Here's your first post (I'm assuming you couldn't find it). Here is a link that might be useful: duplicate post

I love violets too. They are native, very pretty in the Spring, and Viola species are the larval host plant for Fritillary butterflies. However they're pesky, and I don't like them in the lawn either, and usually hand dig the few that are there. But I do let them grow and spread around in the "wild" garden in the back with a few nice ones in the woodland gardens. If you have way too many to hand pull, you might have some success with Ortho's Weed-B-Gone on the broadleaf weeds in the lawn. Although I think Triclopyr needs to be used during the growing season and it is a somewhat more toxic herbicide than round up. Garlic mustard is extremely invasive. It is biennial and makes a little clump of foliage the first year, then flowers the 2nd year. It's important to remove before flowering. Each plant makes thousands of seeds and they persist for years. The flowers and seeds can continue to mature after being pulled, so if they are flowering I would dispose in the garbage, or you could put the weeds in clear (for increased solar gain) plastic bags in the sun and let them roast. :)

thank you so much! It's growing like gang busters, mostly based upon pure luck. I came home from work today and it looked like it'd grown another couple of inches.

A reply to an old post, but maybe useful? Could it be impatiens samporii? I wouldn't exactly call it a reed, but they have dark purple stalks, green leaves, and delicate flowers. They like moist, bright shade and are a true joy! The flowers look like little orchids and they will reseed themselves -- just sweep those flowers that fall off (and the little white seeds that spring out too) back into your flower bed. They will flower best with enough water -- fun to give to friends. If you have bright shade and can keep them moist, these are a great plant for a beginner, popping up in unexpected places!