Veronica sp. Possibly V chamaedrys - Germander Speedwell but I don't know what species would be in your region. A beautiful little plant but considered a weed in gardens due to its ability to seed rapidly - even in winter if there are mild spells.

Appears to be Veronica persica, speedwell.

rhizo_1 can you distinguish the two? What's the trick?

Leaf shape does it for me. These leaves are very toothed, chopped. I could certainly be in error.

Either way it's a bit tricky identifying through plastic wrap ;-)

why are they under plastic???

ken

The only Veronica species that occurs in the OP's area in numbers, and has similar flowers and leaves to the plant in the photo, is V. persica. Veronica chamaedrys does exist in at least one NC county, but that species has only opposite leaves. V. persica and similar species have both alternate and opposite leaves. I think rhizo has this one right.

Veronica chamaedrys:
Height: 10-35 cm (4-14 in.). Stem ascending-erect, opposite sides hairy.
Flower: Corolla almost regular (actinomorphic), bright blue-purple, dark-striped in middle, 10-12 mm (0.4-0.48 in.) broad, fused, 4-lobed, wheel-shaped, short-tubed. Calyx 4-lobed, lobes linear, with glandular hairs . Stamens 2. Pistil a fused carpel. Inflorescence a lax, axillary raceme. Racemes often in pairs. Flower-stalk longer than subtending bracts.
Leaves: Opposite, lowest short-stalked, others stalkless. Blade ovate, with blunt base, both sides hairy, large-toothed.
Fruit: Cordate, flat, shorter than broad, shorter than calyx, hairy capsule.

Veronica persica:
Height: 5-30 cm (2-12 in.). Stem limp-ascending, sparsely haired.
Flower: Corolla almost regular (actinomorphic), blue, 8-12 mm (0.32-0.48 in.) wide, fused, 4-lobed, wheel-shaped, short-funnelled. Calyx 4-lobed, lobes lanceolate, with tapered tips, do not overlap, hairy along edges, otherwise glabrous. Stamens 2. Gynoecium fused, single-styled. Flowers solitary in leaf axils. Flower-stalk longer than subtending bract, descending oblique in fruiting stage.
Leaves: Opposite, short-stalked. Blade widely ovate, light green, large-toothed.
Fruit: Very widely notched, flattish, twice as long as wide, net-veined, capsule only with glandular hairs.
http://www.topwalks.net/plants/blue/veronica_persica_01.htm
http://www.florasilvestre.es/mediterranea/Antirrhinaceae/Veronica_persica.htm

Here is a link that might be useful: Veronica chamaedrys