Plant ID please: what does this front garden have to offer?

Simone_in_Wiltshire

I have a new project this year. Nearby is a front garden that fascinates me since living here in Wiltshire. Whenever I pass the front garden, something is happening. I noticed over the years that the owner literally clears the garden only once a year (if that is true, I will find out), and leave everything else grow and flourish.
Therefore, I opened a new discussion and I will definitely need your help over the year to identify the one or other plant.
Currently, the daffs show their green and will be ready in March, the rose shows tiny buds, and some other stuff is coming, including two (2) weeds.

This one is showing flowers, but what is it? I have seen it before in pictures, but I don't know the name.



Many thanks in advance for your contribution.

Fairygirl

Pieris 
There are several varieties.

Simone_in_Wiltshire

Thanks @Fairygirl , the main name is all I need, I will look now further in the internet with that good start

Fairygirl

Some get big, some don't, some are variegated. 
There's loads round here as they're suited to the climate, but they'll grow in most locations. One along the road from me is around 10 feet in height, but they can also be pruned. 

bédé

Some have delicate coloured foliage that can get cut by frost.

And why don't you strike up a conversation with your neighbour?  He/she/they  will be able to tell you much more than we can.  Face to face human contact is better than all this virtual friends stuff on forums.

Fairygirl

Forgot to say @Simone_in_Wiltshire- apart from the little flowers which appear in spring, one of the biggest attractions of Pieris is that the new foliage which comes after that is bright - red mostly. It then gradually changes to green, or variegated, depending on variety. 

Plantminded

They do best in acid soil and some shade @Simone_in_Wiltshire, otherwise they can look a bit sad with drooping, yellowing leaves.  My neighbour has one in his garden about six foot tall, it is spectacular in Spring but not very interesting thereafter.

Simone_in_Wiltshire

Many thanks for your additional comments.

 @bédé They live around a mile far, and I don’t know many people who love to get up at 7 on a Saturday/Sunday morning just because a German knocks on the door asking once a month what that particular plant is. I walk daily 3 miles and passing that garden is only possible by walking the main road. 

@Plantminded That front garden is in the shade, and gets only sunshine in the morning and evening. 

My interest in that is not to learn about the plants but the ground and how plants thrive if humans don’t interfere apart from the cleanup in March. I just want to identify the plants by name to get a context to the season. 

Simone_in_Wiltshire

It's 2 February and the front garden has been cleared and tidied up. Because it was 2:15, I knocked on the door. A woman came out and we started talking. She saw me taking images and was wondering what I had found so interesting.

Now, I need your help.
My eye caught this below, and I promised her to ask you what this could be. She hadn't seen that before.
Being a German, I think immediately of the worst, Japanese Knotweed, but the internet shows a different type of shoot, more greenish.
Do you know what this is? It comes up along the border.



Thanks in advance.

nutcutlet

Maybe one of the deciduous Euphorbias. E griffithii. 'Fireglow' or similar

Bilje

I’m in agreement with nutcutlet, be careful in handling it the sap can irritate.