The Hummingbird and the Dragonfly
I have been asked about the photo I use as the header for this blog by DM. I was so excited that someone had taken notice of this photo, because it is truly one of the most unusual photos I have ever taken. It is really the story behind the photo that is most fascinating (in my opinion).
Two summers ago, we weren’t fretting so much about the drought and the lack of water. The garden was in the throes of its mid-summer lushness – the cannas had reached their peak, the day lilies just kept on blooming, and the Angel Trumpet tree was just starting to set its blooms for a brilliant show in the fall.
These two came to meet on a little sprig of the Trumpet Vine we have growing along our fence. At first I thought it was an aberration, just a coincidence. Why would a Hummingbird and a Dragonfly come to rest on the same twig? It didn’t make any sense. I said to my husband, “Honey, look at that – a Hummingbird and a Dragonfly are sitting together on that Trumpet Vine. Don’t you think that’s a bit unusual?” He was busy doing something super important, if I recall he was involved in a particularly challenging level on Candy Crush. He made an obligatory grunt but never really looked up to see what I was talking about.
The next afternoon, about the same time we were out on the patio, enjoying the late afternoon, waiting for the sunset to bring us a reprieve from the desiccating heat of the August days here in the Central Valley. I looked up, and there they were again. The Hummingbird and the Dragonfly were sitting on their respective perches, just like the day before. They sat there for sometime. Of course I started to worry that maybe there was something wrong with the Hummingbird. I had never really seen a Hummingbird sit for any length of time, they usually just flitted around, making their little Jetson car noises through the garden. But this Hummingbird was there, perched on his Trumpet Vine twig, enjoying the early summer evening. I mentioned this to my husband, who I think might still have been on the same level of Candy Crush. The comment in return wasn’t much more than a “Uh-huh.”
It became a ritual, watching for the Hummingbird and the Dragonfly that summer. Every afternoon, while sitting on the patio, as the skies slowly changed from insipid blues to the bright fiery corals, and the sun began its descent down the Western horizon, I would watch for that strange meeting, when the Hummingbird and the Dragonfly would take their respective spots on the Trumpet Vine twig. Again and again, they would meet. And every evening I would say to my husband “Look Honey, they are back again. Don’t you think that is strange?” Then the unusual, mind-boggling thing happened. The Candy Crush game no longer seemed important, the phone lay forgotten on the patio table, as we both waited for the two friends to meet, so they could take their spots on the Trumpet Vine, and watch the last rays of suns splatter a kaleidoscope of oranges and vermillion along the evening sky.
I have watched for them every summer since then, but they have never returned. I just watch my husband enjoying (not always – based on the nature of the expletives spewing forth) his Candy Crush game as the sun sets on another summer day.
Share this:
Categories: California, Central Valley, Garden, Little Stories
thank you for sharing that part of your life. There is something definitely magical about what you observed! Makes you wonder where the humming bird is..I’m guessing they have a longer life expectancy than the dragon fly. for some strange reason, the story of Puff the Magic Dragon popped into my head…(I think it’s because Puff lived longer than his little friend, and he was lonely because he outlived him..sort of like the two of your little friends…one outlived the other) Who knows. I’m glad I asked! 🙂 DM
Thanks for asking!!!! Puff the Magic Dragon song used to make me so sad as a kid. Now I am sad about the Dragonfly.
Me too!
I love this story too. Thanks for sharing it. Must have been so wonderful to sit and wait for their appearance, yet sad, when it was no longer.
Yes, I keep waiting for them. But I am afraid it was once in a lifetime thing.
Well then you were lucky to have experienced it once.
True.
Strange. I’ve never seen anything like it! Here’s hoping they come back.
Me too!
Lovely story! I’m sure this sounds silly, but I’ve always wondered (maybe hoped) that our spirits go into animals after we die, so that these animals can hang around our loved ones a bit and provide them with a little comfort. When my son’s dog passed last year–a beagle–just a couple weeks later, we had a rabbit come up in our yard, in the same area, and just watch him play. This went on for months. Really made me wonder.
That would be really, really cool. I think you might be right. When I had to put my last Great Dane down, I was in such a horrible depression. My husband thought it would be best if we went and got puppies. He wanted a Golden (that’s the breed he has always had) and of course I had to have another Great Dane. We couldn’t find any breeders that had the same age puppies, but one day a picture of a blue Great Dane showed up our email, and guess what, right next door, their neighbors were selling a Golden, 1 month older (someone had paid the deposit but couldn’t pick him up for some reason). How weird is that? I think our old Great Dane must have had something to do with it. And Maxie and Mikey have been the best dogs ever, they never tear anything up, they are so well-behaved (I think Nu-Nu might have had something to do with that too).
How cool! The timing of some things are too powerful to be chalked up to mere coincidence.
I agree!!!!!
I admit to admiring that header of yours, as well. What a lovely post. You captivate your readers and I admire you for it.
Thank-you, my red-headed poet friend!!!!!!!
You’re welcome, my fellow ginger!♡
I loved this post! I think I have a story starting to form wanting to be written.
Yay!!! Thank-you!!!!
I have been stopping to read a blog here and there (hit or miss) before we head out. I saw this one in my email box and it intrigued me. This is a great story for the very reason that it is unusual. Is that a real photo that you took of them? Your story fascinates me, because I witnessed quite the opposite one day (years ago). Let’s just say that I witnessed the food chain happening before my eyes. I love that those two just sat there beside each other. I can’t help but wonder if it’s some sort of spiritual sign. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank-you Lori. It is a real photo, taken in my garden. It happened for so many days I actually had the foresight to bring my camera out into the garden one day. I don’t know, what was it those two were doing sitting there? Maybe it is a sign, but of what? I thought you guys were on the road. Must be close to heading onto Chi – town. Thanks for reading my posts. Safe travelling!!!!!
We aren’t leaving for 2 weeks yet. We are trying to dig out of this house! Whew! I’ve never been so exhausted. Yard sale this weekend. Thanks for the safe wishes.