Category: The Ravine

Fall officially arrives this week, and there are still plenty of wildflowers out there to find. September seems to bring the cardinals out too – cardinal flowers that is! I found both red and blue cardinal flowers on my latest hunt. You know what they say – “cardinals appear when angels are near”. So maybe my Gram has been joining me on my hikes! Whether you believe in those types of things or not, I hope you will be able to spot some cardinals (either flowers or birds or both) on your next adventure.

Here are my top picks from my neck of the woods. I will continued to use my “dog sizing scale” that will help put in perspective the height and size of the flowers. Wildflowers come in many shapes and sizes. A few of the flowers I shared in the August wildflower posts are still around – so make some time this fall to go exploring.

Wildflower Size Scale:

Flower size

• Small dog nose (like a dime or smaller)
• Medium dog (like my nose the size of a quarter)
• Large dog (larger than a quarter)

Plant height

• At the paw (ground level 1-2 inches)
• My dew claw (3-4 inches off ground)
• My dog leg (6 inches or taller)

My Top Picks

#1 Blue Cardinal Flower (blue/purple)

Flower size: medium dog nose

Height: dog leg (or taller)

Blue cardinal flowers are also called the Great Blue Lobelia. They bloom from late summer to early fall. I found these in wet muddy areas of my woods. They are not as tall as the red cardinal flower but are just as beautiful.

#2 Red Cardinal Flower (red)

Flower size: medium dog nose

Height: dog leg (or taller)

Red cardinal flowers look like red rockets shooting out of the ground. They are one of my favorite wildflowers. They show up later in my woods – late summer early fall and are worth the wait.

#3 Pale Smartweed (white/pale pink)

Flower size: smaller than a small dog nose

Height: dog leg (or taller)

Does this wildflower make me look smart? It is called pale smartweed or nodding smartweed. It can grow up to 4 feet tall. I think it is also from the buckwheat family. I guess it kinda resembles wheat. What do you think?

Still Blooming…

Jewelweed or Touch-Me-Not (orange)

These bright orange flowers are still around but fading fast! They have little red flecks are are a pretty cool shape. They make an interesting stop for butterflies and humming birds to get a treat.

Woodland Sunflower (yellow)

Woodland sunflowers look like a bright yellow daisies. Their flowers are bigger than a large dog nose. Birds love them for thier seeds – apparently they taste delicious (if you are a bird). I am a dog, so I don’t typically eat seeds.

So there you have it friends, a few more wildflowers to hunt for this month. I hope you enjoy this September special edition of my Canine Adventures – it will be my last one on wildflowers until next spring. I look forward to this next season and sharing all my fall adventures with you. Leave me a comment or send me a pic of what you are discovering and don’t forget to share my adventures with your friends!

Bark at you next week!

Your freind, 

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Hello friends! Sorry I have been offline for a while…I decided to slooow things down a little and just be an observer as the world keeps turning. It seems as soon as nights begin to cool, my hoomans begin to rev up their activity. Big yellow buses ramble down my road, football games roar through the tv, calendars are pulled out and schedules filled up. In Michigan, September becomes all about apples (not sure why hoomans are so fascinated by this fruit) and everything around me begins to change. 

My woods decided to change too. My favorite wildflower, Jack-in-the-pulpit, has morphed into a stick of berries. The maidenhair ferns are fading along with the shade of the forest as the trees shed their leafy coats. I took myself for a long walk, and as the acorns fell, I began to wonder… why do things always have to change? 

Long gone are those lazy hazy summer days. Instead, my hoomans scurry from one important thing to the next. The house is often empty and quiet. Even the frogs in the creek seemed to have hopped off to somewhere unknown. The nights are arriving earlier and the screen door is now locked. I feel like the world decided to change without even asking if I was ready or not.

I guess that is the funny thing about change – it happens whether you are ready or not. Even if you know change is coming…it can still somehow surprise you. I knew summer would end one day, but now that it is gone, I wish I would have savored it just a little longer. I miss those warm afternoons splashing in the cool creek and shaking my wet coat all over my hooman to make her yelp in surprise. I am not sure I like change, but there is really nothing I can do about it. I just have to accept it and cherish the memories. 

