Varigated Viola - Nannette's Garden

Took a close up of one of my varigated viola with some raindrops on the petals. We have had extremely warm weather for December in NC. The actual size of this bloom maybe 5/8 inch.  Square Mode,  iPhone 6, Camera+, Edited in PSE 11. Did some cloning and use of healing tool to blur out more of the background and applied vignette. The viola flowers are edible and can be used to decorate food plates, used in salads or crystalized to put on cakes and pastries. For more info:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_(plant)

Jerusalem Artichoke Close Up - Nannette's Garden

I have some Jerusalem Artichokes (Helianthus tuberosa) growing in my garden.  This was a close up of a single blossom  taken on a rainy morning.  Some people consider it a weed, others a gourmet vegetable.  In France used in production of beer and wine.  It has a taste similar to a potato. This plant is a member of the sunflower family.  They bloom late summer and eveuntually you can harvest the root as a vegetable.  It can be pickled or roasted with seasonings and baked with other root vegetables.  Some restaurants list on their menu under side dishes as "chokes".or sunchokes not related to artichokes. These  plants can grow 7 ft tall. It is a rhizome/tuber and will come back again next year. Once you have them they multiply.  Camera+ HDR. Edited in PSE 11.