This is another of our common orb-weaving spiders in the region. All the large orb-weavers you see are females, whether this species or any of the other many orb-weaving spiders. The poor males are tiny and overlooked. When I occasionally see one, it is often sitting warily in the corner of the female's web, hoping to mate, but likely to become a meal! These banded orb-weavers are variable. This is a young one, I should think, as it was fairly small and the pattern is somewhat undeveloped.

I was inspired to post some of my orb-weavers after seeing Hank's great set of the other common orb-weaver, the Argiope aurantia: http://www.pbase.com/hankvv/image/140136734