Jim died on the Ides of March, 2007, of lung cancer.

Click on Farewell to Jim for details or if moved make a contribution.

The Almanac was the love of his life (after myself!) and I will do my best to update the site regularly again beginning in April

Feature Archive

History

Ancient Astronomy January 2003 Evidence that a site on Fountain Bluff was used by the Mississippians as an observatory for the winter solstice.	A Second Solstice Site Jan 2004.
A Social History of the Wild Turkey November 2003. How mankind views the turkey has influenced how the turkey views mankind.	Working Turtles November 2004. A deliciously ghoulish tale recollected from Jim's childhood.
Jan 2005. Photos of the Petroglyphs at Fountain Bluff Station	March 2005 Cahokia - City of the Sun & Through Other Eyes by Elizabeth A. Kassley 3 Views of Monk's Mound
May, 2005. The Kirkpatrick Pottery, Anna, IL	Bad Timing - from the 2006 Waterman & Hill-Traveller's Companion Nature Almanac. An idea whose time had not yet come.

Fauna

Missouri Three-Toed Box Turtle December 2002. January 2003 was our first full month on the Web, but this feature was up briefly the previous month, and is our first entry in the archive.	Big Cat Comeback? Febuary 2003 Evidence that the cougar is returning to our area. Related Story, The Blynx Information on Bobcat Lynx hybrid up North, posted March 2004
In Their Gourds March 2003 A brief history of martin and human interaction.	Snapping Turtles April 2003 A life history of a pugnacious reptile.
Hatching Reptile Eggs July 2003 The title says it all. Related feature: Reader's Photos	What to do After They Hatch Sept. 2004
Why Beavers Build Dams Sept 2003 Brief bio 'bout beaver barrier building behavior	Animals and the Moon Posted January 2004, a consideration of how the moon influences animal behavior.
When Biology Pays Off Feb 2004 Old research applied to a new disease (Lyme Disease) also Tick Tips	Sirens, the Amphibian March 2004 Jim's favorite amphibian.
A Natural History of the Timber Rattler June 2004	Living with Killdeer Aug 2003 Anecdotes by Ruby Jung
Mole Control February 2005 Feature	A Cat Tale Jan 2006 feature about cats and wildlife.

Flora

Gourds May 2003. Some history, some lore, some uses for them, and how to grow them.	Gardening for Butterflies and Moths June 2003. Lepidoptera life history, and the plants they depend upon.
Gallery of Frost Flowers Updated with new pictures visitors submitted in January 2005.	Morels! Hunting them, cooking them, and trying to grow them. April 2004
Ghost Flowers They looks like parasites, but they're really obligate myco-heterotrophs. July 2004.	Carolilna Silverbells A rare native tree, introduced to us by our reader Bob Dunlap. April 2005
Dodder How a parisitic plant finds its prey. Oct. 2006

Folklore

Predicting Winter Weather Oct 2003. Tried and True Weather Lore.	Moon Gardening Posted April 2004, a consideration of how the moon and the signs of the Zodiac influence plants
Animals Speak on Christmas Eve a December 2004 entry	The Max Creek Vortex March 2006.
Like Pulling Teeth	Madstones Feb 2007.

Food & Recipes

Sourdough – Manna from Heaven August 2004	Ruby's Hot and Sour Oyster Mushroom Soup October 2004
Persimmon Pudding September 2006

Gardening

Compost Sept. 2006, the lazy man's compost pile.

Website Nostalgia

Our First Look December 2002. Our first feature on our first page layout, for as long as your browser will read HTML from 2002. We didn't have a feature archive yet, so "Home" took you to the homepage, but now it will bring you back to this page. Top

Our Name April 2006, 2007. Jim's answer to that burning question, "Who were Waterman and Hill?" Top