Bamberger Ranch Journal

Grasses, Politics and Education

2011-05-13T11:39:00.014-05:00

Our current State Legislature is considering a bill to allow ranchers to retain their agricultural exemption if they maintain a healthy grass cover on their rangeland. Why would this be good for the people? It’s really quite simple. Range grasses prevent runoff of precious soil. They allow rainfall to percolate into the earth refilling our underground aquifers. Grasses

Passion

2011-02-27T03:28:00.001-06:00

This week I visited an old friend in a rehabilitation hospital in San Antonio. My friend had been in intensive care for the last 4 ½ months. He underwent seven operations in a series of events that began with a check in at the hospital for pneumonia. My friend is 86 years old. I cannot begin to tell you how all of this built up, but one of the seven operations resulted in my friend losing his

Video of the J.J. Pickle School Visit

2011-02-07T14:09:00.004-06:00

As a follow-up to David’s posting this Sunday, readers might be interested to know that Colleen Gardner, Executive Director of the Ranch, created the following video of the J.J. Pickle school visit. Have a look.

Passion, Reverence, Venerate

2011-02-06T23:59:00.006-06:00

From Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary:Passion – extreme, compelling emotion, intense emotional drive or excitement; specifically a) enthusiasm or fondness; b) strong love or affectionReverence – a feeling or attitude of deep respect, love, awe and esteemVenerate – to look upon with deep respect and reverence. Synonyms – honor, respect, adore, reverence“Three Little Words” though not

What Are We Celebrating and Why?

2010-12-24T18:53:00.006-06:00

Pictured left to right: Scott Grote, Ranch Operations Manager; Colleen Gardner, Executive Director; Francisco Coronilla, Ranch Hand; Steven Fulton, Ranch Biologist; J. David, Founder; Lois Sturm, Adminstrative Assistant; and our dog Cory.Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.I’m not talking about Christmas, but rather about this place called Selah. Fifty-five hundred acres of the Texas Hill

Conservationists All – “We the People”

2010-11-14T23:59:00.003-06:00

As a nation we should not expect nor depend on our government to be occupied with conservation. There is just too much going on in the world for that. We should, however, expect our elected officials to provide leadership, education and incentives in regard to conservation issues and then “we the people” can go about accomplishing the work. It is only through the voluntary efforts of “we the

Bamberger’s Folly – Huh?

2010-10-10T23:59:00.015-05:00

I’ve forgotten just when this happened, but it’s all true…When our bat cave was about finished, we held a big event at the site. We invited every bat scientist we knew of as well as TV, radio and newspaper writers. They came in droves. This event was in 1998. It was the first time the word “chiroptorium” was ever used; it being authored by my son, David K. Bamberger, and my wife, Margaret C.

Water Scenes - Compare and Contrast

2010-09-27T12:42:00.006-05:00

Readers of this blog might find an interesting contrast to the photos in David’s post from last week in the photos I’ve posted on my own blog. They’re panoramas shot at two of the same places pictured in David’s post, but during 2007 – the previous “wet year.” (Acutally, if memory serves, that winter and spring was wet but things dried out progressively after that.) They all show significant

Tropical Storm Hermine

2010-09-24T01:50:00.000-05:00

Here at Selah, the eastern edge of the Hill Country, tropical storms normally don’t bring us rain. Hermine, however, was a different story and it spent two days—September 7th and 8th—over us dropping ten and one half inches on these limestone hills. Selah is at the very top of a divide, the very highest point. We are downstream from no one. On the west, a big part of the watershed goes to the

Like ’Em or Not – Lichens

2010-08-29T23:59:00.002-05:00

This blog post has been on my mind for many months. Not that I studied it all that time, but mostly because it scared me! Not being a scientist I don’t speak genus and species, and really don’t know much about plants, etc. except the beauty and miracles I enjoy from them. So I asked Steven Fulton, our biologist, for help. “Steven, I want to do a blog on lichens and I need your help.” He

Acquaintances Become Friends

2010-08-08T23:59:00.000-05:00

Friend – “a person whom one knows well and is fond of; intimate associate; close acquaintance; applied loosely to any associate or acquaintance, or as a term of address even to a stranger” from Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary.In Water From Stone, I’m quoted as saying that I know a lot of people, but I have few friends. However events in my life the past few years have lead me to questions my

