CoralAvery

Thank you, and thanks Karen for sharing on Facebook! These moths are very cool. :)

I changed it to Blue Dasher and I agree. It seemed to have the body of a pondhawk and face of a dasher, but wikipedia says it has pruinosity so the coloration looks frosted and the thoracic stripes are hidden. It reflects ultraviolet and is most common with male skimmers. I guess I learned something new today. Thanks for identifying it (:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pruinescenc...

This page says they are found throughout the continental US as well as in the Pacific Northwest so I suppose Blue Dashers can be found in California. http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/fact...

But I believe what I found is a western pond hawk since it does not have thoracic stripes and I'm sure it's not an eastern pondhawk based on the differences in abdomen and appendage shape. http://www.azdragonfly.net/compare/299

Love the last photo. The chelicera are a beautiful color too :)

Thank you both so much! I can't believe my mom and I made up half of all the photos Jewel chose. I'm glad to support her project, I'm in a similar club at my school that's on a much smaller scale so this is a huge honor!!

Thank you stho002. Yes, it looks like a blue poppy, most likely Meconopsis like you suggested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meconopsis

Thank you! That's what I was thinking also. Now it's just a matter of pin pointing exactly what kind. (:

Thank you Ashish. I added 1 more photo that I got when I returned, yet again, to the park. (:

Thanks paige.hembling. And thank you for the ID Stian Waaler :)

Actually it was hanging out near the bathrooms right before we headed out on the trail. It was on the outside wall in a partially damp area. I also found one around Portland on a hiking trail in a very wet area by some rocks and ferns. Hope you can find one too! :)