Something New Here: Jerusalem Artichokes and why I grow them

This year I planted Jerusalem artichokes because the idea of a sunflower looking flower and an edible tuber really appealed to me. It like me will be useful as well as ornamental and pull it's weight around here.

I like the way that this photo shows how tall they got compared to the storage bin and the house.

I was excited to see the butterfly here this morning, I guess they like them too.

Here's a view from the street.

As you can see there's plenty to inspire drawings and paintings here.

I can't wait to get started.

The End Of The 2017 Garden

The season went really fast this year. All that's left of the garden are a few Sunflowers, potatoes and a few tomatoes...and of course in the house there's plenty of raspberry jam and a few peas and pea pods in the freezer.

As you can see here I did some painting from the sunflowers while I wait for the Jerusalem artichokes to bloom.

In the house I'm growing lettuce, strawberries, chamomile and a daisy.

It's handy to have them at the table so that I can make sure things get watered or picked when needed.

Back in the garden our butterflies have returned and have been hanging around the sedum and some of our other plants.

Of course the painted ramp goes on and will provide color in the garden over the winter months.

New Sunflowers

I didn't have much luck with sunflowers this season but am looking forward to seeing what I can make of them anyway.

I'll start with a few photos:

This was the best of the flowers and I like the idea of working on it from this angle this year.

Here are 2 shots of the same flower taken so I can get the best idea of how to draw and paint the details of the leaves and stems.

Well, this is all there is to work with this year so it will be a challenge. I'll continue to add to this post and I get started on the drawings and paintings so be sure to check back here from time to time. 

Here are a couple of pen and ink drawings on envelopes.

Here are a couple drawings I was working on for cards.

Of course I moved on to a scrapbook page as well.

After that I went back to my paints and did another post for my ramp railings.

It was nice to be working from live flowers again.

I didn't have many sunflowers this year but you've got to admit I made the most of them.

Butterfly Sightings In The Garden

I hesitated to include these photos because there are so many weeds in the garden these days.

We've had lots of other butterflies this season in 4 different species but I just haven't had much luck photographing them.

I felt lucky to catch this painted lady yesterday. Since this is the variety that we've been raising and releasing here it was nice to see the population of them increase and keep going.

It took the longest time to try to capture a photo with the wings open. Most turned out like these.