A field guide to field guides

One great way to get involved with the nature around you is to invest in a few field guides. They come in a variety of sizes, ranging from pocket pamphlets to hefty bookshelf adornments. Whatever you opt for, most are easy to use, and its amazing how quickly they change the way you walk in the woods.

Once I got a few guides, I didn't just glance over the flowers, trees, and birds. I stopped, payed attention to detail, and looked them up. Several years ago I moved halfway across the country, and while much of the flora and fauna stayed the same, there were plenty of new things that I didn't recognize. I grew up in the Northeast, and was pretty familiar with that area, but here in the Midwest I am continually discovering new and exciting things to look up. Just the other day I was out for a walk and noticed some beautiful spring flowers that grew close to the ground. The top half of each flower was white, and the bottom half light blue. I hadn't brought my wildflower book with me, so when I got home I raced to the bookshelf and identified them as Blue-eyed Marys (in photo at top). That was a new one for me: I knew Black-eyed Susans, but I'd never even heard of these!

Silly? Maybe, but how fun to know just one more thing about the world around me. Just imagine what that kind of enthusiasm can do for kids! Instead of having to answer every question with, "I don't know..." when your child asks you to identify something, with a field guide you can say, "Let's look it up!"

My favorite broad regional field guides are put out by the National Audubon Society, but they are available at most major bookstores. I find them informative without being overwhelming, and they have great pictures with intuitive organization that makes it easy to find what you're looking for.

If you really want to get into things, though, I recommend both the Audubon Society guides and more localized guides as well. Most states have local field guides: I especially like those of Stan Tekiela. They are an excellent size to take hiking, and help narrow things down to the specimens that you are most likely to find in your area. His photographs are excellent, and his personal notes are quite helpful. Read more!

Nature & Science II

OK, this one's easy. But it's fun, and the learning involved can be adjusted to any age level. Get yourself a piece of celery, some Queen Anne's Lace, or a white Carnation. Put it in a glass of water tinted with food coloring. Wait and see what happens...

Need directions? Check out "How to Stem Dye Celery" at eHow.com. Celery is probably your best choice for really studying the plant's cells, as they are large enough to be visible to the naked eye, but the flowers show more dramatic color changes. (C'mon, you didn't really think those green Carnations for St. Patty's were naturally that color, did you?)

While waiting for your results, talk to your children about how the xylem and phloem work in plants, or Google it to refresh the process for yourself. Doing an adult project? Don't worry, plant cells can be complicated enough to keep anyone interested. Have fun! Read more!

Nature & Science

One reason that I think people aren't always excited about getting into the world around us is that they just don't know how much it has to offer. I'd like to dedicate the next several blogs to a few fun ways for kids and adults to learn a little bit more about the world around them.

When I think of outdoor "science projects," the first one that comes to mind is building a scale solar system. One of my favorite memories as a child is of constructing a solar system to scale in my (very large) backyard. My mother made me do all of the calculations myself, but if you want to build a solar system model and you're not trying to practice your math skills, check out this website. All you have to do is enter the size that you want your "sun" to be, and go to it.

Maybe it's just that I'm a big nerd, but this project still holds a lot of appeal to me as an adult. It's a great way to get back that sense of wonder, if only for a few hours.

Cautionary note: after you enter the size of your "sun," be sure to check just how much space you'll be needing for this solar system... you may need to do this at a park! Read more!

Us & Them II

Now for the domesticated animals. The most common fear that I see in adults and children alike is the fear of dogs. Yet dogs are all around us- you can hardly walk down a city street, go to the park, or visit a friend's house without coming into contact with them. Not everyone is a dog-lover, but knowing how to properly interact with dogs can make life a lot easier, particularly if you ever plan on being outdoors.

