In the garden

We have 3 large vegetable gardens, which we grow organically.  Therefore a lot of weeding by hand.  I happened to be walking around the garden, which at the moment is only producing pumpkin, sweet potatoes and Rosella, when I realised just how many insects were buzzing around the pumpkin flowers and also the purple flowers of a trailing weed.

There were plenty of honey bees, native bees, wasps etc.  One bee caught my notice, having distinct blue stripes on its abdomen.  I believe it to be a Blue Banded Bee (Amegilla Cingulata - family Anthophoridae).   It is native to Australia.  It does not live in hives, but on its own in mud burrows.