Oh, WOW!!! What camera are you using? I LOVE them all, but that first one is so incredible! Nothing like horsetail in a pond to bring on the photo ops. :D

Brenda

Hi Brenda,

I'm using a Canon PowerShot A95. It's fairly basic; not much of a telephoto, but it does have a decent macro function. The dragonflies are pretty bold, but I have to get close to fill the frame, so I end up balancing on the rocks on the edge of the pond and leaning in towards them. One of these days I'm afraid I'm going to take a dip!

Thanks for the added info about my salvia on the other forum; you give me hope that it might survive our Sacramento winters.

Mike

I have the two kinds of dragonflies, but not that RED one! I guess PA doesn't get those. Now I gotta go get a horsetail for the pond!(Thanks Brenda) You people are such a bad influence on me, I hafta get what anybody mentions LOL. LOVE Dragonflies and LOVEed your pics.
Debbie

Oh, wow, I have that camera, too, Mike! LOL You're right about the macro. I think that's my favorite feature on it, other than the size of it. Some cameras are so small now, I'd be afraid of accidentally inhaling one while sneezing. :D

No prob about the Salvia, and I sure hope it does well for you, from one Salvia addict to...another? :D

Debbie, horsetail is SO worth it. It's like a dragonfly magnet! :)

Brenda

Horsetail is great, but be sure to contain it. We've got a neighbor down the street that planted a little in a mixed bed a few years back... Well, let's just say that it's not a mixed bed any longer ;)

Mike

Fantastic!

People warned me not to plant horsetail but I had the opposite problem - it all died for some reason. I do have some field horsetail the birds brought in but I like the kind in your photo. I get dragonflies but unfortunately I have a heron net up so they can't land on the plants over the pond.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dragonflies and Damselflies of North America

That third one might be a dropwing type or you just happened to catch it with it's wings forward like that before it actually landed. You might be able to ID all with the link I attached. If you have dial up it will take forever to load though. Some great photographs though!

Thanks for the great link Comettose! I bookmarked it.

I think you're right; the last one does look like a dropwing Meadowhawk species. It always carries it wings differently than the other species. After my son's baseball party I'll be back trying to ID the others...

Mike

of course, i love all dragonflies, but that first one is amazing!

Double wow for the great pictures!! Wish I had some red dragonflies here in Mississippi to play chase with my blue ones. I have just put in my first water garden this year and one of the unexpected delights is the frisky swarm of dragonflies that have found a happy home. I love how they perch on my reeds and horsetails.

Yikes, great shots. The red one is amazing.

Joann