tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:53:28 +0000Frequent posting of pictures and information about the natural world at the Bamberger Ranch Preserve.http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)Blogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-3926607188947557964Sun, 20 Dec 2009 09:38:00 +00002009-12-21T19:10:28.523-06:00David has asked to me let everyone know that there’ll be no blog post this week, but he will be providing a recap of 2009 before the year’s out. In the meantime, he wishes everyone the very best of this holiday season. Have good ones, folks.http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/12/no-post-this-week-but-seasons-greeting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris W. Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-7049079862967227010Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:59:00 +00002009-12-14T03:22:24.126-06:00CancerMargaret BambergerIt’s now nine months since Selah lost the presence and spirit of Margaret. After chasing hope across America for nearly five years the cancer finally won the battle . . . I remember quite well those years. There were periods of time between various treatments that life was relatively good. There was hope. Margaret never gave up hope. She never complained. The telephone and her computer werehttp://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/12/remembering-margaret.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-6635659365553896605Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:59:00 +00002009-12-07T02:32:37.896-06:00This story begins in 1973. My neighbor, Alice Sergeant, owned 400 acres next to me. We had to drive through her ranch to get to ours. The road was really, not much of a road. In some respects it was hazardous. Add to that it was strewn with all kinds of junk from dead wrecked cars to washing machines, refrigerators and stoves and a lot more junk as you will see.Photograph taken by J. http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-neighbors-place.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-593212677092336973Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:59:00 +00002009-11-30T01:51:54.495-06:00Hes' Country StoreInstitution – A significant practice, relationship or organization in a society or culture. That’s Webster’s dictionary definition, but I’ve always thought that to be an institution it had to have been around for a long time and perhaps be identified by a building, such as a university or bank, or even a long established restaurant. When I built Hes’ Country Store in 1980, I never thought it http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/11/institution.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-3598557424447338801Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:01:00 +00002009-11-24T14:56:08.842-06:00VolunteerVolunteer – A person who undertakes some task of service of his own free will . . . to offer oneself willingly.To me, this Webster Dictionary definition doesn’t go far enough to define a volunteer. It doesn’t mention they work without financial reward, nor the fact that personal expense usually is involved, and that time for family is given up. It doesn’t describe the person’s qualities, their http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/11/volunteers-selahs-invaluable-asset.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-5805576218293300553Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:15:00 +00002009-11-15T18:27:53.748-06:00Judy ConferObservatoryKerby ConferFour hundred years ago Galileo, for the first time ever, looked at the sky through a telescope. Now in 2009 the world is celebrating the International Year of Astronomy. Here at Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, we too are celebrating the opening of our own observatory looking at the night sky with an instrument so much more powerful than Galileo could ever have imagined.Pictured are long time http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/11/observatory.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-7435854703870326957Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:44:00 +00002009-11-13T15:05:32.641-06:00Leroy PetriaquiferwaterspringsThe story of the restoration of Selah, Bamberger Ranch is a story about the most pressing issue facing Texans as well as the world - WATER!Forty years ago I was fortunate to have met and hired Leroy Petri to help me. He was born here in the Hill Country where his German father taught him how to do just about everything necessary on a ranch. Little did I know at the time about the geology of the http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/11/water-workshop-how-to-have-water.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-3683780913712808656Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:59:00 +00002009-11-02T02:02:48.970-06:00People RanchingIt was in the mid1990’s that we really got big into People Ranching. I can assure you that ranching people requires more preparation and more planning than traditional cattle ranching.As the economics of cattle ranching began to fade away and with generation changes and so did attitudes and interest in the environment, in conservation and in endangered species issues change, I found that the http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/10/people-ranching-continues.