Apple Pie and 4th of July

2010-07-25T23:59:00.001-05:00

Oh how I remember those July 4th celebrations of the 1930’s and 40’s! I played trumpet in the marching band. As we played and paraded through that little village, there were American flags hanging everywhere, front porches were decorated with red, white and blue bunting, farmers came to our little town to witness the parade and the mayor, school superintendent or some official spoke to the

Aeroecology – The Next Frontier

2010-07-09T23:30:00.003-05:00

I’d make a bet that you who follow my blog have never seen this word. Neither had I, so I looked in my trusty Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary and wasn’t at all surprised that it wasn’t there! What was there was a number of words that will give you a clue – such as aerodynetics, “a branch of aviation that has to do with gliding” or aerodynamics “relating to the force of air in motion.”Now – I’ll

Building an Institution

2010-06-21T17:06:00.001-05:00

Institution as defined in Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary – “an organization having a social, educational or religious purpose, as a school, church, hospital, etc.”In modern day practice we think of an institution as some thing that’s been around a long time, such as a university, a museum, or perhaps even a restaurant. An institution also has to be recognized as delivering a dependable product

“This is Ranchin”

2010-06-06T23:59:00.001-05:00

Most old time ranches had horses, cattle, sheep and sometimes goats. Anything to generate income. Of course, too much livestock on the land had a lot to do with the problems we’re experiencing today. Overstocked land made conditions just right for woody species to take over from grass. It made conditions just right for soil erosion and these conditions caused our water sources to produce just

Drought?

2010-05-23T22:37:00.002-05:00

This past winter Mother Nature was very good to us. Lots of slow soaking rains that replenished our “perched aquifer” along with winter weather - cold weather that we haven’t enjoyed for years and even snow. My fireplace consumed three cords of wood! It was so nice that many nights I woke up at 2 a.m. still sitting there. . . . Snowfall on Selah.Photograph taken by J. David.It was a good

Fun Raiser or Fund Raiser?

2010-05-09T23:59:00.001-05:00

Any way you look at it our Family Picnic on Sunday, May the 2nd, was just wonderful! This was our fifth year holding the picnic. It began when I asked our Board of Directors to come up with something really worthwhile and different that would not only help us raise money, but would also bring the ranch to the attention of more people. Thanks to the creative thinking of Board member Anne

Cedar Rebuttal

2010-04-25T23:59:00.018-05:00

Recently many conservation oriented people received a press release by a Texas A&M University researcher that alarmed and confused them in regard to the management of cedar on their property. I can understand why as the release that came to me was very poorly written, left out important information needed to make land management decisions and, in my opinion, was very misleading. I did later,

“No One Does it Alone” – Part III

2010-04-11T23:20:00.009-05:00

What human characteristic is it that drives one to hold on to power? We witness this so frequently in third world countries when leaders and dictators refuse to step down when someone is duly elected to replace them. We see it frequently in our corporations when CEO’s outlive their usefulness and many times this is detrimental to the stockholders. I can attest that it is detrimental to many in

“No One Does it Alone” – Part II

2010-03-28T18:09:00.001-05:00

It bothers me somewhat to see leaders, receiving honors and given credit for their success. Whether they be CEO of a corporation, a successful start-up company or the head coach of a winning football team. Folks, they didn’t do it alone! Rare is the one who truly did it alone. To not acknowledge and give credit to those who contribute to their success is to my way of thinking, nothing more

No One Does It Alone

2010-03-15T08:32:00.013-05:00

I’ve been writing this blog for one year. Telling stories about myself and happenings here from the drought to visiting groups and occasionally a little science. Maybe I made it all sound too easy or like the staff and I did all the great things here that have drawn so much publicity. I know I’ve written about our volunteers ~ “worker bees” I call them, but I haven’t said much about our Board

A Record Breaking Snowbell Trip – Feb. 1, 2010

2010-02-28T23:58:00.000-06:00

These snowbell plants are ready to be planted. We have 1600 of them. It takes three years of careful nurturing to reach this size. 1600 is more than four times the known wild population. Photograph taken by J. David. The plan was to leave by 7 a.m. and head out to the Devils River in Val Verde County. We left on time ~ I had planned well ~ the day was cold and a heavy fog followed us until

Bamberger Story on NPR

2010-02-03T14:41:00.007-06:00

NPR ran their piece on David yesterday, during their All Things Considered program, and they've created a page with the story, photos and a link to the audio. Go and see (and hear).

