I think I've entered my summer dormant period: pictures are being taken but not much work is getting done here at Beechwood. There are too many distractions in the form of insects and flowers.

Katydid:

Hoverflies are not bees. Some hoverfly larvae eat aphids. Yeah!

This one is a bee. See how it has four wings rather than two? No, I don't either. Maybe it's something else entirely.

I'm not sure of the common name for these bugs, but I believe the Latin term is in flagrante delicto:

Never mind all those confusing insects, let's just admire a Black-eyed Susan:

Here's a ripe purple-flowering raspberry, moments before it was eaten by the photographer. I can confirm what all the sources say: they're edible but not really worth your while. Pretty but insipid. Shallow, too: that red berry looks big but it's just a thin layer over a big core.

This cutie-pie was catching bugs on the pond the other day. After some research and consultation I'm going to say it's an Eastern Wood-Pewee -- a new one for me! Or maybe it's a Least Flycatcher. See why I don't get any work done?