Bluestem - think prairie grass
Little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius) is the state grass of Nebraska, and a common
element in the midgrass prairie of the midwest. Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) is
the common grass of the tallgrass prairie.
So....I still don't get it....why bluestem?
Living in Lincoln, NE, we were surrounded by a tallgrass prairie before most of it was
plowed up. There are now only remnants of prairie scattered around where I live.
Little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius) is the state grass of Nebraska, and a common
element in the midgrass prairie of the midwest. Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) is
the common grass of the tallgrass prairie.
So....I still don't get it....why bluestem?
Living in Lincoln, NE, we were surrounded by a tallgrass prairie before most of it was
plowed up. There are now only remnants of prairie scattered around where I live.
| My good friend John and I have canoed many places. Here he and I are paddling the Moosecamp River BWCA in our Redbird in 2008. It took us three years to get the Redbird to the BWCA; 6 years after our first trip to the BWCA. |
Why Bluestem?
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
A botanist, I presume?
• Yep, I am a botanist and teach biology at a college in Lincoln, NE
• Attended college in Levelland and San Angelo, TX and Flagstaff, AZ
• I worked with desert ferns in the southwestern US
Where does the Paddling come in?
I've been an avid canoeist for a few years now, since I purchased a Daggar Reflection. I
have canoed in local rivers (Niobrara, Dismal, Platte, Elkhorn), the Boundary Waters
(MN), Buffalo and Mulberry Rivers (AR), and the Colorado and Devil's Rivers (TX). I now
own a Mad River Outrage canoe, a Blackhawk Starship solo (pictured on the left) and I
built a Redbird Canoe with my friend John in 2005, (that is the canoe pictured at the top
and on the left). Actually John owns the Starship, but I have possession, so it makes it
mine. I also build canoe paddles and offer them for sale.
In 2006 I finished a strip kayak with my daughter. We chose Vaclav Stejskal's design, the
One Ocean Kayak Cape Ann Storm LT. See the Storm LT link above for photos of the
build.
A good friend, Guang, and I completed Guang's Prospector Ranger in May 2007 and
took it to the BWCAW (Mudro Lake Entry) for a wonderful 5-day trip in May 2007.
In 2008, I finished a Redfish King sea kayak - the first boat "just for me". You can see the
build at the King link above.
Reach me by email at: dbenham at bluestempaddler.com
• Yep, I am a botanist and teach biology at a college in Lincoln, NE
• Attended college in Levelland and San Angelo, TX and Flagstaff, AZ
• I worked with desert ferns in the southwestern US
Where does the Paddling come in?
I've been an avid canoeist for a few years now, since I purchased a Daggar Reflection. I
have canoed in local rivers (Niobrara, Dismal, Platte, Elkhorn), the Boundary Waters
(MN), Buffalo and Mulberry Rivers (AR), and the Colorado and Devil's Rivers (TX). I now
own a Mad River Outrage canoe, a Blackhawk Starship solo (pictured on the left) and I
built a Redbird Canoe with my friend John in 2005, (that is the canoe pictured at the top
and on the left). Actually John owns the Starship, but I have possession, so it makes it
mine. I also build canoe paddles and offer them for sale.
In 2006 I finished a strip kayak with my daughter. We chose Vaclav Stejskal's design, the
One Ocean Kayak Cape Ann Storm LT. See the Storm LT link above for photos of the
build.
A good friend, Guang, and I completed Guang's Prospector Ranger in May 2007 and
took it to the BWCAW (Mudro Lake Entry) for a wonderful 5-day trip in May 2007.
In 2008, I finished a Redfish King sea kayak - the first boat "just for me". You can see the
build at the King link above.
Reach me by email at: dbenham at bluestempaddler.com
| Me canoeing on Brule Lake in the BWCAW in a Blackawk Starship solo canoe |
Site Counter
The new NEWS?
After working in cramped spaces for so long, I now have a 720 sq ft workshop with heat
and AC. The work started June 2010 and I occupied my "studio" in October. Once I build
a few necessary shop accessories (dust proof my table saw and build a luxurious
outfeed table) I'll start building another kayak.
My workshop building blog is here:
http://www.bluestempaddler.com/woodshopblog/woodshop/Blog/Blog.html
After working in cramped spaces for so long, I now have a 720 sq ft workshop with heat
and AC. The work started June 2010 and I occupied my "studio" in October. Once I build
a few necessary shop accessories (dust proof my table saw and build a luxurious
outfeed table) I'll start building another kayak.
My workshop building blog is here:
http://www.bluestempaddler.com/woodshopblog/woodshop/Blog/Blog.html