wrote in message ...
Charles Packer had this to say...:
: Today I'm curious about three plants on my District of Columbia
: property, where my only gardening implements since I bought my
: house have been shears, clippers and saws.

: http://cpacker.org/a1.jpg

Looks like Virgin's Bower - Clematis virginiana - a sort of weedy native
Clematis.

: This vine seems to be blooming early this year. Both my wife and
: I enjoy the fragrant flowers. The leaves are heart-shaped and a
: little shiny -- I think that's what made the bluish areas in my
: digital photo.

: http://cpacker.org/a2.jpg
: This vine is mixed in with the first. I like the subtle colors
: of the berries.

It's a grape. Vitis sp. - maybe someone can come up with the species.

: http://cpacker.org/a3.jpg
: These invade a flower bed in which my wife has tried to impose
: more structure -- when she has time. Hey, it's her problem.

?? Looks sort of like Lily of the Valley. Have they ever flowered?

Kathy is spot on - Clematis virginiana, wild grape and lily of the valley
(Convallaria). There are a few species of wild grape, but most are
considered to be somewhat weedy pests (although the birds love 'em).

http://www.weedalert.com/weed_pages/wa_wild_grape.htm

pam - gardengal