Updates...

Mailbox project completed. Planted a cone flower from a garden prize pack that I won at a baby shower. It was meant to be. I will likely be filling in more with tulip bulbs or the mystery bulbs I keep finding buried too deep to sprout. With help, new step stones from door path to driveway were put in. They are just some paving stones that were here when we moved in but they serve their purpose and don't look half bad.
Now that I've been really working at it, the vegetable garden may not work at the Northeast corner of the house next to the garage. All the digging done there to clear out weeds has shown me the extent of the elder tree root system.

The lemon balm is now waist high and in serious need of getting it under control. I need to decide how large the patch will be and start boxing it off. And, since it seems to do so well there, I may move the garden next to it. The spot gets a decent amount of sunlight during the season and would be easier to maintain there. I also wouldn't need to worry about running into the drainage pipe running under the North side yard.

Another major project semi-completed (only because it didn't make it to full fruition) is the declutter and organization of the basement. I feel accomplished for what I have gotten done. Right now, it's too hot to start any new outdoor projects until this heat wave is over but I will hopefully begin on actual garden space soon.

UGP....Unidentified Green Plant

 So these are randomly growing almost in a row and all in similar areas of the yard. I cannot find any books or sites that have a match to what these are. I could dig more extensively. I haven't gotten the chance to as of late. While I can't find any documentation on the one in the first picture, the second is different and I realize I still haven't researched into it much at all. Here's hoping I can find some answers. In the meantime, I've just resorted to pulling them out at the roots to clear them out and keep them from taking over. Also, I've cleared out pretty much all the garden nightshade from the back fence area. It had choked the clematis on the trellis so I had to sacrifice most of the flower vines to get rid of the troublesome plant. There was a lot more of it than I had anticipated but the roots are shallow and it pulled out rather easily in majority of the spots. There were only a couple larger root bases that needed removed via shovel and the rest was easier to untangle with the use of a pair of pruning shears. All in all, I'm happy with the transformations that are occurring with the property.
I'm also almost done with removing the prickly weeds on the side of the garage. The ivy vines that were growing up the siding have returned so I have to pull those as well. It's getting there. I know I've blundered by waiting too long into the season to likely get plants into the ground for a garden. There have been one too many surprises as I dig, rake, and pull. For instance, the elder tree on the back property line is sprouting offshoots from it's roots. I've found one such cluster at the corner of the garage and another making it's way to a drainage pipe running along the back of the house. I worry that the tree is going to pose a challenge to any undertaking. It would also explain the plumbing issues we've been having with the drain in the side yard that goes to the city sewage line. We can't afford any further damage and can't be sure of how much the tree has already done to that line. I'm afraid that it just has to wait and hope that the root system stays where it's at and doesn't cause any further problems.

Update: The lower picture is oxeye daisies, a native wildflower.

Strawberries

This is one that I had identified when we had initially moved into our home. It's almost everywhere in the front and back yards. What I didn't know, is that they aren't the same plant. One of the main ways to tell is the flowers. With actual wild strawberries, the flowers are white and mock strawberries bear yellow blooms. They don't taste the same either. Wilds are actually sweet and mock strawberries are bland in flavor. Today they had little red berries on them. Mostly the actual berries had fruited but there are still quite a few mocks that have yet to do so. I showed the kids how to pick them and they happily gathered some. It was cute to see them excited. ^_^

https://dengarden.com/gardening/Wild-Strawberries-Versus-Mock-Strawberries

Oh my darlin', Oh my darlin', Oh my darlin', Clematis

Purple Clematis

These flowers were growing on a make-shift trellis when we first moved into our house. I think they're very pretty but I had no clue what they were until I began this adventure. This is one of the over 300 species of clematis. It's either a Jackmanii, Rhapsody, or julkas variety. I'll just accept not knowing for sure and enjoying it's violet beauty. Hoping they attract butterflies during the appropriate season.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clematis

Plain plantain grows mainly on the plain

Plantain

I was exceptionally excited to find that this weed is actually useful and edible! Among uses are treatment for bug bites and poison ivy/sumac/oak. Very quick and handy plant to have growing right next to the driveway. This plant can also be found growing between sidewalk cracks. They say it's best to just pick the mature leaves for uses other than salads and it's a plant that will continually grow new leaves.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_major

How to use Plantain
http://www.naturallivingideas.com/plantain-benefits-uses/

To the backyard

Quickweed

This little bugger was found growing near the corner of the house/yard.

https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2015/07/26/quickweed/

Pretty Little Flowers

Cinquefoil

Due to inclement weather, I haven't gotten outside to do anything significant. I dug up a few weeds from the edge of the lemon balm patch and looked more into the prickly weeds on the side of the garage (those are going to be a pain to remove from what I've read). And I've also seen that the ivy has returned so that will have to be pulled out as well. At this juncture it looks like I'll be totally tearing up and replanting on that side of the house. On a lighter note, I've identified a flower growing on the front/West side of the house. Thanks to another blog:
http://fieldbioinohio.blogspot.com/2012/04/cinquefoils.html?m=1

Prickly Weed