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First "spring" in the garden and I'm slowly learning to ID what's sprouting everywhere!
This doesn't look too nice...
Thanks

The flat green leaves are alchimilla mollis.sort of groundcover with yellowy flowers,suspect the shoot could be one emerging (that could be drivel,ie the last bit).It self seeds like mad, and can take over, BWs.

Agree the alchemilla but I don't think the emerging shoots are the same thing. The stem and the way the leaves connect aren't correct. You'll probably have to wait until it comes out a bit more. It does look a little like a small seedling of some sort of tree, is the stem quite woody and stiff? Maybe a prunus, they self seed everywhere.

Zoe

Sure you're right Zoe,d'you think it could be one of those orangy lily things? , anyhow it looks like a rather nice mature bed..

Could it be a lupin?

Most mature lupins seem to keep a fair bit of their structure over winter,especially that far south.....anyhow time will tell..!

it's a strongish shoot, like asparagus.I pulled out a few growing in random places and they seem connected underground.
the bed is waterlogged and covered in moss or weeds or overgrown uggly forsythia and rhododendron. yuk.
Ultimately I'd like all of it to go and put a greenhouse there... one day!

The shoots look like Rosebay Willowherb http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epilobium_angustifolium



Get rid, unless you like the look of them. Very invasive root system.

Why not let it flower, pretty flower, you'll know what it is, and if you don't like it, pull it out before it sets seed.

spoilsport.

thanks all, I was worried you were going to say it was something super evil like Japanese Knotweed...
I'm going to let a few live to see what happens.
There are plants growing on the other side of the road that look like the one you posted Davie Crockett, so I'll have a look.

Its not Alchemilla, the plant to the left is Alchemilla. I think Davy Crockett might be on to something with the Epilobium. The new shoots of Epilobium can be picked, treated the same as asparagus and eaten, althought i would ge a definate confirmation that this is the correcxt plant before eating it.

I don't think it's Rosebay Willow Herb. It's too downy, I get lots of it here.

My thoughts are either Orpine, Valerian, or my favorite candidate, young Budliegh Shoots.

The other is definately Lady's Mantle as you say.

Look slike a lilly struggling through to me, but let it flower, if you like it keep it if not pull it !
If possible please could you keep us updated, love mystery plants

I thought I'd seen the leaves of lady's mantle before, from open garden days in the area, so It's allowed to stay (I take note of the self seeding habit oldjerry, thanks).
I'll let you know what happens to the mystery shoots!
Becks77, I've got loads of unidentified plants so you might get inundated with pictures :)