Several Mullein plants are growing in the riparian zone around the pond. The plants are small rosettes of fuzzy leaves, close to the ground, the first year of their growth. The second year, Common Mullein Verbacum thapsus shoots up a stem clad in very fuzzy leaves topped by a flower spike (left).
Once the flower blooms, it is a brilliant torch of yellow blossoms. Each blossom has 5 petals, and stays open for a short time. Thus, the spike may have only a few blossoms open at a time.
