A Spotted Cucumber Beetle on a Jerusalem Artichoke blossom. This plant is actually not an artichoke, but a sunflower. It is well known among folks who are in to edible wildflowers for their sweet and nut-like flavor when eaten raw or the ability to be roasted or cooked in the oven like potatoes but without the starch. The name Jerusalem, however, does not relate to the city in Israel. It is a mispronunciation of the Italian "girasole" which means "to turn toward the sun".
Thank you all- it was fun to track down the identification and learn about these two - 365 really does teach you a lot more than just about photography!
Thank you all- it was fun to track down the identification and learn about these two - 365 really does teach you a lot more than just about photography!