Wild Lupine?

Goldenrod seems like a good working theory. Good thought. If you pass by these plants in your daily life, you can just wait to see what happens. Goldenrod blooms toward the end of the summer. It can be really helpful to know what plants look like when they're not doing whatever it is that makes them most identifiable ... :-)

I might be wrong, but try Goldenrod http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SOAL6 You could check if this species grows in Maryland.

Sorry musicalsky, this is not Wild Lupine, either. Most Lupine have distinctly palmate leaves and they are not as slender. I'll keep looking for you... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupinus

Pretty but it sure isn't grass.

Interesting plant, but I don't think it's grass...