So friends, as we head into a new season, if you find yourself racing around like my hoomans – I suggest you change your pace. I know there are places to go, lunches to pack, and paperwork to complete. But do yourself a favor and sloooow it down. Savor the season and time with each other, because one thing is for certain – we will never have this time again.

Bark at you next week!

Your friend, 

P.S. Be sure to follow me on all the socials like Facebook and Instagram and I’ll see ya on the internets. 😉

Well friends…while I may be the world famous canine explorer, this week I learned there are some adventures we have to go on alone. My Grandma (Gram) passed over the rainbow bridge this week. I spent many long days waiting for my hoomans to return – they were constantly running here and there spinning in a state of chaos. A lot of other hoomans were coming in and out, bringing food and giving me extra pets. Family I havent seen in a while were pulling into my driveway at all hours of the night.

My hooman explained to me, that even though we were all overjoyed that Gram got to walk across the rainbow bridge – we all have to stay behind. We won’t see her again until it is our turn to go over. Then I realized…I lost my number one fan! My whole world felt upside down. I didn’t know what to do – I just wanted to snuggle and sleep. 

See, Gram had a way of making me feel like the most important canine in the whole wide world. EVERYTHING I did was AMAZING! I could never do anything wrong in the eyes of my Gram. If I accidentally ate a cookie off the coffee table, Gram would say hoomans shouldn’t leave food where I could get to it. If I destroyed a stuffy toy and left stuffing everywhere – she would tell me how smart I was at getting the squeaky out. If I was too hyper – Gram would tell the hoomans to take me for more walks. If I’d shake my furry coat in the house – she would tell hoomans to brush me more. And my all time favorite…Gram would let me get on the couch! She once told my hooman that if I get my hair on the couch – they should just use a vacuum to clean it up. But now…she is gone. So who is going to be on MY side? 

I am a bit worried she will not be here to remind my hoomans of how amazing and smart I am. To let me on the couch or forgive me unconditionally when a cookie accidentally falls into my mouth. My hooman spent many many hours in deep conversations with Gram about how to care for things, cook things, raise the other pups, fix things, and solve problems big and small. Since Gram was my hooman’s trainer, she taught her to be patient and “wait”, to look at things from others point of view, and to not take things too seriously. 

Gram was always laughing about something and I think she may have had some secret powers too! She could make the whole house happier just by walking into a room. I could be feeling great and Gram would give me a little scratch behind the ears and I felt even BETTER! Now we are all going to have to figure all this life stuff out without her and that feels scary. Even though there are all kinds of hoomans around – I can’t help but feel a bit lonely. The world feels different without Gram in it.  

So friends, as we head into another week…remember some of us are headed into the unknown. Losing loved ones is an adventure we all must travel (whether we like it our not). All I can say is be as brave as you can and take care of each other. We are all going over the rainbow bridge someday, but until it is our turn…love each other fiercely and remember what my Gram always said…”this too shall pass – it will all work out – just wait and see”. 

I will miss you forever Gram! Until we meet again…

Bark at you next week.

Your friend, 

Well friends, I am not sure what time it is in your neck of the woods, but here in Michigan it is the last week of summer vacation! As we wave goodbye to our good friend summer, take a minute to soak it all in and relive those summer memories. I put together a look back at my favorite Canine Explorer moments that I enjoyed sharing with you. Click on the photo to relive the adventure!

I had a great time sharing my summer canine adventures with you. If you missed any other adventures – no worries! You can check them out by scrolling through my home page.

So friends, as we move into the last week of summer, be sure to take some time and reflect on the great memories you made. As my pal Ryan says…these are the good old days! Leave me a comment of your favorite summer memory.

Thanks for being on this journey we me. I look forward to starting another season of adventures with you.

Bark at you next week!

Your friend,

P.S. I on social as HikingJack.IG! Follow me on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with what else I am doing throughout the week! 🐾

The hot, humid temps of mid-August have created the perfect conditions for hopper hunting! My hooman is my guide as she points to places where the feisty frogs are hiding – then I LEAP into action! I’d like to think I am pretty good at hopper hunting…only the scoreboard is not in my favor. Kermit 10 – Jack Jack ZERO. 

