White Vervain (Verbena urticifolia).
A relative of our garden Verbenas, but bearing little
superficial resemblance to them. This is a delicate
plant, tall, with long flower spikes, the tiny white
flowers encircling the spike in a loose but narrow
band, with buds above and developing seeds below. It
blooms around July.
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata).
Also called Swamp Vervain, but it certainly does not
require a swamp. It seems to be happy in open fields
and construction sites, wherever land has been cleared
and left alone for a year or so. The tiny flowers of
this cheerful plant make a fine display—not too
ostentatious, but elegant and striking.