The Columbine looks like my Rocky Mountain Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea). Do some of the blooms have longer spurs, like this:

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Don: Nope, they are all short and curved. I really like those long spurs, though!

The second looks like Digitalis Dwarf Yellow Carillion

Deb

Try Alba flabellata for your columbine-sort of a short columbine?

ngraham, I think you nailed it! The images look just right.

Fairydancer, plant 2 is mostly gone to seed, so the seed pods fooled you into thinking they were foxglove-shaped blooms. That's a neat plant, though--foxgloves seem to like my garden, and now I want to grow some short ones like that!

I'll try to get a close-up of plant number 2.

I agree that the Columbine is properly named- although I have seen it as 'Nana alba' as well- a delightful addition to the miniature spring garden- especially when planted in a drift...
My first instinct with #2 is a verbascum of some sort- chaixii possibly-
And #3 looks like a dianthus- possibly armeria- at least it's blooms and buds look like one to me- what does the foliage look like? How tall is it?
Nice assortment!

Julie

Hi,
Number 2 is a hardy orchid. Number 3 does look like a dianthus.
Remy

I think #3 is dianthus armeria. Nice going, julie_mn! (and Remy) I didn't even think of it being a dianthus, even though the seed pods are correct for it, since it's a pretty tall plant with tiny flowers.

For plant #2, the verbascum chaixii doesn't have the right leaves, and definitely not the right flowers--those are gorgeous! Another plant for the wants list. This plant's flowers are just a plain cream or white.

If it is a hardy orchid, that would be really neat. I googled that, but didn't see anything that looked similar. There are a lot of species! I can always wander over to the orchid people to see what they think, but I hope they won't laugh at me if it's not an orchid!

Here is bigger image of the flowers, and if there are still flowers on it tomorrow I'll try to get a better angle on them.

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I'm probably wrong - usually am - but my first instinct for #2 is a penstemon of some kind. Seeing the later pic with more blooms, I wonder.

I think Remy is right - it sure has the right leaves for a hardy orchid, maybe Calanthe tricarinata?

Here is a link that might be useful: try this

Now that I look at it again, I don't think that's right, but I still think it could be an orchid.

Hi again,
It is hard to tell, but # 2 may be the orchid Epipactis helleborine.
Remy

Here is a link that might be useful: Epipactis helleborine

You guys are amazing! The general photo of Epipactis helleborine looks exactly right. The only difference is that I don't think my flowers ever had as much pink to them. I recalled them as being cream, or perhaps a flesh-tone. But, I don't think I ever tilted the flowers up for a good look, or I hopefully would have noticed the obvious orchid look to them! But then again, I was ignoring the signs that read "dianthus" on the other plant!

This is total justification for keeping every strange thing that pops up in a lawn, as neither of these were in anything like a garden bed. For the past 2 years I have meant to move the poor orchids, as they sit in a location where I step on them sometimes!

Thanks so much, you guys!

Here is a closeup I took today that matches with the foliage photos on that info page:
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Hi again,
Glad I could help you! I guess the coloration can vary. The photos on the web site are from close to me! but that is a very nice looking specimen. My aunt has some in her garden and the sepals were just cream with green tinged(at least when I was there.) The red/pink was only in the center.
Remy