any chance of a closer pic?

Violets? Viola odorata.

that was my first thought... but then one looks like its going vertical .. which made me think.. there might be more than one type of plant there ...

They're violets. Usually Viola riviniana, common Dog Violet, in such situations. A common native which appears as a widespread self sowing weed in gardens but not a disaster. My garden's full of them. I don't think they look like V odorata but you might be lucky. Wait til one flowers and sniff.

Habit and leaves do look quite like Viola riviniana, we have it in my area also - a neighbor's lawn contained a significant colony at one time. With the purple leaved form having a consistent commercial presence here as Viola "labradorica" 'Purpurea'.