Buy two, get one free at the garden store! I’m delighted with our new speedwell, coneflower, and phlox.
Last week’s daisies are thriving, drawing new pollinators into the yard. I would love some help identifying this fly. Or is it a bee? Maybe some kind of wasp? Any ideas?
Rae Spencer 
Flowers always bring such a delight to the senses!
Looks like a hover fly to me….they are also known as syrphids, and many of them resemble bees and wasps in order to deter predators. They are completely harmless, however, and are extremely beneficial as pollinators. Here are some that I’ve photographed in Ottawa:
http://www.pbase.com/jewelwing/syrphids .
Your garden looks very beautiful!
Thank you! Your hover fly photos are wonderful.
Rae, I picture your yard as large and bountiful, full of life as a royal botanical garden
Actually, it’s small and kind of crowded. 🙂 I would love to have a true botanical garden, complete with a sunflower maze and topiary!