The plants in your first two photos look like horseweed (Conyza canadensis). This is a native species, but most people consider it a weed in gardens and home landscapes. It does have some positive faunal associations, though, with native and beneficial insects such as halictid bees, syrphid flies, and sphecid wasps, which use the floral nectar and pollen.

The plant with the thinner stem and smaller leaves looks like a type of aster, of which there are many! For asters, we would need to see the flowers in order to make a confident identification. You could keep an eye on it and send us photos again when you see full blooms. Asters, in general, are very good plants for pollinating insects.

For Joe Pye weed seeds, you could search for seeds online or check the Maryland Native Plant Society's list of native plant sources to purchase a few plants and then collect/propagate seeds from them. You might also try reaching out to the Cecil County Master Gardeners. Some Master Gardener groups offer seed exchanges or native plant sales/swaps, or perhaps they could help you find a location with naturally growing plants to collect seeds from (with permission from the property owner). 

Christa   

On 07/10/2024 1:58 PM EDT Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

 

 

Hello Vicki,

Several dozen Aster species grow wild in Maryland, and some bloom much earlier than others (they can be months apart, from one extreme to the other), which can also be influenced by plant vigor and growing conditions. For example, more Aster species are adapted to a full sun exposure than semi-shade or shade, so if the volunteer in question is growing in less than full sun (6-8 or more hours of direct light), it might not have enough energy to bloom every year, so may take some time to reach flowering age (if it's young) or have enough energy to bloom some years while skipping others.

Miri

On 07/10/2024 3:45 PM EDT Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

 

 

You're welcome!