Hi Pikaia: your wasp photo is stunning! However, it didn't get my vote as I knew they were not honeybees, but yellowjackets. Honeybees are welcome in my garden, yellowjackets are not. But you had a number of other excellent photos---I especially loved your bulb entry and entries in the "other annuals and perennials"---the grasses are wonderful!

Amazing! You are clearly a gifted, and patient, photographer. Congrats on winning, "Best in Show"!

Congratulations now I know what these look like close up! Now my fear is justified

I don't know how you got that shot but it is absolutely amazing! It definitely got my vote and was to me by far the best picture. So glad you won!

Congratulations, pikaia !! Truly a great pic!

Congrats, truly unique! Love it!

Thanks for the kind comments!
Elena, the wasps were attracted by a honey solution, their nest was not far away.
Wasps have an undeserved bad reputation. Like bees, they are important pollinators, but unlike bees they are also predators which help to control insect pests.Yes, they can sting, but so can bees!

What is your profile pic? It's gorgeous!

Tiffany, my profile pic is Geranium versicolor.

OK, thank you very much. I know I've seen it in the database before but couldn't come up with the name earlier. It's one of the most-thumbed pics on this site, with good reason:

Outstanding photo! Very well done and easily the best of show--congratulations!

Just parenthetically, whatever the "yellow jacket" Vespula species we have around here is, they have very well earned nasty reputations.

I can live with and even appreciate all the other way more interesting and dare I say civil wasps and hornets alright though.

Congratulations and very well-deserved Best of Show

Your photos are exquisite! The yellow jackets (wasps) photo in particular was well worth seeing: clear focus, great reflection, head on image... Thank you for sharing. I wish I was in Liverpool to meet you and get some first hand tips!

I did my own internal audit of the voting process (including looking at the names of who voted for these winning photos). I also communicated directly with the photographer of these winning photos, and I am 100% satisfied that it is fully legitimate.

Wow, that is such a cool photo, Pikaia!