I spotted this plant today during my evening walk about the yard.
Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris)
I thought that even though this is a native plant, it looks alien. As in extraterrestrial.
I also spotted some Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)along the edge of the woods. I wasted no time in pulling that nasty stuff up. Left unchecked, it will take over a place and choke out all the native plants. I hope I got it all, but I will be sure to monitor that spot closely throughout the rest of the growing season.
Jomegat's Weblog 
July 30, 2012 at 8:32 pm
That is a freaky looking plant. And funny!
July 30, 2012 at 9:47 pm
The selfheal has been a little puny around my place this year. This one could only manage two and two-half petals. That’s typical of what I’m seeing, but I liked the arrangement on this one.
July 31, 2012 at 1:41 am
Interesting that it has been puny this year there. The ones here have had a very good year. They sure have a bunch of different looks, don’t they!
July 31, 2012 at 7:16 am
They do have a remarkable range. It’s funny how different they can be from one another with their “body plan”.
July 31, 2012 at 2:30 am
Did not know what this plant was called. It did well here earlier in the summer. I took one picture when it was doing well that really caught the beauty of it. But like everything else it seems the drought here did them in..
July 31, 2012 at 7:19 am
It has so many “common names” that I have difficulty recalling them. Self Heal and Heal All are listed by Wikipedia, but I know I have seen more names than that for it.
My place has been spared from the drought, so it’s not a lack of water slowing them down here this year. Maybe the heat earlier in the summer did it.