We're in SE Massachusetts, USA.

The first plant popped up in a flower garden. We dubbed it EG (the
Enthustiastic Grower). It's about 8 feet tall.

The second plant (OMP- Other Mystery Plant) came up in the vegetable
garden. That might be relevant because household vegetable scraps get
buried out there. These things have been coming up all summer, but
it's tailed off quite a bit in the last month. I'd say I've dealt with
at least 1,000 seedlings, maybe 2,000. I let this one grow just to try
to get a handle on what the heck it is. It's about 4 feet tall at the
moment. They're mostly confined to an area about 12 feet in diameter,
but their range extends out to close to a 20 foot diameter.

If anyone knows what these guys are I'd *really* appreciate it if
you'd share!! My mother's been gardening here for over 60 years, and
she's stumped.

EG
http://home.comcast.net/~lmnnml/Gard...1-Longshot.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~lmnnml/Garden/EG-2-Flowers.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~lmnnml/Gard...ne-to-seed.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~lmnnml/Gard...seup-sorta.JPG

OMP
http://home.comcast.net/~lmnnml/Garden/OMP-1.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~lmnnml/Garden/OMP-2.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~lmnnml/Gard...3-Seedling.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~lmnnml/Gard...r-seedling.JPG

On 7/21/12 1:49 AM, Steve Baker wrote:
We're in SE Massachusetts, USA.

The first plant popped up in a flower garden. We dubbed it EG (the
Enthustiastic Grower). It's about 8 feet tall.

The second plant (OMP- Other Mystery Plant) came up in the vegetable
garden. That might be relevant because household vegetable scraps get
buried out there. These things have been coming up all summer, but
it's tailed off quite a bit in the last month. I'd say I've dealt with
at least 1,000 seedlings, maybe 2,000. I let this one grow just to try
to get a handle on what the heck it is. It's about 4 feet tall at the
moment. They're mostly confined to an area about 12 feet in diameter,
but their range extends out to close to a 20 foot diameter.

If anyone knows what these guys are I'd *really* appreciate it if
you'd share!! My mother's been gardening here for over 60 years, and
she's stumped.

EG
http://home.comcast.net/~lmnnml/Gard...1-Longshot.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~lmnnml/Garden/EG-2-Flowers.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~lmnnml/Gard...ne-to-seed.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~lmnnml/Gard...seup-sorta.JPG

OMP
http://home.comcast.net/~lmnnml/Garden/OMP-1.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~lmnnml/Garden/OMP-2.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~lmnnml/Gard...3-Seedling.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~lmnnml/Gard...r-seedling.JPG


EG: If the stem is hollow, leaves and stems contain a milky sap, and
the stems are prickly, I think this is sow thistle, a nasty weed.

OMP: I have no idea.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

On Sat, 21 Jul 2012 10:02:18 -0700, "David E. Ross"
wrote:

EG: If the stem is hollow, leaves and stems contain a milky sap, and
the stems are prickly, I think this is sow thistle, a nasty weed.

Thanks for looking!

The stem is hollow, but the sap isn't milky, and it's not prickly.

I don't usually try to ID DYCs (D*** Yellow Compositae) from photos, but
I'll send you to look among the Lactuca species for the first one.
http://plants.usda.gov/java/stateSea...ag eField.y=7

The second sure looks like redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus,
but again, from photos, it's an iffy ID.

Did you bring in manure or compost from an outside source? Birdfeeder?

Kay

On 21 Jul 2012 21:42:03 GMT, Kay Lancaster wrote:

Thanks for looking!

I don't usually try to ID DYCs (D*** Yellow Compositae) from photos, but
I'll send you to look among the Lactuca species for the first one.
http://plants.usda.gov/java/stateSea...ag eField.y=7

Except for the fact that the sap isn't milky, Lactuca canadensis
looks like a perfect match.

The second sure looks like redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus,
but again, from photos, it's an iffy ID.

That looks like a good match. The pictures and descriptions I found
around the 'net all support that ID.

Did you bring in manure or compost from an outside source?

No... except for stuff from the supermarket. ;-)

Birdfeeder?

Hmm. Sometime in the fairly recent past the birds stopped eating the
stuff in the feeder that was supposed to be thistle, I think. I dumped
a gallon or two of it somewhere. I don't remember where, though. I
don't think I would have been stupid enough to dump it in the
vegetable garden, but I wouldn't bet my life on it.

Thanks again!