Delaware Valley Water Garden Society
  • Home
  • Events
    • February 7, 2023 - Planning Meeting
  • News and Photos
    • Photo Galleries >
      • August 6, 2022 - Stoneleigh Garden
      • July 17, 2022 - ​Pond and Garden Tour
      • 2020 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show
      • February 8, 2020 — Annual Kickoff Lunch
      • July 21, 2019 - ​DVWGS Pond Tour
      • May 19, 2019 - Plant Exchange and Pot-Luck Lunch
      • 2019 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show
      • 2018 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show
      • July 16, 2017 - ​DVWGS Pond Tour
      • June 17, 2017 - ​DVWGS Social
      • May 21, 2017 - ​Annual Plant Exchange and Potluck Lunch
      • March 14, 2016 — DVWGS Visit to the Chocolatrium
      • July 12, 2015 — DVWGS Annual Pond Tour
      • June 14, 2015 — Visit to Japanese House and Picnic
      • January 25, 2015 — Annual Kickoff Lunch
      • August 23, 2014 — Pot Luck Social
      • June 29, 2014 — DVWGS Annual Pond Tour
      • March 30, 2014 — DVWGS Trip to Winterthur
      • January 26, 2014 — Annual Kickoff Lunch
    • Newsletters
    • Articles
  • For Members
    • Join/Renew
    • Commercial Members
    • Garden and Plant Societies

Aerial Acrobats
Dragonflies and your Water Garden

Watching dragonflies by your pond can be more entertaining than bird watching. These aerial acrobats can fly backwards, hover, change direction or halt to a complete stop in mid air. 

Water Gardens Help
Because dragonflies are interminable survivors, they are able to find a new body of water when current sources dry up or become polluted. Backyard ponds can be built as habitats to attract dragonflies and provide them with much needed water.

To do so, place the pond in a protected area where it will receive midday sun -- less than 30 percent of the pond should be shaded. Dragonflies prefer streams and ponds that vary in depth -- shallow at the edges and at least 2 feet deep in the center. This allows for a variety of plant species that provide places for dragonfly nymphs to hide from fish, hunt for food, and rest. 

Be sure to include marginal, emergent, and submerged aquatic vegetation. Emergent vegetation provides the vertical surface needed for the nymph to crawl out of the pond into adulthood. Upright aquatic plants also provide landing spots for adult dragonflies.

Attracting Dragonflies
Increase the chances of attracting dragonflies to your pond by placing flat, light-colored rocks near the pond's edge for basking in the sun. Plenty of plantings nearby attract small insects for dragonflies to eat, but be careful not to use electronic bug zappers as they can destroy dragonflies and aren't very effective in zapping mosquitoes. Besides, the dragonflies will feed on mosquitoes and keep them to a minimum, anyway.

Maintain your pond to keep dragonflies in residence by periodically removing excess growth of floating plants and pruning dying plant material. Clean decaying plant material on the bottom of the pond in the springtime, but be careful not to over-clean as this can cause more harm than good. By keeping your pond in good condition, dragonflies will remain nearby, providing hours of aerial acrobatic enjoyment.
©2022 Delaware Valley Water Garden Society
 Contact info@dvwgs.com for answers to all your questions about the Society.
 This web site is maintained by Sandy Grimwade.
 Contact webmaster@dvwgs.com for website problems.