Help please - are these weeds?

Can anyone help me to identify these 2 plants. The 1st one (tall weed.jpeg) looks like it has flowers about to open at the top of the stems but instead they're actually more leaves when they open. It's now about 18" tall

The 2nd one (tufty short weed.jpeg) is a picture of little tufty grass-like plants, about 3" tall. Again, I'm not sure whether they're weeds or something the previous owner of our house had planted.

Any help appreciated please as I would hate to dig up the wrong thing.

Many thanks

 

I don't think either of these are weeds!
First one looks like a Penstemon....and I am jelouse because most died up here over winter!

Second ones are probably young Sissirynchium seedlings. Probably S. brachypus. They usually have yellow flowers about now, but will flower from next year on by the look of them.

 

Thanks Julie. Now you mention it I do recall planting penstemons. I was getting worried as these were getting taller & taller & all that seemed to unfurl were more & more leaves. I'll be patient a while longer & hope the flowers eventually appear.

I have never heard of Sissirynchium. These suddenly appeared all along a border, particularly under my huge fig tree.

Thank you again!

 

I agree with Penstemons and Sisyrinthiums.