It seems every time I get close to catching one of those cagey croakers, they somehow escape my grasp. Part of the problem is their disguise. I just don’t SEE them. Sometimes my hooman will be pointing and earnestly shouting “Hopper! Hopper! Hopper!”. Only I have no idea what she is pointing at. Unless those pesky polliwogs are on the move – my senses are paralyzed. On the rare occasion when I actually do see one, I panic and over attack. Pouncing and splashing all over the place. When I stop to investigate if my attempt was successful – the slippery sucker is gone. Blasted! Hopper hunting is hard!

Once, my brudder-hooman was home for a visit and I watched him as he snuck up on the hooper and scooped him up in his paw! He even showed him to me so I could get an up close sniff. But when he put his paw in the water – the frogger had escaped! Disappeared in the creek – never to be seen again. I was AMAZED at the talent of both of them. My brudder, slow and stealthy. The frogger quick and quiet. 

I am not stealthy or quiet. I am LOUD and prefer to make an entrance. I mean, why just wander into a room when you can ARRIVE. Am I right? Unfortunately, my talents do not fit into the skill set required to be a successful frog hunter. Below are some picture of frogs in my creek that I have yet to catch.

As much as I would love to be able to successfully catch frogs, I just dont think it is in my wheelhouse. I mean, we all know I am a world famous canine explorer. I can’t be good at EVERYTHING. When it comes to frog hunting, I have accepted the best role for me is one of an observer. Sure I will participate – but I know there are others that are far more talented than me who can capture those agile amphibians. 

Now don’t get me wrong – I will not stop hopper hunting. The thrill of the hunt, (although not ever successful) is just enough to keep me jumping. Just because I am not great at it doesn’t mean I should give up soemthing I enjoy. Plus I like to think the hoppers are having fun too!

So friends, as we go into another week, know it is ok to NOT be good at everything. We all have special gifts and talents. It’s what makes us extra special. Meanwhile, I will keep working on refining my hopper hunting skills. Maybe I can catch a slow one. 😉🐸

Bark at you next week! 

Your friend,  

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My Top 5 Picks

August in my woods is HOT and STEAMY! It is also the month some of my favorite flowers turn into berries. I love watching the wildflowers become berries for my woodland friends to snack on. Remember to leave the berries for the critters. If you need a snack, stick to ones provided by your hoomans (just to make sure you to stay safe and healthy). 😉

Many of the wildflowers I am sharing this month are taller than me – but I am sticking to my “dog nose sizing scale” that will help put in perspective the size of the flower. Wildflowers come in many shapes and sizes. A few of the flowers I shared in the July wildflower posts are still around – so keep hunting!

Wildflower Size Scale:

Flower size

• Small dog nose (like a dime or smaller)
• Medium dog (like my nose the size of a quarter)
• Large dog (larger than a quarter)

Plant height

• At the paw (ground level 1-2 inches)
• My dewclaw (3-4 inches off ground)
• My dogleg (6 inches or more)

#1 Cardinal Flower (red)

Height: taller than me (but range 1-4 ft)

Flower size: medium dog nose (like mine)

When I seed cardinal flower in the woods, I jump for JOY! This very tall bright flower usually it grows straight up. Mine in this pic is a bit crooked cuz I think it was pushed by recent downpouring rain – but no worries! Look for bright red fan-shaped flowers. You can’t miss them!

#2 Touch-me-not or Jewelweed (orange)

Height: taller than me (at least 3 ft)

Flowersize: medium dog nose (like mine)

OK. So these “touch-me-nots” (also called jewelweed) are serious about thier name. If you touch them – they will fall off thier thin stems. So fair warning – do not touch! As you can see from the pic I am in… I ran around this plant and knocked all the flowers off except for one at the tippy top. Usually these look like a brightly colored bush of orange flowers with red flecks (like jewels). Their cool shape make an interesting stop for butterflies and humming birds to get a treat. My hooman sometime crushes the leaves and rubs it on her skin if she gets pricked by nettles. Native Americans have used the touch-me-not sap as a medicine to aid with anti-itch releif. I just use my hind leg to scratch an itch but it is up to you.

