As I Stumbled Along

What I saw as I stumbled along this morning!  There are new blooms daily because we still have rain!

The first two blooms are Jerusalem artichokes.  They’re also known as sunchokes and are of the are a sunflower species. They grow from tubers that are edible. Despite the name, they are not related to true artichokes and are native to North America, not Jerusalem. The vegetable can be eaten raw or cooked, and are known for their nutty, slightly sweet flavor. They are a good source of inulin, a prebiotic fiber that benefits gut health, and many vitamins and minerals. 

The white bloom is a Maypop. Maypop is a vine and the common name a species of passionflower native to the United States. It's known for its attractive, fragrant, purple and white flowers, and its edible, egg-sized fruit that turns yellowish-green when ripe. The fruit's pulp is often used to make jelly or jam, and the leaves and flowers have been used in herbal medicine.  

The little yellow blooming plant is St. Andrew’s cross! It’s of the St. John’s-wort (Hypericaceae) family. The blooms have 4-petal yellow flowers with 2 prominent sepals. Genus name is based on Greek words for “above” the “picture”, from the practice of placing flowers above a wall-mounted picture to discourage evil spirits on St. John’s feast day. It grows all over Arkansas. St. John’s Wort is used to treat lots of maladies, especially depression. You can even buy it at walmart.  St. Andrew, the first disciple of Jesus, is believed to have been crucified on an X-shaped cross. This symbol is prominently featured on the flag of Scotland, where St. Andrew is the patron saint.

Jerusalem Artichoke 

Maypop

St. Andrew’s Cross