So pretty. Hopefully the lovely surprises keep coming all season. Will you stay in watch mode and wait to do anything this year? That would be tough but I am sure you have plans for certain spots at least.

Well done for your patience. This is a great example of why you should live with a yard for a full year before making any dramatic changes. So many posters come here for advice having 'ripped out' existing landscaping and then wondering what to do next. They'll never know if there were things they would have loved if they'd waited a while.

Probably Iris Crestata or crested Iris. Native to New England, and probably a lot more of the US. They will spread at a manageable pace. They do well in a fair amount of shade, so, so you can move them around to fill in other places.

100% agree with floraluk. If new owners could simply wait to see what might already be there! Think of the $$$ that could be saved by not having to buy new plantings. =)

Those are really cute!

I must confess to removing a lot of mugwort, garlic chives and mint ;)

Mugwort, garlic chives, and mint do need to be ripped out or they will take over. Perfectly fine. Excited for you to see whatelse springs up.

Looks like Chaenomeles or flowering quince.

Yes, that's Chaenomeles.

nb I did say 'dramatic' changes. Obviously you'd want to deal with weeds and invasives. But get them identified first. Many a good plant has been removed before ascertaining its garden value.

Thanks! Google images has been a real help, but it didn't catch that one.

Here's another: a ratty vine is tethered to a fence by the tool shed. It's blooming this week... Carolina jessamine?