I think I know what this is, but does anyone care to guess? I had a good-sized colony of this some time ago, that seeded around a bit. I'm not sure if these seedlings got out in this area along the sidewalk on their own (from fine dust-like seeds blowing around) or in the roots of some other plant I moved, but it looks like a flower is imminent on one of them.
If they are what I think they are, how to protect them from the assorted vandals, visigoths and rampaging huns that use the sidewalk daily? The land mines aren't working... ;D