Here are some great tips that I've borrowed from Wikihow:

1. If the dog seems receptive to petting (not growling, jumping and no tail between the legs), then hold your hand in front of the dog's nose with the back part of your hand exposed to the dog, loosely curled almost to a fist (this will keep your fingers from being bitten).
2. Let the dog sniff your hand. If the dog looks up at you (away from your hand) you should be safe to open your hand with the palm toward the dog and fingers extended.
3. If the dog still shows no sign of aggression, slowly stroke the dog's neck just under the jaw.
4. If you have been successful to this point, you may move your hand across the back.
5. Be aware that some dogs are "head-shy" and do not like being petted on top of the head. Also some dogs dislike having their hind-ends petted. Any growl, tail down or sudden moves should signal that you need to STOP what you are doing immediately and stand still. No sudden moves of your own.

I would add to these that before approaching any dog, ask permission first. Never pet a working dog (i.e. Seeing Eye, or other guide dog). These dogs will be clearly distinguishable by their harnesses, and it is not appropriate to pet them. They have a job to do, and their owner is relying on them not to be distracted. With all other dogs, the owner can tell you not only if it is OK to pet their dog, but how their dog is likely to react.

For example, I own a dog that is head-shy. She likes to meet new people and be petted, but if a stranger approaches her and tries to directly pet her on top of the head, she will dodge away. Her "dodging" is a safe way for her to avoid what she perceives as a threat, but not all dogs will simply dodge. Some may bite out of fear if a person ignores their attempts to avoid this kind of contact. I can always tell a child or adult that is educated on canine body language because they approach following the steps above, and my dog is relaxed and confident.

Canine body language is universal, and generally quite straightforward. That being said, many people think that they are more familiar with it than they really are. For example, most people know that tail wagging is generally friendly and that they should avoid dogs that are growling at them with their hackles up. However, the vast majority of dog bites happen when a dog has given signs to a human that they are uncomfortable, and the human has ignored them, such as in the scenario above.

Fear is a powerful motivator, and if you ignore the fact that you have threatened a dog, you are likely to get bitten, so it is important to pay attention. Very slight tail wagging is a sign that a dog is unsure of its situation. If a dog is licking its chops when there is no food around, putting its ears back, or showing the whites of its eyes and looking sideways, be sure to give it space. All of these behaviors are signs that the dog is uneasy. At this point there is no need for panic- the dog isn't necessarily about to attack, but it does mean that you need to back off and give it some space.

Two good resources on canine body language, complete with helpful photographs, are at familypaws and Wikipedia.

It is extremely important to teach children about dog safety. Showing them pictures and explaining how they should react to these situations is a good way to help prepare them to these interactions. If you decide to take this approach, be sure to do it in a positive manner. Be encouraging, and help motivate kids with sympathy rather than fear: "See what the doggy is doing? He is scared, so we need to leave him alone. We don't want to scare him." vs "Look at this doggy. Don't touch him, or he will bite you." Children need to be informed, but terrifying them won't help!

Some basic rules for kids & adults could be:

1. Don't ever touch a dog that is eating, walk between the dog and its food, or try to take food away.
2. Don't approach or try to touch dogs that are sick or injured.
3. Don't hug dogs- it makes them feel trapped. Hugs mean completely different things to us & them.
4. Don't run, make loud noises, or move quickly around dogs. They can be frightened easily, and their response to fast movements can be fearful or aggressive.

This one for adults:

5. DO NOT leave children unattended with dogs. Kids are unpredictable, and they are often oblivious to the signals that dogs are sending them. Educate children about how to interact with dogs, but don't leave them on their own. The sweetest dog in the world will still bite out of fear or pain, and this is a completely avoidable tragedy.

If you have read the facts and looked at pictures and still are concerned, or feel that you need more help, try contacting a local dog trainer or the humane society. Some trainers and organizations will offer courses on safe dog interactions. They can provide more information and a trustworthy environment to practice your newfound skills.

Dogs are wonderful animals that desire and enjoy human interaction. Owners should take all possible precautions to teach their dogs how to safely interact with humans and to be tolerant of human actions, but it is ultimately up to each of us to ensure our own safety, and that of our children. In this case, education is the best way to ensure that human/canine interactions will be safe and enjoyable. Read more!