I ventured down our steep, dusty driveway today to get a peek at how Hubby's little hillside "corn patch" was coming along...
It's grown by at least double since the last photo that I took of it and -- just thinking about those freshly homegrown ears of corn was making my mouth water as I stood there! I would rather eat homegrown corn than the richest chocolate mousse on the planet -- and that's saying something for a confirmed "chocoholic" like me, I'll tell ya...
But, I'm afraid it'll be just a little while longer before I can start stuffing my face with homegrown corn -- **sigh**.
As I was trudging back up the hill, however, I caught sight of a sudden, quick FLASH of bright orange out of the corner of my eye that made me forget all about homegrown corn! (Well... Until just NOW, that is... :^( darn it.)
Right there in front of me about 10 or 12 feet away, a HUGE, persimmon colored DRAGONFLY hovered and then settled onto the dead stalk of a weed!
It was MAG-NIF-I-CENT in every sense of that word! It practically took my breath away!
I drew up my trusty Canon and proceeded to take no less than 30 shots of this glorious creature!
Doesn't he look like he's SMILING in that last photo?!
The wind was blowing so strongly, his wings would curl around his body! I wonder HOW in the world he could hang onto that little, dry, dead stalk all that time!
His wings sparkled -- like they were inset with DIAMONDS -- in the afternoon sun --
And he kept flying off and then returning to that same, dead stalk, so I was able to get different sides of him in different poses!
Just look at those patterns -- that look like clear stained glass set into miniature orange and yellow lead frames -- on his wings!
He looks like he SMILING AGAIN! ;o)
Here's a SUPER close-up from the side:
Look at those HUGE EYES! I think that's part of a bug that he's eating hanging out of his mouth... See that little, black curly-cue looking thing?
Scarfin'! LOL!
I just think dragonflies are the most magical looking creatures in the WORLD! They look primitive -- almost primeval -- and, at the same time, sophisticated and well-engineered... They almost look like something mechanical!
It was a good day to take photographs, my son... Yes... A good day...
'Til next time, precious Gatherers!
From the ole singlewide here in the wild hinterlands of Northern California...
luv,
jean
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Comments: 16
Incredible shots...just beautiful, Jean. Did you post to Marianne's Snap Happy group? Theme this week is Bugs and insects.
I don't think I'm a member of that group, ee, so, no, I didn't post it there... but, he sure WAS beautiful! I was totally jazzed to get all those shots of him! :o)
He looked like he was Posing for you, Jean! that is awesome.
This dragonfly is one of the prettiest I've seen, what great photos. He does look like he's smiling. I don't know what they eat, but it looks like some sort of bug he's munching on in that photo. It's amazing how each dragonfly is different, in color and design.
Thanks so much for sharing with my group.
TOTALLY, huh, Penni? :^D
He was simply STRIKING, Nana! I've only seen one other like him and it was very far away and wouldn't light anywhere to take his photo... This one stayed for ever so long a time while I took copious photos! Amazing! :o)
Wow!! What a beauty he (?) is! I kept thinking, "Oh, this is the best shot" and then would move on to the next and change my mind. Apparently, he is very photogenic!
AWESOME! and that isn't even close to how great your pictures are.
Not only that, Julie -- He kept changing the pose every couple of minutes for me! I SWEAR! He'd fly off for just a few seconds and then come right back to that same stalk but have a different part of his body toward the camera than the last time! This was the absolute FIRST TIME that I took so MANY photos of the dragonfly that I actually said to myself "Gee, that's enough, already!" and WALKED AWAY with it still sitting in that same place! 8^0 ! That's never happened to me before!
Awwww... How SWEET you are, Susan! Thanks so much for being such a supportive friend... :o)
Your shots came out great, Jean! I'm featuring this in my Animals: Wild and Tame group. I see Elizabeth mentioned the Snap Happy group's challenge. I hope you shot this over to them.
This is a wonder filled trek you took us on into the life of the dragon fly
I DID, Tanya! I went and joined the group and posted one of the photos to the challenge this week! :o)
Awww... Thanks, Jules! :o) Glad you could come along! ;o)
What great pictures! I've never seen a dragonfly this color, but he was magnificent! Thank you for taking the time to get all those great pics!!
And thank YOU, Jeanna, for taking the time to comment! :o)
Wow, those are some fabulous dragonfly photos!!!
And that is a lot of corn. I have some corn in the garden, too. It's not quite as tall as yours
Some great shots, Jean.
Fresh corn is some of the best food in the world.
Thanks so much, Sassy & Heather! Yep... Like I said, I'd rather have homegrown corn than ANYTHING to eat! :^D