Bamberger Story on NPR - Update

2010-01-29T18:02:00.004-06:00

Colleen Gardner, Executive Director of the Bamberger Ranch Preserve, provides this update on the NPR story:I have just heard from Wade Goodman that it will be a 5½ minute piece that will air on All Things Considered, some day NEXT WEEK. (Not today.) As soon as it airs we will also be able to post a link on our website. Have a good weekend, all!

Bamberger Story on NPR, Probably this Friday

2010-01-28T16:23:00.002-06:00

Colleen [Gardner, Executive Director] has heard this morning (Thursday, 1/28) from Wade Goodwyn, National Public Radio's Dallas correspondent, concerning the airing of his 7 minute piece about the Ranch. "Maybe tomorrow," Wade said.The story will be on either "Morning Edition" which is from 5 a.m. - 9 a.m. or "All Things Considered" which is from 4 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (These are all local times for

Victims of Drought

2010-01-24T20:15:00.001-06:00

Looking back to my blog of August 2, 2009 about the drought, I reported that Robert Edmonson, our Texas Forest Service representative here in Johnson City, estimated that we had lost 1,000 Spanish Oaks due to the drought. ~ Our range conditions have made an amazing comeback because of good rains that began in October and continue to date ~ but not to be overly optimistic, the drought is NOT over.

2009 In Review

2010-01-03T20:31:00.003-06:00

I’ve never been one to make New Year’s resolutions, but I’ve always, at this time of year, reflected on the past and made plans for the future. Reflecting on 2009 brought sadness and tears over the loss of my soul mate Margaret. What would life be like without her? One begins to feel sorry for themselves – a rather selfish emotion. I’ve lived my life as an optimist, have a reputation as an

No Post this Week, But Season’s Greetings to All

2009-12-20T03:38:00.004-06:00

David 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.

Remembering Margaret

2009-12-13T23:59:00.001-06:00

It’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 were

My Neighbor’s Place

2009-12-06T23:59:00.003-06:00

This 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.

“Institution”

2009-11-29T23:59:00.000-06:00

Institution – 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

Volunteers – Selah’s Invaluable Asset

2009-11-22T23:01:00.004-06:00

Volunteer – 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

The Observatory

2009-11-15T18:15:00.005-06:00

Four 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

“Water Workshop – How to Have Water Without Drilling a Well!”

2009-11-08T21:44:00.004-06:00

The 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

People Ranching – Continues

2009-11-01T23:59:00.001-06:00

It 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

People Ranching – Education

2009-10-25T23:05:00.005-05:00

In 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

People Ranching

2009-10-18T18:17:00.003-05:00

It 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

The Drought Continues

2009-10-11T21:11:00.019-05:00

September 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

Recycle and Reuse – Another Form of Conservation

2009-10-04T22:05:00.000-05:00

After 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

Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve — Leopold/Lone Star Land Steward Award

2009-09-27T03:25:00.004-05:00

by 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.

Exclosure

2009-09-20T22:01:00.006-05:00

Exclosure – (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

My Vision for Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve

2009-09-06T22:40:00.003-05:00

To 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. I

Kiva

2009-08-30T22:37:00.007-05:00

KIVA (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

What’s Happening on the Ranch?

2009-08-23T23:00:00.000-05:00

J. 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

What’s It All About?

2009-08-16T22:23:00.004-05:00

I 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

Something I’ve Pondered – Revisited

2009-08-09T23:59:00.005-05:00

The 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

The Drought Continues

2009-08-02T23:59:00.002-05:00

Before 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

Something I’ve Pondered

2009-07-26T23:59:00.002-05:00

Why 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 Organization

Conservation of Another Sort: Hes’ Country Store

2009-07-19T22:31:00.004-05:00

If 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

“Gabion”

2009-07-12T23:59:00.001-05:00

Gabion – 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, and

"Bamberger's Folly"

2009-07-05T21:59:00.005-05:00

This 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

More Adventures with the Texas Snowbell

2009-06-28T17:55:00.017-05:00

(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

Bamberger Ranch's Camp Selah

2009-06-21T17:19:00.006-05:00

This was our sixth year for our nature adventure camp. It is a five day, four night intensive nature camp designed for those children who have an affinity for the natural world. It is science oriented. Mary Kay Sexton, a fifth grade science teacher at St. Andrews School in Austin, organized the camp and is assisted by David Matthews who teaches at Small Middle School in Austin. Many

