Those who know me best will expect a dragonfly to be among my year in review posts! Of course.

This particular dazzling beauty is a female Calico Pennant (Celithemis elisa). The male has the same forms and patterns, but where she is golden, he is dark red. A pair of them darting about in the sun…. well, Mother Nature’s most exquisite jewelry.

And I know just where to find them! These are not the most common dragonflies. In fact, some range maps show them to be rare in Louisiana. And I know where to find them.

Every year since about 2012, I have photographed Calico Pennants on the levees between the Three Sisters lakes on a treasure of Creation called Camp Hardtner in Central Louisiana.

It is, in part, the consistent presence of these dragonflies at Camp Hardtner that inspired me to approach the Camp Hardtner Board about putting this wonderfully biodiverse summer camp into the State of Louisiana’s Natural Area Registry program.

The Board went for it! A couple of weeks ago, the process got underway in serious, and I have a whole new project to work on in the coming year. I know, some of you have heard me complain about how busy I am. So be it. This is truly close to my heart.

Nay, in my heart. You will hear more about it!