It’s always fun to encounter a plant or animal I’ve drawn, and it’s especially fun when all I have to do is step outside my door and there it is. I went outside to water my plants recently, and behold: a meadowhawk dragonfly resting on my moss roses. I am no dragonfly expert, but I do know that mature meadowhawk males are ruby-red, while females and immature males are a golden tan. So this is probably a female taking a break just outside my window and most considerately letting me photograph her!

According to brief research, meadowhawks are very common dragonflies in Minnesota, especially in late summer–there’s certainly a plethora along the Wobegon bike trail, where I first noticed them. They’re usually an inch or inch and a half long, and not too flighty (hence my ability to photograph one), but they are voracious hunters of mosquitoes, so they’re an excellent insect to have around!