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-3956700349030810033Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:05:00 +00002009-10-26T00:11:54.961-05:00People RanchingIn 2003 Margaret and I learned that the failure rate in Science on the mandated tests by students in Title One Schools was nearly 100%. A Title One School is one where families are so poor that the students received free breakfast and free lunch. . . . There has been a lot written and researched on the problem. One well written book is Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. He calls the http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/10/people-ranching-education.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-2645571268338342548Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:17:00 +00002009-10-18T18:22:34.494-05:00grassesAnn RichardsPeople RanchingIt was in the early 1990’s while a member of Governor Richards’ task force on nature tourism that someone first spoke the words “People Ranching.” So it’s really not original with me, but we are the ones who have popularized it. Think about this ~ in early history, ranching meant raising cattle, sheep or goats. After World War II hunting was added to what ranchers did to help support http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/10/people-ranching.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-6505163665981717114Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:11:00 +00002009-10-11T21:49:04.499-05:00Big-tooth maplesPecanBald cypressLacey OakSpanish oakdroughtLive OakBur oakWalnutSeptember brought some relief from the all time record hundred plus degree days and we finally received some good rain - 6.15 inches. Every bit of which soaked into the ground. This was very good for the range grasses. It always amazes me how grasses can respond so quickly. All the pastures were brown and with no growth at all, yet in four days everything was green again. Wildflowers were http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/10/drought-continues.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-6837726767515645386Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:05:00 +00002009-10-04T22:07:15.764-05:00tree chipperChain SawBulldozerAfter 40 years and nearly every tour or workshop held here on the ranch, I’m asked the question: “Is there any piece of equipment or practice that you would do differently?” My answer is always, “YES – except for chain saws (we’ve worn out 40), shop tools and an occasional new truck or stock trailer, all the big stuff was bought used for pennies on the dollar.” I believe the best buy was a D6 http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/10/recycle-and-reuse-another-form-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-8024942460202364450Sun, 27 Sep 2009 08:25:00 +00002009-09-27T15:33:40.964-05:00Texas Wildlifeby David Baxter.The following article was published in this September's issue of Texas Wildlife Association magazine. I know that very few of you who read my blog will receive this magazine, so I would like to share the article with you. I visited my brother in Oklahoma this week, so in using this article it gives me more time to prepare next week's posting!—J. David©2009 Texas Wildlife. http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/09/selah-bamberger-ranch-preserve.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-159152150770742266Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:01:00 +00002009-09-20T22:19:30.677-05:00ZexmeniaAgaritaCoryExclosureHackberry TreeShepherd's PurseSteven FultonSeep MuhlyTexas WintgergrassVetchLew HunnicuttMargaret BambergerGreenbriarScott GroteK.R. BluestemExclosure – (ex-clo’-sure) n. – an area protected by various devices against the entrance of animals and insect pests – from Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary.Photograph taken by Lew Hunnicutt.In February of 2000 Dr. Lew Hunnicutt, who was then in charge of Stewardship, Education and Research for us, set into motion on Selah a research project quite ambitious for a small staff and http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/09/exclosure.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-6176951611320650759Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:40:00 +00002009-09-06T22:49:36.747-05:00To all of you who have followed my blog and new viewers alike,The shingles have brought me excruciating pain. The drugs to control the pain have not only kept me from work or enjoyment of the ranch and friends, but have kept me stoned all day! Six weeks of this is enough. After six weeks, it seems to be easing up.The content of this week’s blog was written to our Board of Directors in 2003. Ihttp://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-vision-for-selah-bamberger-ranch.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-5491295974330288545Mon, 31 Aug 2009 03:37:00 +00002009-08-30T22:43:10.962-05:00CancerMargaret BambergerKivaKIVA (KEE-vah) “In a Pueblo Indian dwelling, a large room used for religious and other purposes” from Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary.“A Pueblo Indian ceremonial structure that is usually round and partly underground” from Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary.“The underground ceremonial chamber of the Hopi and other Pueblo peoples. Used for ritual, ceremonial and sometimes social http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/08/kiva.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-2948229582638389297Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:00:00 +00002009-08-25T19:27:19.804-05:00ShinglesJ. David at work writing the blog. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.The Gallery is one of my favorite places in the house. I like to read and write there as it gives me a panoramic view of the ranch. It’s a good thinking spot. A gallery definition is a room that opens into every room in the house. Ours has sliding glass windows on three sides and is 90 foot long. Guests are usually there http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/08/whats-happening-on-ranch.