Tiger Bee Fly - If you have carpenter bees, this fly is your friend. Parasitoid of Carpenter Bees: Female Tiger Bee Flies lay their eggs near the nest entrances of Eastern Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa virginica). When the larvae hatch, they crawl into the nest and feed on the carpenter bee larvae/pupae. Because of this, you’ll often spot them hovering around wooden structures, decks, or eaves where carpenter bees have drilled their tunnels. (AI Identification - Gemini)
 

 

Eastern Black Swallowtail - The dark coloration of the female Eastern Black Swallowtail is a form of Batesian mimicry. It mimics the Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), a toxic butterfly species that birds avoid eating due to the poisonous acids stored from its host plant. By resembling the Pipevine Swallowtail, the palatable Black Swallowtail gets a measure of natural protection from avian predators. (AI Identification - Gemini)

 Gladiolus: Gladioli are famous for their tall, dramatic flower spikes that bloom sequentially from the bottom upward. The trumpet-shaped blossoms feature ruffled petals, and they come in almost every color except true blue. (AI Identification - Gemini)

Evening Primrose - True to their name, standard evening primroses typically open in the late afternoon or early evening, staying open through the morning before wilting, though some species (like sundrops) stay open during the day. (AI Identified - Gemini)

 Closeup of Garden Phlox.

Helichrysum italicum, commonly known as the Curry Plant, Italian Strawflower, or Immortelle.  Clusters of bright, golden-yellow disc florets with a papery texture that retain their color even after drying (hence the name immortelle / everlasting).  (AI identified - Gemini)
 

Margined Calligrapher Fly - Notice the two large compound eyes and single pair of wings typical of flies (rather than bees or wasps, which have four wings). The distinct pattern of black markings down the center surrounded by a continuous yellow outer border along the abdomen gives this species its name. (AI identified, Gemini)