We thought we knew, but we didn't. But we know now...
It's kind of pretty en mass.
And the answer is Purple Dead Nettle, also sometimes called Red Nettle, Red Dead Nettle, Red Henbit or even Purple Archangel:
(Lamium purpureum) An annual herb believed to be a native of Europe, now found world-wide and growing in most any situation or soil, mainly in the temperate regions. Considered a weed to be disposed of by some and the edible food plant of the future by others. Cultivation: this inconspicuous plant, given the right conditions will thrive and become quite large. Purple Dead Nettle is a member of the mint family it has a square stem, no basal leaves and the lower leaves are dark green and have short petioles, all leaves are hairy, and are circular in outline with 'scalloped' margins, becoming more purple-red and smaller in the upper leaves. The flowers grow in whorls of 3-6 in the upper leaves. Purple-red in color the flowers are tubular blooming year round. Purple Dead Nettle is a favorite for bees and butterflies, who find abundance of honey in its blossoms. Roots are fine and fibrous. Gather the fresh edible leaves and flowers when in bloom. Dry for later herb use.We had been calling it Henbit (and by mean we, I mean Georgia...). Henbit is a relative, and somewhat similar. I found some of it yesterday, too, and Purple Dead Nettle is a much better looking weed.
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