The Rookery Cottage

10/26/2026

Whiterock Conservancy - Our backyard 💕

A Soviet premier once toured a farm here in 1959, and today that same land is open for you to hike, paddle, and camp. That's a pretty wild résumé for a patch of Iowa countryside.

10/07/2026

09/27/2026

IN TRAINING: The shortest Rookery host is learning some maintenance skills today. Fixing loose boards and repairing the back deck. 🔨🧰🪜

09/16/2026

For the past few nights, we have hosted dozens of monarchs in our oaks. But tonight there are hundreds! I counted 300 roosting but there were so many still fluttering around!! Enjoy these amazing pics by Emily Perrien 🤗

09/15/2026

Main Street now has a refillable water bottle station! 🙌Located at the public restroom across the street from Frohlich's and under the metal steps.
Thank you, Bruce, Katie and Main Street C**n Rapids!

09/06/2026

The most beautiful Red-spotted Purple on our sedum 💜

09/03/2026

This morning’s monarch release. We are raising three caterpillars and this is the first one to emerge. My kid calls her Moosey. Safe travels to Mexico, Moosey! 👋🫶🦋

08/08/2026

Went outside to take a video of one of the twin fawns we have living here, and just missed the wild turkey and barred owl calling in the trees. But I did manage to get the pewee peweeing, the red-bellied woodpecker chuckling, and faintly, the hummingbirds fighting over the feeders. Then a groundhog ran by just after I stopped the video. Morning, neighbors!

07/29/2026

Raisin understands the importance of welcoming guests. And on rare occasions, scaring the bejesus out of them when they arrive in the darkness. “We heard heavy footsteps.” 😆🤡

07/12/2026

Hot summer days are perfect for splashing and floating in the river!! 💦
Whiterock’s River Campground beach is just 1/2 mi down the road.