#3 Pokeweed (white)

Height: taller than me (at least 3 ft)

Flower size: small dog nose

Holy tallness! This plant is tall and feels like a small tree and grows FAST. One day they just sprung up in the sandy lot in my woods and they are over 5 feet tall. Not sure why they are called Pokeweeds. They are not sharpe at all, but rather have really intersting green and white flowers. They look like teeny green tomotoes with a white ruffle and will one day soon be dark purple berries.

#4 Woodland Sunflower (yellow)

Height: dogleg or taller

Flower size: larger thand a large dog nose

Woodland sunflowers are easy to spot. They look like a bright yellow daisy and grown in partial sunlight. They are also called the “Jerusalem Artichoke” but I am not sure why – since the only edible part for hoomans is the rootes. Birds love them tho cuz thier seeds are apparently delicious (if you are a bird). I am a dog, so I don’t typically eat flowers.

#5 Nightshade (purple flowers/bright red berries)

Height: my dogleg or higher – climbing vine

Flower size: medium dog nose

Ta-Da! I know I featured this flower last month but had to share with you the bright berries! This is one of my favorites – also called bittersweet. The purple flowers are now turning into green then red berries. It climbs like a vine on sapling trees and twigs at the waters edge. Never eat berries unless you know if they are safe.

So there you have it friends, 5 more wildflowers to hunt for this month. While the dog days of summer are slipping away – never fear! There is still more summer to be had and more wildflowers to find. I hope you enjoy this August special edition of my Canine Adventures. Leave me a comment or send me a pic of what you are discovering in your neck of the woods and don’t forget to share my adventures with your friends!

Bark at you next week!

Your freind, 

P.S. If you are feeling social – scan my QR codes below and follow me on Facebook or Instagram!

Moving on – moving out – moving up. All terms hoomans use for going places. My canine adventure is a day late this week because my hoomans have been on the move. A lot of stuff has been coming and going in and out of my house. The hoomans have been busy moving the Grands into “assisted” living. The only thing not moving these days is me! 

I am not sure why some hoomans make assisted living sound like it is not a great thing. I am here to tell you – being assisted is the only way to go. My assistance includes all my meals and treats (twice a day and don’t forget the snacks – thanks). My flea meds, vet appointments, nail care, and transportation all rely upon my hoomans. Hoomans open and close doors for me and even towel off my paws after a swim in the creek. 

I am not sure why hoomans think that being independent is somehow better. These past few weeks I have had to be more independent and I got to be honest – it’s not all that great. I’ve had to entertain myself, walk myself, and most days even cuddle down in the blankets by myself. I have learned that being too independent can be lonely.

I think we’ve been conditioned to believe it’s important to do things on our own. That somehow doing things yourself is better than asking for help. The truth is, we all need to be assisted in one way or another. We need each other to socialize, share treats, show-off tricks, and get belly rubs. It not only is important for our brains but sometimes things are next to impossible to do alone. How am I supposed to rub my own belly? 

We also need to provide assistance. Helping each other feels so good! I remember one day last winter when my hooman was hiking in the snow. She dropped her glove on a steep part of the path and she could not reach it. She called me over and asked me to retrieve it for her. Naturally, I helped (and having four paws made this an easy task). She was SO GRATEFUL! She cuddled and kissed me. She told me I was good and brave. I will never forget how great it felt to feel so needed.

So friends, as we go into a new week, if you find yourself needing some extra help do not be too “independent” to ask. Let someone who loves you lift a paw on your behalf. Remember, being assisted is a two-way street. Nothing feels better than helping out a friend in need.

Bark at you next week!

Your friend,

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Well friends – this week I’d like to chat with you about discipline. Being the world’s bravest canine explorer, I feel like I need to test the limits from time to time. Wander off the beaten path and all. However, even world famous explorers need to follow rules. The trick is to know what rules to bend and what rules to break (without too much fallout). 

Now that I am 28 (or 4 in hooman years), I have learned a few tricks on how to stay disciplined and live my best dog life. I hope sharing them with you can help you lead your best life too. Fair warning – it is not easy and it takes a lot of practice!