Surviving the Drought

2009-06-14T16:09:00.002-05:00

In January 2008 we recognized that “a prolonged period of dry weather, a lack of rain” was ahead of us. Scott Grote, our ranch operations manager, said four pastures were no longer useable as there was no water; even wildlife was suffering in these pastures. It was apparent to us that our education programs and people ranching activities as well as water for those of us who live here was in

Drought

2009-06-07T16:05:00.004-05:00

“A prolonged period of dry weather, a lack of rain” as defined by Webster Dictionary.If you could be here today walking the land as I am, you would see verdant hills and valleys. It’s still spring and we had a quarter inch of rain earlier this week. The native grasses respond within 48 hours, brown turns green. But looks can be deceiving as the following pictures show.I was new to Texas in

AAS: Once-Parched Ranch is Conservation Model

2009-06-07T15:54:00.004-05:00

There's an article about the ranch in today's Austin American Statesman: Once-Parched Ranch is Conservation Model. [Thanks Brendan.]

A "People Ranching" Week on the Ranch

2009-05-31T16:00:00.004-05:00

The highlight of the week was when 155 people gathered at the Center as witnesses to the marriage of Justin Duke and Stephanie Tidmore. The relatives and guests came from parts of Texas and as far away as Omaha, Nebraska. Rain clouds threatened all around, but the sun did shine on this young couple throughout the event. Justin, a graduate of Texas State University, has been with Selah 1 ½

Research That Follows Work

2009-05-24T15:50:00.004-05:00

The beginning of our work to rescue the federally and state listed endangered plant, Styrax platinifolius ssp. Texanus, commonly known as the Texas snowbell, was in 1994. This beautiful plant is a small tree or shrub native to the watersheds of the Nueces and Devils River of west Texas.I spent the first five years following leads from other botanists, looking in various herbariums and going door

Selah, Family Picnic

2009-05-17T19:33:00.004-05:00

Six years ago Board Members Anne Donovan and Maydelle Fason proposed that we begin holding an annual family picnic for young families and grandparents. The idea was to allow all ages to experience the ranch as a family.On May 3rd, we held our 5th Annual Selah Family Picnic with some 200 plus attending. Here are some scenes contributed by Amanda Fulton, Helen Ballew, Kathy Wilson and Colleen

KEYE TV Coverage of the Ranch

2009-05-16T19:46:00.001-05:00

Austin area television station KEYE put together a great story (running an extraordinary 5 minutes, 41 seconds) on the Bamberger Ranch Preserve, and broadcast it on May 14th. The text and video of the story are available from their website. (Update: David insists that the story ran 4:20 when it was broadcast, which I missed, but it is definitely 5:41 on the KEYE web site.)

Upcoming Television Coverage on Austin's KEYE 42

2009-05-11T21:12:00.009-05:00

David's assistant, Lois Sturm, sent along the following message today:To all directors in the viewing area of Austin's CBS affiliate channel 42 and to Julia Gregory and all of our volunteers:Thanks to an introduction by Bobby Cocke, CBS channel 42 KEYE TV came to the ranch on Saturday May 9 and did a great deal of filming of David's water project which was being worked on by a small group of boy

J. David Bamberger Honored by Texas House of Representatives

2009-05-05T16:51:00.028-05:00

Colleen Gardner, Executive Director of the Bamberger Ranch Preserve, writes:Everything that happens on or around the ranch is a story. And never is the story short on details. On a cold and blustery volunteer workday with the Central Texas Trail Tamers this last winter, David Bamberger caught the ear of two new volunteers—“fresh meat” as the staff likes to tease—with some of his wonderful stories

I'm About to Rapture

2009-05-03T02:56:00.000-05:00

“I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree” ~ this is the opening line in Joyce Kilmer’s (American poet 1886-1918) beautiful poem about a tree. It has always filled me with pride and been a motivating factor in my own near obsession with planting trees here on Selah. The recent rains have encouraged an explosion of flowering trees and shrubs, so much so, that I haven’t been able

