Hot, gorgeous, and a dilemma
Eastern amberwing
It was hot today, but relatively dry, so I was able to get out a lot. There were plenty of dragonflies in the air, numerous new wildflowers in bloom, and in the meadow across the street, a family of farmers busy turning an abundance of grass into bales of sweet-smelling hay. All of this kept me busy with my camera, but when I looked over today's haul, I was in a quandary over which image to feature. Ultimately, I opted for this photo, taken at the millpond, of the first Eastern amberwing dragonfly I've seen there this year. Amberwings are gorgeous little sprites that glow in the sunshine, and, like the call of the Bobwhite quail—a sound, alas, that we no longer hear in our neighborhood—these dragonflies always signal "Summer, real summer" to me.