Lesson 1: Compromise

When trying to stay disciplined – don’t forget to compromise. Take my hoomom’s flower garden for example. I am NOT under NO CIRCUMSTANCES allowed in the flower garden. So whenever I get even close to that lucious landscape – I am told to GET OUT! Buuut…if I keep my toes on the sidewalk and give my hoomom a smile, she just might allow me to wander in for a quick drink out of the bird bath. As long as I don’t sniff around and attempt to water the flowers (you know what I mean). So the lesson here is to use your canine cuteness to bend the rules as far as you can to get what you want. Also, compromise watering the garden with just a quick trip through the tulips for a drink instead. 

Lesson 2: Look away

Cookies seem to be my biggest nemesis when it comes to being disciplined. When the hoomans leave cookies on the coffee table, it takes all the discipline I can muster to not gobble them down and act like the cat ate them (and we don’t even have a cat). So in order to combat this temptation, I look away. I don’t even tempt my taste buds by sniffing in that delicious direction. Sometimes if I find I can not follow the rules – I remove myself from the situation all together. If you have a cookie eating problem, I suggest trying this technique! 

Lesson 3: Go for it

Realize some rules are made to be broken – like getting on the furniture. If you are not allowed on the furniture, I suggest putting your nose close to your hooman and making small noises to get their attention. If that does not work – you might have to break the rule all together and just jump on the couch. Sometimes this technique works. It just depends on how tired your hooman is that day. I suggest gauging your hooman’s mood and if they seem to be in a somewhat happy mood – go for it. Chances are you will get away with a nice nap in a cozy spot.

Lesson 4: Who cares?

The absolute most difficult thing to do – is to be disciplined when nobody is watching. Sure I could water the garden when my hoomom isn’t home, but I know that would be wrong. Plus she somehow knows when I have been in there and that makes her very upset. When breaking rules upsets the people you love – you know you have to stay disciplined. Knowing what is important and what can be overlooked will help guide you in the rule breaking. Always ask yourself who will really care? If it is someone you love – you should probably follow the rules as much as possible (furniture does not apply here). 

Lesson 5: Forgive yourself

Doing the right thing just because it is the right thing to do is hard. I know I will not always be able to look away from cookies on the coffee table. So when I slip up, I try to forgive myself. Not too many canines can look away from a delicious treat – especially one at eye level! It is important to know that mistakes will happen and then give myself some grace when it does.

So friends, as we go into a new week try and stay disciplined. In the end, as long as we try to follow the rules, compromise when necessary, not hurt the ones we love, and give ourselves a break when we slip up – that’s about the best we can expect. Keep trying to do the right thing and don’t ever give up! 

I’ll bark with you next week!

Your friend,

My Top 5 Picks

Welcome to the dog days of summer! This month is a great time to get out exploring. Wildflowers are big and bold this time of year. Just like fireworks in the night sky – my woods are exploding with July colors.

Many of the flowers I shared in the JUNE Wildflowers post are still blooming – but here are five more of my top picks to add to your wildflower seeking adventures. I hope the dog nose sizing scale helps you put into perspective what to look for – wildflowers are all shapes and sizes. 

Wildflower Size Scale:

Flower size

• Small dog nose (like a dime or smaller)
• Medium dog (like my nose the size of a quarter)
• Large dog (larger than a quarter)

Plant height

• At the paw (ground level 1-2 inches)
• My dewclaw (3-4 inches off ground)
• My dogleg (6 inches or more)

#1 Michigan Lily (orange)

Height: higher than my dogleg

Flower size: bigger than a large dog nose

This is the biggest wildflower I have EVER found – almost as big as my ear! It is bright orange with dark brown spots and is native to my Michigan woods. Its big blooms bow down and if you touch them – they will reward you with their orangey pollen all over your coat. They must be tasty too since my deer friends love them, but I don’t recommend eating them (remember wildflowers are not food). 

#2 Indian Pipe or Ghost Plant (white)

Height: my dewclaw

Flowersize: small dog nose (or smaller)

As you can see, these wildflowers resemble a pipe sticking out of the ground, but when the sun shines on them they appear to glow and are transparent – like a ghost! This plant does not require sunlight to produce food – so it can grow in dark places like the forest floor. They are also often mistaken for a fungus because it does not have any green leaves.