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-8685652578752789116Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:23:00 +00002009-08-16T22:28:58.472-05:00PhilosophyI believe that everything starts from a philosophy, but it seems to me that so much of our life is gone before we have, as an individual, developed a philosophy. Just what is a personal philosophy? Is it some course taken in a college classroom or some path we chose to achieve financial success or public acclaim? Did your parents or someone you admire lead you to it? Surely, a baptism as an http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/08/whats-it-all-about.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-236027677781766364Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:59:00 +00002009-08-10T02:04:32.307-05:00America SycamoreCrape MyrtleTexas PersimmonBirchThe July 26 posting led to a number of contributions I thought I’d share with you. I was aware of other species that acted like a chameleon but because of my love affair with the Madrone, I just restricted my thoughts to it. Persimmon (Diospyros texana). Phototgraph taken by Scott Gardner.Scott Gardner sent this specimen of the Persimmon (Diospyros texana) from the Browning Ranch three miles http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/08/something-ive-pondered-revisited.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-5359957915803118821Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:59:00 +00002009-08-03T03:31:47.984-05:00Big tooth MapleWafer AshBald cypressSpanish oakdroughtMath CampFigEscarpment Black CherryBefore you begin this post, you may want to look at my postings of June 7 and June 14th concerning the drought.Water transfer. Phototgraph taken by J. David.The seriousness of this drought cannot be overstated. Four households on the ranch now depend on a spring that is now producing slightly less than a gallon per minute. At best, that’s 1,440 gallons or 360 gallons per household per day. We http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/08/drought-continues.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-3219310580696490191Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:59:00 +00002009-07-27T00:55:20.396-05:00Texas MadroneWhy do some trees exhibit thin exfoliating bark while most trees have durable, rigid, fissured bark?Texas Madrone (Arbutus xalapensis).For me it was a discovery, my first ever look at this beautiful red bark tree. The bark so smooth to touch, the leaves a deep green. I learned that it’s evergreen, it flowers and it fruits and sheds it bark twice a year. In 1972 the TOES, the Texas Organizationhttp://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/07/something-ive-pondered.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-8557032026345142746Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:31:00 +00002009-07-19T23:08:49.198-05:00Hes' Country StoreIf you have been on a tour here or read Water From Stone, you know about HES’ COUNTRY STORE. Originally built in 1980 to house “stuff” I inherited from my mother and since the ranch needed income. I thought this “stuff” would create an atmosphere that would spark interest in families who would rent it for a few days.Photograph taken by J. David.My mother’s name was HESTER, but everyone called http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/07/conservation-of-another-sort-hes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-6553899281351212928Mon, 13 Jul 2009 04:59:00 +00002009-07-13T01:38:04.342-05:00Rachel CarsonGabionSilent SpringLouis BromfieldJane GoodallFerdinand LindheimerLew HunnicuttA Sand County AlmanacEarl CarsAldo LeopoldPleasant ValleyGabion – n. (ga’-bi-on)- a cylinder of wicker filled with earth or stones, formerly used in building fortifications. Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary.Every ranch in Texas, every ranchette, every lot in the Hill Country each has a lot of uwanted stones and rocks and, sometimes, old fences or leftover fencing materials that can be used for your ranch name, house number, directions, andhttp://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/07/gabion.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-4864735433975469965Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:59:00 +00002009-07-05T22:03:46.040-05:00ChiroptoriumChiropteraThis may be an old story to those more familiar with all we have to show here on the ranch. ~ Forgive me please if this is the case.I served nine years on the Board of BCI – that’s Bat Conservation International – headquartered in Austin, Texas. My biggest contribution to that wonderful organization was working with the extended family some whom owned Bracken Cave and all of whom owned all the http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/06/bambergers-folly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1881464072874383686.post-620291130991196454Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:55:00 +00002009-06-30T16:24:15.287-05:00Texas Snowbell(Stryx Platanifolious var. Texanus)I’ve talked about our response to the drought here on Selah in my blog of June 7, 2009, but the drought is not just here in Blanco County. It covers many other areas of Texas and the Southwest. Particularly hard hit are the counties of Real, Edwards, Uvalde and Kinney in the Nueces River watershed and Val Verde County in the Devils River watershed. These http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/06/more-adventures-with-texas-snowbell.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (J David Bamberger)0