The second one looks like a Bacopa Sp. HTH Chris

These are prone to scale. When I had one in St. Bernard, I just kept it as airy as possible. In other words, I selectively pruned out branches (thinning, not heading back cuts) so it would have some air. I also removed the scale insects by hand (some are too squeamish for this) and got rid of them. I also gardened organically and invited birds and beneficials into my yard. You can spray with a horticultural oil, you must get the parts with scale, including underside of leaves. This smothers the scale. Make sure you read label directions becoz temperature is a factor. You may have to do a couple or 3 applications, weeks apart, as new ones hatch. Again, read label. Hort. oil is considered to be one of the less toxic products. Laurie

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I should have included a bit of back information that would better give orientation about my overall objectives. This first year or two, my main objective is to define the borders of the porch for my two large dogs. Until now, we had a pad and grass up to the pad (pad is the same pre- and post- porch construction) and they could exit the pad anywhere. Now, I want them to get used to exiting the pad onto the sidewalk in the center, because elsewhere will now be beds (and mud and mess and plants to be stomped). That's why I've bombed the front with the cinnamon ferns, to make a sort of visual railing while the dogs re-learn their exit, and while the beds age in with better soil and I get some other plants going (hostas, etc.). For the first year or two. It will be no problem to move the ferns around the corner when that time comes. I've always wanted a mass of ferns on this eastern facing side: My second objective is to create a streamlined mow line. The grass is maintained with a 60 inch deck mower so whatever bed edge I develop needs to allow the mower to move along it easily (I guess rather than undulating what I was trying to get to was smooth curves rather than corners, for mowing purposes). Third objective is LEAST maintenance from a hand weeding perspective. I know it won't be zero, but I'd like to have it controllable without being consuming. Fourth objective is "pretty." I'm not bothered with "curb appeal" in general as the only viewers are anyone coming up the driveway; this is not seen from the street. Eventually, I would like to grow and develop in a pretty foundation border. I got the ferns cheap and they will help my first objective. As I can, I will add more plants and soil amendments, so that is what I'm asking for - where do I EVENTUALLY want to go with this, etc. I appreciate all your inputs! Please add as you have thoughts!

OK, how about this one? I thought I might be able to ID it myself, but half the websites just want to sell me seeds. None of the coreopsis exemplars I clicked on had pointy, sawtoothed leaves. Also diagnostic might be the reddish stems. These are on a chest-high plant whose seeds I had harvested last fall in D.C. from a meadow next to a trail (without paying attention to its foliage). The plant in the meadow was only about waist-high. I'm guessing the difference might be due to plenty of water in my yard and less sunlight.