Sweat bee on Grindelia hirsutula

I finally got my extension tubes working enough to snag this sweat bee (I think) feasting on the Grindelia hirsutula. Click on the photos to see them much larger.

Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)

Bee on Aster

Another bee on coyote mint

Yarrow

Fly on yarrow. I know, it’s just a fly. But they are really cool looking up close.

Bee on Aster chilensis

This patch of aster chilensis has been very popular.

Bee on coyote mint

The Monardella villosa, coyote mint, is just starting to take off. I think the bees are happy.

Anise swallowtail caterpillar on Yampah

Bee on buckwheat

I’m surprised but this buckwheat isn’t the first choice of the bees. They go to the rosy buckwheat and the asters first and now that those are about done they are finally visiting this.

Leaf cutter bee on Lupine

This leaf cutter bee was getting up close and personal with the silver bush lupine.