Mystery Flora/Cryptopod Double-Header: Dragonfly Flowers

We’ve not had a mystery about here for some time! Let’s remedy that with a double-header. I’ve been busily editing photos from the summer whilst I watch Jessica Jones, and I have some lovelies for you.

Image shows some water flowers from above. They are long, thin clusters of tiny, pale pink flowers, with long, narrow green leaves.
Mystery Flora I

As you can see, these tiny buds were barely opening. But the bees were already busy with them.

Image shows a few stems of the flowers standing vertically. A bee is wrapped around one of them.
Mystery Flora II

These lovely flowers filled the wetlands around Juanita Bay last July. They definitely seem to like to keep their feet wet.

Image shows a tangle of the flowers and leaves poking up through other plants growing in the shallow water of the wetland.
Mystery Flora III

And they’re even prettier with a beautiful blue dragonfly perched beside them.

Image shows a blue dragonfly perched on a lily pad near the flowers.
Cryptopod I

It’s quite hard to photograph dragonflies that are flitting about amongst the water plants when you’re stuck up on the deck, but I got a few good shots. I rather like this one of the dragonfly in flight.

The dragonfly is coming in for a landing on a different leaf, with some of the flowers in the background.
Cryptopod II

It’s ready for its close-up.

Image shows the dragonfly perched that the end of a narrow, pointy leaf. It is pale blue, with clear wings that have tiny black spots at the tips.
Cryptopod III

And it knows many pretty poses.

Image shows the dragonfly perched in profile on a leaf, with its wings forward. One of the flowers is in front of it.
Cryptopod IV

And, for a finale, flowers with a froggie.

Image shows a bullfrog on a lily pad. Some of the flowers are visible at the bottom of the picture.
Mystery Flora with Froggie

So there we are, my loves. I hope flower, froggie, and dragonfly have brought some delight into your day. And for those who enjoy identifying things, may both of these provide at least a wee bit o’ a challenge.

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Mystery Flora/Cryptopod Double-Header: Dragonfly Flowers
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9 thoughts on “Mystery Flora/Cryptopod Double-Header: Dragonfly Flowers

  1. 3

    No need to look any farther, Trebuchet–you were right the first time. This is clearly a male Blue Dasher, aka Pachydiplax longipennis, with the dark thoracic bands, blue abdomen and bright green eyes. It’s the most common dragon down here in Arizona.

  2. 4

    I’ll second the identification of the dragonfly as a blue dasher. And the species name means, “long wing”, not, you know, the obvious.

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