DRAGONFLY

Common Green Darner (Anax junius)
Photo: © 2003 Jeffrey Berger

Dragonflies have been buzzing around marshes and meadows for 300 million years. Since they eat mosquitoes and other biting insects, I am always glad to see them around. I found this darner in my garden perched on a firebush tree. Hurriedly, I grabbed my camera and tripod in hopes my visitor would pose for me. My hope was not in vain.

Some people believe the souls of the departed return as dragonflies. If true, I could not help but wonder who this visitor to my garden might be. A date stamp offered a clue: February 22, 2003. My father would have been 81 years old on this day.