The weather this past week has been cool, cloudy, and rainy, with high temperatures struggling to reach 65 degrees (18 degrees C). I fear that many dragonflies will not survive and so I celebrate each sighting of a dragonfly species, conscious that it could be the last one that I see this season.
Last Thursday I spotted this Needham’s Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula needhami) while I was visiting Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Its wings are tattered and its colors have faded, but it was still active.
Autumn often makes me pensive and I become more aware of the passage of time. Our lives are just as fragile and limited as those of the beautiful little insects that I am so fond of photographing. May we all find beauty, meaning, and love as we live our lives.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Gazing at this lovely photo I cannot help but consider the effects of aging that have touched upon the dragonfly and myself. And then I remember these words of wisdom from Jules Renard : “It is not how old you are, but how you are old.” Apparently this Needham’s Skimmer is doing it well! Thank-you, Mr. Mike!!
I love dragonflies, they are so beautiful. If you are interested in to see dragonflies living in Finland, you can find a story in my blog