The Last Flowering

Yesterday I featured the rosette shaped basal leaves of the Woolly Mullein plant. The erect unbranched stem that grows from that felt-like rosette produces attractive little yellow flowers along its upper section.
As I was out walking the dogs in the rain this morning I came across some plants that are nearly at the end of their flowering. Virtually at an end as there are only a few little brave flowers remaining.
Once those flowers die off the whole stem dries to a dark brown and is tough and resilient. It is the final dried up stem that used to be dipped in tallow in ancient times to be used as torches. Then...in a world lit only by fire.....