Or Blue Cohosh, Caulophyllum thalictroides. That and the two Thalictrum species (Meadow Rues) are native wildflowers.

I agree that it looks like Hydrangea macrophylla. But have no idea why they selected that for a zone 5 garden!! Unless it has winter protection, it is never going to bloom. And considering the difficulty most have with getting the remontant or reblooming (new growth) types to actually produce flowers, even those are not very good choices for a colder zone without protection!! It also looks like it is in full sun. Does it have inground irrigation? ETA: macs can be cut back to the ground and they will regrow quite easily. You will just miss any flowers for a season, even if you were to provide winter protection.

Embothrium Given the tone, I took this thread as Barron poking fun at himself + a bit of aggravation and a lot of curiosity. Thats a bit heavy going. My mother had Alzheimer's and its much different than what is being described in jest here. We all make fun of ourselves as we get older because we all have these memory deals, like when I walk into the pantry and then can't remember right off what I was going to get (what did I come in here for?) or when I forget a name when I'm talking to someone. I always drag out the 'senility card' to "fix it" because the truth is, I don't pay attention when I'm introduced to people. I did the same thing when I was younger. Barron, year before last I had two plants with long slender leaves. I kept looking at those leaves thinking, I know those leaves, what is it---WHAT THE HECK IS IT? Drove me crazy as I went over and over all the plants I'd planted over the years. After about three months I was working out there one day when suddenly it dawned me. They were Desert Willow seedlings. By the time the light-bulb finally came on they were pretty far along. I had removed a tree two years earlier and pretty much forgotten about the tree. The thing was, I kept thinking in terms of some kind of perennial which was why the obvious didn't dawn on me until so much time had passed. I left one of them but don't know if I'm going to keep it or not. I keep going back and forth---leave the volunteer tree or leave the volunteer Flame Acanthus. Decisions, decisions.

I agree that showing the whole plant, even if it is dead, is helpful. To me it looks most like either an iris or daylily, choosing from what grows in the northern US, but knowing your general location, such as nearest big city, would likely help refine choices. I don’t think it is Siberian iris aka Iris siberica because mine never retains that small tuft of foliage or bract at the base of the seed capsule at this time of year.