Well, the first part of the observation is true
You should have seen that same area when I returned from a few days in Manchester, followed by a few days of rain
Chickenweed! Fortunately, I agree with my fathers comments (I inherited this place) - the chicken weed is the fastest growing weed, and the easiest to weed out.
Ive noticed another thing about taking photos of plants. You see things in photos that aren't so distracting in "reality".
e.g. in those photos, see the sticks and stones
Other plants in the photo are:
Artemisia 'Powis Castle' and Gaura lindheimeri 'Sunset Dreams'
This year, I bought two new Gaura to go with one I had in my garden. Unfortunately, it didn't emerge from its winter slumbers
I love Gaura. First spotted one in a garden in England a few years ago.