#3 Self-heal (purple)

Height: my dewclaw

Flower size: medium dog nose

The plant is about 6 inches tall and grows on the side of my hill and the best part…you can eat them! Hoomans put the stems and young leaves in salads but I don’t eat salads so I am not sure how they taste. I don’t think hoomans should eat them though unless they research them. Don’t take my word for it. I am just a dog. 

#3 Philadelphia Fleabane (pink and white)

Height: dogleg or taller

Flower size: medium dog nose

Don’t worry – you will not get fleas from this flower! It’s as innocent as a daisy and looks like one too. The petals are thin like little threads and are very light pink or white. The flower closes at night – so they always look like they are budding in the early morning. In my woods they grow close to the water in the sandy gravelly soil.   

#4 Nightshade  (purple)

Height: my dogleg or higher – climbing vine

Flower size: medium dog nose

This is one of my favorites – also called bittersweet. The purple flowers turn into red berries by mid-summer. It climbs like a vine on sapling trees and twigs at the waters edge. In the fall the flowers turn into bright red berries. Never eat berries unless you know if they are safe. I do not suggest eating these berries – their name “bittersweet” suggests they would taste aweful! 

#5 Monkeyflower (purple)

Height: my dogleg (or taller)

Flower: large dog nose

These are funny flowers and remind me of snapdragons in my hooman’s garden. If you squeeze the blooms together – they are supposed to look like a smiling monkey. I dunno tho – just looks like a pretty flower to me! I found these growing TALL along the waters edge.

Well, there you have it friends, five more flowers to hunt for this month. I hope you enjoy this July special edition of my Canine Adventures. Leave me a comment or send me a pic of what you are discovering on your own outdoor adventures. Now get out there and smell the flowers!

Bark at you next week – your friend, 

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I never really cared for the command “leave it”. It never fails. It seems whenever I catch a whiff of a deer sneaking around my woods, and I take off to investigate…I hear my hooman off in the distance shouting “LEAVE IT”. Even if I am hot on that whitetail trail, I do my best to be a good boy, and return to my hooman’s side. My hooman is usually overjoyed when I leave my woodland friends alone. She claps and smiles and rubs my ears. Often repeating how good I am! So, “leaving it” does pay-off.

Sometimes tho, I don’t want to leave it. Sometimes I pretend NOT to hear my hooman. Like when I find a fresh salmon skin on the side of the creek. My racoon bandits are often generous and leave me some of their tasty leftovers. My hooman does not like it when I eat these delicious snacks and usually loudly repeats the command “leave it – leave it – leave it” as she trys to pry my teeth open while I am desperately trying to swallow my fishy treats. 

The times when I don’t “leave it” – my situation usually ends badly. I have chased deer in the wrong direction and gotten lost. I have eaten old fish that didn’t agree with me and gotten sick. I have even chased woodland friends up trees and barked and barked so they would come down – only to be ignored.

Leaving it is hard to do. Sometimes leaving “it” can be a feeling. Once I was too close to the road and a truck blew his horn at me. Scared me so bad I just started running! My hooman had to call me back so I could find my way home. I still think about that truck and when I do – I can feel that scared feeling creep back like it is happening all over again. I know I should “leave it” and stop thinking about it – but sometimes I just can’t. Upset feelings and problems are much harder to leave than tasty treats or woodland friends. Sometimes they haunt me in my sleep and I twitch in my dreams.

To get my mind off it, I usually bark out to my buddy Nixin and meet him at the no-dog-dog-park (the NDDP). This is the park that is supposed to be for dogs but no dogs are ever there when I go – thus the NDDP. Nix knows what I mean, and how important it is to just run free for awhile. It’s important to have a friend to help you “leave it” when times get tough. 

So friends, if you find yourself twitching in your dreams or chasing something in the wrong direction – take my advice and “leave it”. Stop all that you are doing and return yourself to those who love you most or spend some time with a good friend. Leave your troubles at the gate – even if only a moment.  

Bark with you next week – your friend,

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