Xylocopa californicus

I swung by our new place this evening after work to stand in the backyard and imagine it full of lovely plants and busily humming bees. As I left, I noticed a big black bee on the ground. I think it was a carpenter bee (Xylocopa californicus). It looked like this:

I took it home to have a closer look. These photos really don't do it justice--it is a beautiful bee with a shiny yet subtly furry abdomen and thorax, black wings and furry legs. It looked positively cuddly.