Natural Bouquets at Selah

2009-04-26T16:16:00.000-05:00

I have written before of my love of trees, particularly flowering trees which I wasn’t used to seeing so much in my native state of Ohio. This week in Texas we have two beauties blooming! They are small trees, but are like giant bouquets.Blanco Crabapple (Pyrus ibensis var. Texana)Some botanists refer to it as the Texas Crab because Blanco County is considered the southwestern extent of its

Selah - To Pause and Reflect

2009-04-19T15:24:00.000-05:00

Everything starts from philosophy ~ this I believe ~ Selah is not the name of the Bamberger Ranch, but rather it’s a place. To me, it’s like Walden was to Thoreau – a place not just for me, but for all who come here to look around, to see and witness the natural world and to reflect on the wonder, the magic if it all; and then, to think about our individual responsibility as stewards of our

Science Educator or People Motivator?

2009-04-12T09:37:00.000-05:00

David Bamberger writes:We determined long ago that our arboretum and nature trail would only have plants that were endemic to Blanco County. Not having any Canyon Mock Orange (Philadelphus Ernestii) growing here, I was delighted to have found one in a nursery in Austin. It was a small specimen in a one gallon container. Nevertheless, I put up the identification plaque and nurtured this rare

The Quest for the Murray Plum

2009-04-05T15:24:00.027-05:00

David Bamberger writes:In 1992 I read an article in the Native Plant Society of Texas Newsletter written by Benny Simpson of the Texas A&M University Experiment Station in Dallas about an endangered plant named the Murray Plum. He stated that it would do no good to find and protect the few known plants, but rather what was needed was for someone to gather together as many plants as possible from

The Imitation is Never as Good as the Original

2009-03-29T00:00:00.001-05:00

David Bamberger writes:Margaret began this blog at the beginning of 2008 when she no longer had the energy to participate in our ranch programs. It was her way of staying connected to the natural world here on Selah as well as continuing to educate others. At the beginning she said to me, “David, I am now the CEO of Selah!” “Wait a minute,” I said, “We don’t need any more managers.” “Forget

Upcoming Workshops

2009-03-28T23:12:00.003-05:00

David Bamberger writes:On April 4th we are holding our valued Land Stewardship Workshop – from 8:30 to 4:30. Lunch is served. Part of this day is spent talking about and demonstrating how to successfully plant a tree.On May 17th we’re holding a workshop on Water – it could be titled “How to Get Water Where There Isn’t Any.” On this day, you will learn about and see things that I've been told

Debra Mann's Class at Selah

2009-03-23T14:24:00.027-05:00

Colleen Gardner, Executive Director of the Bamberger Ranch Preserve, writes:Science teacher and good friend of Selah (and new Education Advisor to Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve), Debra Mann, has been bringing out her senior classes for a 5 day science-based field trip to Selah for more than 7 years now. These groups of young thinkers have always impressed us at Selah – they are articulate,

This Blog Will Continue

2009-03-16T16:13:00.005-05:00

A note to our readers from David Bamberger: This blog will continue, and you may expect the first of the new postings next Monday, March 23. Without a doubt, the style and content will change somewhat, but it will continue to tell the story of the Bamberger Ranch Preserve.

A Message from Margaret

2009-03-09T16:09:00.005-05:00

The following was written by Margaret Campbell Bamberger the day she received the diagnosis of Stage IV lung cancer, Friday, September 24, 2004.I sit, feeling alone and cut off from God. I close my eyes and let my mind wander.Why? Why me? I try to remove my close perspective and move out to where I can feel the life force around me. I think of all the life, past, current, seen and unseen, human

Margaret Bamberger, 1938-2009

2009-03-06T17:49:00.004-06:00

Margaret Campbell Bamberger passed away quietly in her sleep this morning, Friday, March 6, 2009. Early Wednesday, shortly after completing an exhausting month of cancer treatments, she fell asleep, never to awaken. A green burial will soon take place on the ranch that she loved so well. Attendance will be limited to immediate family and the ranch family.Margaret was born December 13, 1938 in New

Arranging Tours of the Bamberger Ranch Preserve

2009-02-24T17:01:00.007-06:00

In the past, groups requesting tours of the ranch have sometimes contacted Margart Bamberger directly. Instead, we'd now like those requests to be directed to Colleen Gardner, whose email address is: brp(at)tstar(dot)net. Thanks, and enjoy the tours.

