This is Charlotte

She's very exotic looking, but is actually known as common Black and Yellow Garden Spider.  I love her because she easy to see so I don't put my hand through her web, and I think I can thank her for the lack of earwigs in my garden this year. (I can't stand those things!)  Amelia is in love with her and all the facts she has learned about her!  Like the interesting patterns in her circular web.  We checked her out online at Wikipedia under "Argiope Aurantia."
You can do it too http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argiope_aurantia