I went out to garden and got bitten by several flies

Or maybe one fly several times.

Google says flies that bite are most active in the morning and late afternoon. This is when I am most active.

Possible solutions:

1. Get A to come outside with me?

Problem: A is a mosquito magnet, it's not clear if this will carry over to flies. Also, they might object to being used as bait even if I don't tell them that's why I suddenly want so much company.

2. Citronella candles?

Problem: Does that work on flies? Also, citronella smells great, citronella candles smell blech, especially if they're made of paraffin, which of course they all are.

3. Long sleeved shirts?

Problem: I'd want to order lightweight ones to protect against bugs and also weeds. However, lightweight summer gardening shirts seem to be made entirely of polyester. Lightweight summer shirts of linen and cotton, if I look at the photos at online stores, are exceedingly thin, perhaps a bit thinner than is really necessary. Would I be flashing the neighbors?

4. Find out everything that might be a source of stagnant water, drain it? (I have to do this anyway.)

Problem: Ugh.

5. Go out in the middle of the day?

Problem: It's hot in the middle of the day!