Monthly Archives: February 2011

History of the butterfly, Part 82: More on the Crops and Habits

Posted on February 28, 2011 by the roused bear

Continuing the letter from Major Marston in Morse, 1822: “They return to their villages, in the month of April, and after putting their lodges in order, commence preparing the ground to receive the seed.  The number of acres cultivated by … Continue reading →

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History of the Butterfly, Part 81: Marston’s Tally

Posted on February 27, 2011 by the roused bear

Major Marston ‘s letter, included in the appendix of the Rev. Morse’s Report to the Secretary of War (Morse, 1822) included some comments on the seasonal cycles used by the Sauk and Meskwaki, and a tally of their trade goods and … Continue reading →

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History of the Butterfly, Part 80: Colonel George Davenport

Posted on February 26, 2011 by the roused bear

In 1816 the Americans built Fort Armstrong on a large cliff where the city of Rock Island is now located.  The Fort was about five miles from the village which was home to Black Hawk and Keokuk. The quartermaster of the troops … Continue reading →

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I Need to Rant a Little…

Posted on February 25, 2011 by the roused bear

One of the advantages of having a blog is that you get to rant once in a while.  I try not to do it too much, but I ran across something the other day that I thought needed a response. … Continue reading →

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Bloodroot

Posted on February 24, 2011 by the roused bear

Bloodroot is one of the larger early wildflowers.  It comes up out of the ground fully wrapped in its cloak of greenery, then exposes itself in the spring sun.

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Birdfoot Violet

Posted on February 23, 2011 by the roused bear

This is one of my favorite wildflowers.   This was in Quercus Wildlife Area in Mahaska County, Iowa.  The wildflowers are fantastic here, but there is also an abundance of poison ivy.

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Iowa Wildflower Week, May 1-7, 2011

Posted on February 22, 2011 by the roused bear

I got an email today saying that the Iowa Native Plant Society is hosting an Iowa Wildflower Week, which will be May 1-7, 2011. For the next three or four days I will be posting photographs of wildflowers.  Why?  1.  … Continue reading →

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History of the Butterfly, Part 79: Catlin on Keokuk

Posted on February 21, 2011 by the roused bear

“From Dubuque, I descended the river on a steamer, with my bark canoe laid on its deck, and my wife was my companion, to Camp Des Moines, from whence I am now writing. After arriving at this place, which is … Continue reading →

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The History of the Butterfly, Part 78: Keokuk

Posted on February 19, 2011 by the roused bear

There is a city in the extreme southeast part of Iowa named for Keokuk.  There is also a Keokuk county, located in the south east quarter of the state.  I would guess that most Iowans know there was a Chief … Continue reading →

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The History of the Butterfly, Part 77: Keokuck

Posted on February 18, 2011 by the roused bear

To quote from Marston in Morse, 1822: “The males of each nation of the Sauks and Foxes, are separated into two grand divisions, called Kish-co-quah and Osh-kosh:  to each there is a head, called War chief.  As soon as the … Continue reading →

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