Slender Speedwell (Veronica filiformis)

Very similar to bird's eye speedwell (V. persica), also to ivy leaved (V. hederifolia) and pink ivy leaved (V. subulata) and gray field (V. polita) speedwells. 

This species has small, round leaves and very long stems on flowers, much more than twice the length of leaves. Flowers are less than 1/2 inch across. leaves are very sparse. 

The ivy-leaved speedwells have leaves wider than long with a very broad terminal lobe. The leaves overall are larger than these (more than 1/2 inch)

Bird's eye speedwell has flowers over 1/2 inch and leaves longer than wide with lots of teeth and over 1/2 inch. 

Gray field speedwell has flowers smaller than leaves, leaves longer than wide, over 1/2 inch long and toothy, with flower stems shorter than leaves. 

Gray Field Speedwell (Veronica polita)

 Very similar to bird's eye (V. persica) and slender (V. filiformis) speedwells. This is a mat-forming speedwell with medium-sized (for a speedwell) bright blue flowers in early spring (April). Its leaves are longer than wide and have several deep teeth (unlike the broader than wide ivy leaved (V. hederfolia) and pink ivy leaved (V. sublobata) speedwells)

Bird's eye has bigger flowers, more than half an inch across, that look nearly the same size as the leaf. Bird's eye's flowers and especially fruit are on stems at least as long as the leaf. 

Slender has much smaller, round leaves and again the flower stem is longer than the leaf, and the flower looks about as big as a leaf. 

In gray field speedwell (this species) the flowers are not larger than 1/2 inch, not larger than the leaf, not on stems longer than the leaf, and the stems have a mix of hairs of different lengths that like to stand out from the stem. 

Snow Crocus (Crocus tommasinianus)

 This is the first crocus to bloom in our area, generally two weeks before Dutch crocuses. It has an all white throat, a narrow stem and base of flower, no clasping leaves or bracts, and only comes in shades of purple (generally in lavender) 

Chinquapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)

Chinquapin oak grows in calcareous soil, so not in the Piedmont but rather the Ridge and Valley of New Jersey. It's a tree, not a cloning shrub. It has evenly lobed leaves like a chestnut oak, but each lobe ends in a defined tooth, that is not long enough to be a bristle (thus this is still a white-type oak). 

Its bark is supposed to be flaky like white oaks but often yellowish and its acorns are striking when ripe: dark brown with a very light greenish cap which is large and tight and covers about 1/4 of the nut. 

Loose-flowered Sedge (Carex laxiflora)

 Relatively wide leaves, strong W pleating, even width throughout, tips die back in winter. 

Broad-leaved Sedge (Carex platyphylla)

 Leaves large, evergreen, blue-green, wider toward the base. 

Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia cespitosa)

 This is the much less common cactus of the Jersey Shore. It has flowers with red centers (always). It can have spines or not. Pretty much all cacti with spines are this, but it can also completely lack spines. Its areoles (the dark spots) have lots of spiny hairs that should be relatively easy to see. 

If the flowers are entirely yellow it should be O. humifusa instead, the more common species. 

Note that there are two weird species of Opuntia on Long Beach Island and Brigantine. One has tiny pieces to it and the other is very upright not sprawling as here. 

East Coast Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia humifusa)

 This is the more common cactus on the dunes in NJ. Its flowers have no red in the center. It never has any spines. Its areoles (the dark spots) should not have much in the way of obvious spined hairs (but this is subtle) In the photo here it has little branches in the areoles but not much in the way of the hairs. 

If it has red in the flowers or any spines it is probably O. caespitosa. On Long Beach Island and in Brigatine there are two weird rare (for NJ) Opuntia species.