what is this... I might have asked before and don't remember.. but this one its all over .. the stems are red at the bottom

It looks like some kind of Helianthus.

I comes up everywhere here in the spring and early summer. Waiting to hear what it is. : )

there is a pretty growing one in one of my abandoned containers

I just checked my yard, sure enough they are out there. Same thing.
Check this out. I think what we have is the juvenile stage of wild phlox (Phlox divaricata). I have them everywhere. http://www.google.com/search?q...

this close up of that leaf looks different

http://www.minnesotawildflower...

I wouldn't complain if that was it though.. I did leave the one in the container... the rest in the garden I pulled

Yep, it's not it.

Wild white aster maybe.

I have some blooming, will get a photo tomorrow.
Not sure of the botanical name, but if it has tiny white blooms, then maybe.
I think it also can have light purple tinted blooms.

Mine came from the wild and I let it grow till it bloomed, just to see what it was. It's very tall, taller than I am, and much like garden phlox, but with narrower leaves and of course the blooms are much different.

Yours looks like mine though. I'll check.

Kent might know.

thanks... that sounds like it could work

It does look more like it Sharon.

It might be Solidago, leaf venation should be checked carefully as they differ and can be difficult to separate. The venation and shape of leaf is very similar to Solidago fistulosa which is in NJ. Best wait to see flowers, the leaves have more serration than the drawing shows so without flowers it's difficult to make an informed judgement.

http://luirig.altervista.org/s...

http://www.southeastgarden.com...

I am no where near pine barrens.. that is about 3 hours south of here.. and completely different environments.. guess we will have to wait and see

You did it again Janet. It is my plant, and now I remember seeing it bloom last year. Solidago canadensis http://www.southeastgarden.com...
Here a photo of mine. Sure looks like the same as Allison's plant. Sorry about all the weeds in the way.

First check the leaf venation Lynn, there's a drawing .. it could be another species.

http://luirig.altervista.org/s...

I like weeds, they are good for insects.

I've been looking for a plant with opposite leaves. To me, it looks like Allison's plant shows this in the larger image.


Or, does this plant have both types; alternate and opposite?

Allison, are most of the leaves opposite one another on the stem? If it has both alternate and opposite, where do you note their placement?

I checked and it is a match. Our county extension site shows it also as being very common in our area. Young ones try to come up in my raised beds, that is not allowed. But I do leave it in the wilder parts of my yard.

I will let these bloom and take new photos for comparison before I make a decision on what it is.

Here is what I have in my yard, but the wind is blowing. If this doesn't help, I'll try again later.
You also have to remember that it's very hot and dry here and even the weeds think it's late August or September.

Your plant looks lovely Sharon, it's quite different though.

Epilobium coloratum has similar leaves to Allison's .. and I can see new shoots coming from the leaf axils..

http://lucasland.org/wildflowe...

http://www.illinoiswildflowers...

http://www.missouriplants.com/...

http://www.florelaurentienne.c...

The leaf venation and fine teeth match, but we still need to see flowers ..

http://luirig.altervista.org/s...

the new ones all have opposite leaves.. harder to tell when the get fuller.. the photo 1/2 way down the page of the link you posted .. the big clump.. looks like it might be in the right neighborhood.. the one in the container is very full like that... I get something that looks like yours too Sharron.. with a broader leaf .. they are flopper weeds