Margaret's Medical Status

2009-02-22T19:12:00.014-06:00

Chris Johnson here, with an update on Margaret Bamberger's health:Margaret Bamberger has been receiving radiation therapy for brain cancer all month. She had an MRI on the 17th which showed no change in the lesions. So, the good news is that they haven't grown. Also, she's had no seizures, no headaches, and she feels great.This week, she'll continue the radiation treatment, after which they'll

MORE IMAGES FROM 2008

2009-02-02T11:32:00.001-06:00

I didn't use all the pictures I'd gotten together in a folder for the post IMAGES FROM 2008 on January 8th, so I'm going to put together another post of images from last year and call it MORE IMAGES FROM 2008.I like this picture of the Scimitar-horned oryx, that was taken last winter. Their pasture looks very dry. With their elegent horns, they really are handsome critters, and a pleasure to

IMAGES FROM 2008

2009-01-08T16:45:00.003-06:00

In this busy holiday season I've gotten behind in my promise (to myself) to publish a new post each week. The last post was published on December 18. (Whoops! - Over 2 weeks late now).Anyway, I've taken thousands of pictures, and I decided that I would make this post a series of images, all taken in 2008.Colleen Gardner, our Executive Director, works and tends the bee hives, and also teaches

A wonderful 70th birthday

2008-12-18T21:00:00.004-06:00

Saturday and Sunday I had 3 wonderful parties to celebrate my 70th birthday. Considering my diagnosis of advanced cancer in September of 2004 I didn't expect to be here to see my 70th birthday. Of course I'm delighted to still be here.Party number 1 was the family party where my children and grandchildren (most of them) arrived in the late morning for a lunch party.My grandaughter Erin with her

December trip to Dolan Falls to plant Tx. Snowbells

2008-12-14T14:20:00.003-06:00

A group of hardy volunteers, including some "significant others" traveled westward with David and Margaret to the Devil's River area to plant more of the federal and state listed endangered Texas Snowbells along the river and its tributary Dolan Creek. It is always best to plant in the cooler weather, and it was cool and delightful on December 5th, 6th and 7th. The sun was shining and there were

Traveling Seeds, or how seeds get to new territory

2008-11-30T21:00:00.003-06:00

Seeds need to travel in order to colonize new areas. If all the seeds fell at the base of the parent plant, there would be fierce competition for light, water, and nutritional elements in the soil. So seeds get dispersed using strategies that defy gravity, use animals and/or wind to travel to new locations. Maple seeds are classified as samaras, which is defined as a dry, indehiscent (not opening

Going to Seed- pea family pods, and lots of berries

2008-11-30T16:05:00.003-06:00

Humans eat lots of Legumes which are members of the pea family. We eat green beans, green peas, lentils, black beans, red beans, black-eyed peas and pinto beans, to name a few. We love them in our gardens, in our food, and wildlife find legumes in nature and enjoy them as a good source of protein. Mesquites provides an important source of food in the southwestern United States. Gamebirds, such as

Selah's Colors of Fall

2008-11-23T11:32:00.003-06:00

When J. David was a young boy in Ohio, his mother Hester planted trees around the house and in the acres behind the house. He loved seeing them grow, and to this day plants trees on the ranch. When he started planting them on Selah in 1970 there were lots of trees here, but there were some that were missing. Maples probably grew all over the Hill Country in a previous wetter time, but today are

Going to Seed: Acorns

2008-11-18T16:55:00.004-06:00

Reproduction is important in plants just as it is in animals. In both, when the mature generation is aging, a new generation needs to be growing up to take its place. In many plants, such as wildflowers, trees and shrubs, seeds are produced from fertilized flowers, and they carry the spark of life that will become the new generation, and they are often packaged with the food that will give them a

Raptors Realeased at Selah

2008-11-09T17:00:00.006-06:00

On Monday, November 3rd, two raptor rehabilitators, Sallie Delahoussaye and Ed Sones, brought a Red-tailed Hawk, and two Great Horned Owls out to Selah to release. Because we have a large ranch there is a good chance that the raptors will be able to explore, find food, and search for a good place to call home without being shot or hurt.This Red-tail was probably hit by a car and was found on the

Selah Moments

2008-10-30T12:00:00.002-05:00

If you are regular reader of this blog you have undoubtedly read of Selah Moments before now. However, I think I should define them again for those of you who are perhaps reading this journal for the first time, or who have forgotten what it means.I think that it probably started when a really special thing happened and one of the kids called it a "National Geographic moment". Colleen, our

