It sounds like Italian Arum (see the link below). They're cool plants. Plant Delights in Raliegh has them all over the place in the gardens there. If you have too many, remember me when the Fall Swap comes around - I'd love to have a couple.

Here is a link that might be useful: Italian Arum

Are these areas in your yard damp? If these plants aren't arum, they may be jack-in-the-pulpit.

Thanks to you both for the useful hints! Catc, you are correct as they are without a doubt Italian Arum. We have it growing everywhere -- in the front, in the wooded area of our backyard, along the driveway... -- so I'd be glad to swap some. I do need to get involved with this group more so that I can do the fall swap. How does that work, exactly?

The great thing about our new house is that the previous owners, who were 85 when they sold us the house this spring, spent so much time on gardening, and planted so many wonderful things that bloom all year. It seems that every time I turn around, something is blooming that I never noticed before. Case-in-point are the gardenia bushes all along the front of the house, which continue to bloom and provide wonderful smells. And to think I considered taking them out!

I'm relatively new here myself, and I've only been to one swap, so I'm probably not the best person to fill you in, but the general idea is that we all show up at a pre-arranged location with our plants, put them on a table and then John gives the signal and everyone grabs a plant. Rinse, lather, repeat, until all the plants are gone. It's lots of fun. People also do one-on-one swaps for more valuable plants. Keep an eye peeled as we get closer to Fall. Someone will probably start a thread about where and when the swap will be

Lucky you, 'inheriting' a yard from a dedicated gardener - it sounds like you have some great stuff. My yard is nicely laid out, but a lot of what was there when I moved in is kinda boring. I've been working on getting some more interesting plants established.

I'm looking forward to the swap! Thanks again for the hint.

I believe I read that the fall swap will be mid-September. John would know - as he is the one who sets it up. Sometime in August someone will post pre-arranged requests in the Exchange sub-forum (under this forum). I 2nd the motion of bringing the Italian Arum to the swap -- I'd LOVE to have some!!!

Looks like the conversation has just begun on the dates for the fall swap -- just saw it tentatively posted as September 15. If I'm able to attend, will most certainly bring along the Italian Arum!