On 21/10/2019 17:59, Another John wrote:
In article ,
Martin Brown wrote:

On 18/10/2019 22:07, Another John wrote:
OP here ...

Stewart, and Jeff, and Jim wrote

[various things -- much appreciated, so far, folks!]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5Ebgj4oWNHEwXkdi9

I would add that you can't really appreciate the fleshiness of the stem
of Plant A (which had me leaning towards evening primrose), and I would
point out the bronze stems of Plant B which, again, may not be
especially obvious in those photos.

Both plants are very proliferous in their foliage, as well as height.

And presumably volunteers that just appeared in the garden from seed.

My initial guess for the left hand one was a poke weed but the leaf
veins are not quite right. Life would be made so much easier if you
could persuade either of them to flower.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytol...ature_Pokeweed
.jpg

It will flower in the UK and sometimes comes in with the birds.

I didn't actually realise, before, but you can enlarge the photos
(didn't notice the magnifying glass, top right when you've clicked on a
photo).

Finally: hmm - we _do_ feed the birds a lot: rogue bird seeds?

Quite likely the question is which component of the mix.

Thanks Martin - I thought you were on t something there when I saw the
first picture of pokeweed, with its purple stalks ... but it's not that.
Thank goodness! Sounds like a right nasty plant -- I like this bit from
the Wikipedia entry : "The leaves and stems of very young plants can
both be eaten, but must be cooked, usually boiled three times in fresh
water each time." It always gives me pause for thought, to reflect
that for most of human history, people have eaten (had to eat) whatever
they could find ... and that some poor sods found out the hard way how
their descendants needed to prepare certain foods!

It isn't all that bad and is quite ornamental. I got one spontaneously
appear in my garden when I lived in Belgium. It even set seed so I could
keep on growing it. Not at all invasive and quite a bit less toxic than
some of the other exotics that I like to grow.

My local specialist plant nursery Dark Star plants has it in their
mostly black (or dark red) plants selection in the walled garden at East
Rounton. It flowers most years and sets seed but it prefers warmer
summers than the UK can usually offer (last year was exceptional).

The hunt goes on: I had another look at the blighters today, and No: not
a sign of buds on either, and so they're going to kick the bucket in the
next few weeks without ever having told us us what they are!

You could try putting fleece over them when a frost is predicted and
hope that they do get to flowering size this year. Or rescue any tubers
and/or mulch heavily in the hope of keeping them over the winter. Maybe
something like a cloche over them to keep the rain off as well.

We probably would get it ID'd if only there was a flower!

--
Regards,
Martin Brown