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Well the plans for the forest garden are crawling along (thanks to the weather) but we're slowly transferring the raised beds to the back of the house. We've got 2 large plants in the way which need moving or chucking. I've not been able to ID and none of the neighbours know what they are although there are rumours our predecessor may have planted them.

So has anyone got any idea what they are? And if they are at all useful - food, insects etc. They're not particularly attractive so if they're not useful in any other way they're going to add to the compost.

Oh, and please ignore the washing on the fence the sofa covers are too heavy for the whirligig!

Not sure about the top one but the bottom one looks like mugwort

Yep, bottom one definitely Mugwort (Artemisia Vulgaris for MMM) and the top one looks like Weigela, especially if it had pinky red flowers in May/June.

Thanks Tony I've never heard of Mugwort but Artemisia, yes. But I don't know that wild one.

Top one I thought Weigela too.

No flowers at all although you're right it definitely looks like one. It may be not have suitable conditions here for it to flower? We've just dug it up and it came up really easily, like it was potbound when planted so I'm thinking it's an import.

The mugwort is going - it looks quite useful, although the side effects are a bit scary - but it spreads far too quickly. It's quadrupled in size since we've been here.

Thanks folks.

Well if it doesn't flower I wouldn't have any problems chucking it cos it's mature enough to have been flowering for several years at least!

Mugwort: http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mugwor61.html