelle. Thanks!

Garlic mustard.

Original title for this post: Could this be something called Malva? I saw a similar plant at a farmers market but didn't note anything but "Malva." There are a LOT of Malvi.

7/9/10 update: Top picture taken after all the violets were removed from the middle of the plant. Still waiting for a flower and still convinced this is something worth keeping (not just a violet).

3/1/11 update: Could this be skunk cabbage?

4/12/11 final update: Theora and Samohta-- see comments -- have convinced me that this is garlic mustard. It never seems to bloom but I think that's because the deer are snapping off the flowers before I ever see them. Related post is here.

Sheep sorrel, suggests Michelle. I think she may be right, but I need to see the flowers first. TBC.

4/12/11: Cleavers, Clivers, Goosegrass, Stickywilly, Stickyjack, Stickyweed, Stickyleaf, Catchweed, Robin-run-the-hedge or Coachweed

Little itty bitty white flowers.

I think brianheagney, see comments, has ID'ed it. These are all the common names used for this weed, according to Wikipedia. Galium aparine.

Creeping Jenny blooms. This is why I love my weeds.

June 12 update: Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria)

I feel pretty sure that this is it. And deer don't like it according to one website that says;
"The foliage of members of the Pink family tends to be high in saponins and unattractive to mammalian herbivores."

Cranesbill (Geranium endressii)

3/1/11 update: Thanks to Patricia Newport for the ID.

10/10/10: White boneset or thoroughwort. I'm letting it bloom but I won't let it grow next yr. Takes up too much real estate in my veggie garden.