I suppose to could be sunflower, but I don't recall planting sunflower this year. It's growing something in the center there so I guess we will see. I will try to post another picture as it gets bigger. I did plant Milkweed, but I don't think milkweed I've seen looks like this. I also planted various types of pepper seeds, but this does not look like a pepper plant. It didn't come with a tag, since I planted from seed. This is what happens when you don't stick a label where you plant. I really have no idea what it could be. More suggestions please.

An oak barrel - or even a faux oak barrel - Is perfect for blueberries. You can put 3 plants in one standard sized barrel. I see no reason to sink it into the ground. The change of level will add interest. You can plant herbs around the barrel, perhaps putting some stepping stones around the barrel so you can pick the berries without stepping on the other plants. The barrel should not be too close to the sidewalk for reasons mentioned above. At some point, you may have to net the berries, or birds may eat them before you get to them. The fence is quite low, so if you plan to espalier, you will have to add a trellis or something for support. Basil is an annual. Tarragon dies out in the winter, but regrows. parsley can last a few years, as can chives. Rosemary is a perennial shrub and can get large if not pruned regularly. Sage is drought tolerant and basil likes more water, so don't plant them next to each other. Good luck with you edible landscape. One of my neighbors has a pomegranate tree and artichokes in the strip next to the driveway. The tomatoes are farther back where they can't be seen from the street. Here is a link that might be useful: What's Growin' On?

One reason for the lack of responses may be because it is not very clear (the picture). And there is no description, eg, is it a woody shrub, has it got thorns, what size & shape are the leaves (a close up would be useful) & what size is it? Judging by what I can see I very much doubt it could have grown to that size in one year. As for flowers some shrubs have very insignificant flowers that you might not notice. It cannot be a weed as such, although what one person calls a weed another welcomes into their garden. In other words it depends if you like it enough to keep it. Sorry I can't be more help.

Yeah, the sidewalk/ driveway is pretty stark, but that was the builder's standard and we thought that we could "fix" it later. Fast-forward a year and we realize that we don't care to spend the money to do it over, we would rather concentrate on the side and back of the house where we spend 99% of our time. I just want the front to look nice, and plantings to soften the edges of the hard lines should be the ticket. I'm actually considering Carex (which I've called Sedge). It all goes under the very broad "ornamental grasses" group in my head... ;) But how do I mix these things to avoid a line of plants marching down the planting bed? I was thinking a dwarf fountain grass, then a cluster of much shorter black mondo grass, Japanese sedge (a gold color), more black mondo grass, a grouping of sedum Autumn Fire... the problem with this area is that it's so l-o-n-g. Maybe a grouping of smaller spirea to break things up. The different combinations are driving me crazy! I am going to plant something larger (perhaps a burgundy-leaf weigela with those beautiful arching branches) at the end by the chimney because it's a larger area...