Having already drafted yesterday’s post I joined the family on the patio chairs being entertained by Ellie in her bath, during which time I wandered off to have a look at Jackie’s planting from earlier in the day.
A creature that none of us recognised flew silently past my left ear and came to rest on a dry stem not yet removed from, appropriately enough, the Dragon Bed. Unusually, it remained long enough for me to return inside to collect my camera and to photograph it. In fact it remained in situ for much of the rest of the afternoon, circling those who disturbed it and returning to its chosen perch. Later research revealed our visitor to be a broad bodied female chaser – a dragonfly native to our New Forest.
Now I was grasping the camera I photographed a few flowers, each of which bears a title in the gallery.
This morning Jackie unclogged the Waterboy Fountain, and this
afternoon transferred the astrantia photographed yesterday in its pot to the soil in the Pond Bed.
After lunch I converted this post from Classic to Blocks edit and changed the category to Garden. I needed the assistance of Wayback Machine to identify missing photographs which I then traced in my iMac Photos, omitting rugby photos taken from the TV screen because they were not crucial to the post and I had had enough,
My gardening tasks today, partly this morning, partly this afternoon, involved dead heading and weeding.
I then photographed a batch of scenes which should put yesterday’s images into context. Again titles are with the galleries.
This set pictures the Rose Garden.
This evening we all dined on Hordle Chinese Take Away’s excellent fare, with which Jackie, Dillon, and I shared Asahi beer.
Lovely pic of the dragonfly Derrick. My, you do have some impressive roses!
Thank ou very much, Denzil
Wonderful. Just wonderful!
Thank you very much, Dale
🙂
I am always excited to find a new creature in my garden. You have photographed this one beautifully. Of course the flowers are wonderful to look at too 🙂
Thank you so much, Anne
Great pictures of your garden. The roses are beautiful.
Thank you very much, Bridget
So many beautiful photos today, Derrick! I’ve never seen a dragonfly like that, it’s an attractive little critter. ❤️ I’ve not had such good luck as you do using the Way Back machine. I tried using the term Takeaway yesterday, it was received as being not unusual which is surprising considering we use the term Carryout. I love speaking English!
Thanks very much, John
You are welcome, Derrick! ☺️
Tending and photographing your garden does keep you gainfully employed, especially when you also update blog posts.
Thank you so much, Pat
Good ID on the dragon fly Broad-bodied chaser (Libellula depressa). I particularly like flower closeups. Excellent series.
Thank you very much, Sherry – especially for the ID confirmation
That dragonfly is beautiful… and all the other pics are also wonderful ❣️❣️❣️
Thank you very much, Luisa
You’re most welcome, Derrick????
Your dragonfly is so different from ours which are long and thin and a brilliant orange. Such a wealth of flowers!!!!
“a broad bodied female chaser ” ..sounds like a fair description of most middle aged men!
That was what I hoped someone would spot, John 🙂 Thanks very much
HA! Your comment made me laugh out loud! Thank you!
Clever
Excellent dragonfly picture and ID. The garden looks absolutely wonderful which I put down almost entirely to the high quality of the dead heading and weeding.
🙂 Thank you so much, Tootlepedal
Your description of your visitor gave me a grin! Then I read ^ jfwknifton’s comment ^ above my comment and laughed out loud!
Jackie and Derrick, your gorgeous garden is a safe haven, a source of sustenance, a place of joy, a sanctuary of peace, a retreat of contentment (and so much more!) to so many creatures…Human and Not-Human!
Dragonflies have always fascinated me…they seem so other-worldly, delicate, yet strong.
(((HUGS))) 🙂
PS…“Magic is seeing wonder in nature’s every little thing, seeing how wonderful the fireflies are and how magical are the dragonflies.” – Ama H.Vanniarachchy.
Thanks very much, Carolyn X I beautifully apt quotation
Your impressive rose garden and photos have brightened my homebound day Derrick
I’m pleased, Ivor. Hearty cheers
An amazing variety of flowering plants that seem to get along well together 🙂
Thank you very much, Rosaliene
It’s exciting to see an animal we never knew existed. I wonder if this dragonfly is slower than its more streamlined relatives. Very cool that it showed up in the Dragon Bed. 🙂 I enjoyed the flowers, especially the white Clematis Marie Boisselot.
Thank you very much, JoAnna
Beautiful garden and the flowers are spectacular.
Thank you very much, Zakiah
A beautiful set of pbotos.
Thank you very much, Andy
You’re welcome.
The dragonflies have emerged in Maine, too. So welcome to see them as they help keep the mosquitoes down. Always fun to watch a baby have a bath. Your garden is beautiful.
Thank you so much, Laurie
You have such a lovely garden, Derrick. It is great for you that you can work so much in the garden. My mom can’t do a lot know as her back troubles her a lot.
In truth I do very little now, Robbie. Thank you very much
A BLACK dragonfly.. a first for me.. Beautiful.
Thanks very much, Judy
Such a beautiful selection of garden photos, Derrick and Jackie, including your dragonfly visitor. Our own clematis have started to bloom. We have a purple one that by necessity has moved several times. It hasn’t been happy with us but is coming out of its shell again.
Thank you very much from us both, Lavinia
That dragonfly is so different from most I’ve seen. Your garden is so beautiful, it welcomes creatures of all kinds. Perhaps there will be some dragonfly dalliance going on.
Thanks very much, Merril. The males of these have blue bodies 🙂
Oh–they sound beautiful!
We have dragon flies, but none that look like that one.
I have been neglecting my deadheading chores, you put me to shame, Derrick.
Thanks a lot, GP
Dragonfly and irises – two of my favourite things. Thank you for cheering me up.
My pleasure, Quercus. Much appreciated
🙂
My favourite time of year in the garden.
Thanks a lot, Andrew
I think the dragonfly is the star of today’s show, with the clematis a close second.
Thanks very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Great capture of the dragon fly, Derrick, and gorgeous garden pictures.
Thank you very much, Eugi
My pleasure, Derrick.
That dragonfly would have gotten my attention, too, Derrick. It’s nothing like anything I have ever seen, either. Thank you for sharing your wonderful photos.
Thank you so much, Jodie
I thoroughly enjoyed my walk through your garden today. Thank you, {{Derrick}} <3
And no need for the umbrella, Jan. Much appreciated
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Wonderful pics. A riot of colour!
Thank you very much, Sofia
Your description of the dragonfly, Derrick, would fit most of the Floridian “merry widows,” chasing their fifth or sixth husband.
Thanks very much, Dolly 🙂
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Garden looking really splendid. That dragon fly would’ve flown off before I could reach for my iPhone.
That is what I expected, too, Sheree. Flo reported its repeated presence the next day. Thanks very much
Not surprised it has decided to stay
🙂
Dragonflies are fascinating, aren’t they? I’m glad this one stayed put so you could get a few photos.
Thank you very much, Alys