for example plants, bugs, etc
All species of dragonfly need access to water. Many species of dragonflies, including the majority of the rarer species, depend on habitats such as lakes, ponds, rivers, streams ditches, marshes and bogs for survival. Dragonfly larvae live underwater from six months to seven years before before emerging to land as an adult dragonfly. As adult dragonflies, they use the water mainly for breeding. Most dragonflies are particular about the ponds they’ll inhabit. They require shelter, sunlight, unpolluted water, emergent plants and hunting areas. Make sure the pond has less than about 30% of shade too as they need sunlight to keep warm. Lots of pond plants help to keep the pond clean, as the dragonflies are particular about where they live.
I know common wisdom says pond=dragonflies, but I do not have a pond. I do have a bird bath which I try to have filled with water, but don't always. I do have LOTS of dragonflies, though. They seem to love to sit and warm themselves on the rocks I have 3 high delineating my perennial border. Big flattish rocks.
Put in a water garden! There is a section in the book A Dazzle of Dragonflies that covers water gardening. Information about designing and building a water garden can also be found online. put a few links below too ....maybe they'll give you some guidance, and some info. to make sure you want to attract dragonflies to your home or garden. Hope this helps
It's not so much the plant that attracts them as it is the water. I grew up on a farm and we had a pond. They would always hang around the pond. So I'd put in a small pond then I'd plant some ornamental grass around it. Dragonflies like having something to land on after they fly over and sometimes lightly touch the water. You might also put a stump in the pond with a branch sticking out of the water. Maybe have the top of the stump come about 2-3 out of the water. I'll notice them normally landing on tall grass around the pond or on stumps or sticks that protrude out of the water.
put in a pond! it can be done very easily with a preformed liner. just wall or stone a perimeter around it the same height as the liner and then backfill with dirt, no digging! plant bushes and flowers around it and put in plenty of water plants, you can get dwarf versions of horsetail and cattail, umbrella palms. also use some water lettuce, water hyacinth, and/or lilypads which make great landing pads for dragonflies. duckweed is good if you have fish, they like to nibble on it and it keeps them off your other stuff. Plain and simple, dragonflies like water. you will also get all kinds of other lovelies including frogs, birds, butterflies, etc. i can't think of ever having a garden without a nice water feature! p.s. don't forget the bench! you'll want to be able to sit and enjoy!