Grasses Workshop on Oct 11, 2008

2008-10-18T12:00:00.016-05:00

A group of enthusiastic students, most of them landowners, met on Saturday morning, October 11, for a workshop on identifying the important native grasses of the Texas Hill Country. We want participants to understand their importance for land and water conservation as well as for ranching.The lack of moisture in the last 12 months has impacted our grasses. Last year our grasses were tall and

Ragweed, Part 2 (Plants That Make Us Sneeze)

2008-10-10T12:00:00.004-05:00

On September 22nd I published a post from the table in our Rotary Hotel room in Houston. I didn't have my iPhoto Library there and so didn't have many of the photographs I had taken for the post, so here they are in PART 2. I also took a few this morning which are included.The outstanding characteristic of the Ragweed group of plants is that their flowers don't look like flowers as we usually

"Life in Ponds at Selah" by Amanda & Steven Fulton

2008-09-29T19:19:00.011-05:00

I want to thank Steven and Amanda for the work they did on this post.When I found out about the two weeks of treatments I would be getting in Houston at MD Anderson Cancer Center, I asked Amanda and Steven Fulton if they would take pictures and write about them for the September 29th post. Both of them are good biologists, and they decided to feature some of the aquatic plants and animals that

Ragweeds and Other Plants That Make Us Sneeze

2008-09-22T20:00:00.000-05:00

I've noticed people blowing their noses and their eyes are red and watery.About 10 or 11 days ago, I heard an item on Charles Gibson's ABC Nightly about Ragweed Allergies. I googled Ragweed/allergies/ABC news and got the title "Research Links Allergies to Climate Change" by Gigi Stone. She says, "Ragweed season is at its peak , bringing bad news for more than 50 million Americans who suffer from

Interesting Friends & Places in West Texas

2008-09-22T08:00:00.005-05:00

On our West Texas trip we visited some gardens, homes of friends, hotels, and institutions. Here are a few of them.There is a Big Bend Museum in Alpine, Texas on the Sul Ross University Campus where we spent a couple of hours exploring the natural history and our human history.One of the displays in the museum was of a huge rock painting found in one of the large rock shelters. There are many

Our West Texas Vacation, Part 4 Lost Mine Tr.

2008-09-15T08:00:00.007-05:00

When we walked part of the Lost Mine Trail in Big Bend National Park in West Texas, we managed to get an early start. There was a cool breeze and so it was quite comfortable. We tend to be slow to get going in the morning when we're on vacation. Also, as a cancer patient, I'm not the vigorous hiker I once was. However, we love the mountains, and J. David is patient with my slow speeds, so we

Our West Texas Vacation, Part 3

2008-09-08T09:00:00.001-05:00

Part 3 of our West Texas vacation is a hike around The Basin Loop Trail.Early one morning we started out on the Basin Loop Trail. It is not a difficult trail, and it is not long, but it took us the entire morning. Why? Because I am slow, want to look at everything, and I take lots of pictures. I'm also a cancer patient, and not as strong as I once was. Check at the end of Part 1 for more about

Our West Texas Vacation-Part 2

2008-09-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

When we left Part 1 we were heading toward the Chisos Mountains. Part 2 covers our first day in the Chisos Basin and Mountains.As we drove into the Chisos Mountains the desert gave way to grasses, shrubs, and trees as we climbed higher. Up in the highest regions of the Chisos Mountains there are forests. The volcanic origin of the mountains is seen in the massive rock formations.Dominating the

Our West Texas Vacation-Part 1

2008-08-27T13:29:00.023-05:00

David and I decided to drive to West Texas rather than fly somewhere. We were only gone from the ranch for a week. We saw and did amazing things, and it will take at three posts to share it with you. So this is part one!As we were driving westward on I-10 the skies and clouds were amazing. I'm in love with the changes we see in the realm of atmosphere. The fact that our trip was during the rainy

Chiroptorium designer & builder, and former intern visit Selah.

2008-08-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

We had two visitors with important connections to the ranch. The weekend of August 1st. through the 3rd., Jim Smith who designed and built the Chiroptorium in 1997 came for a three day visit. He got to see bat emergences that were the result of his hard work. I've included some photographs of the early stages of the construction.Jim Smith, who designed and constructed the Chiroptorium talks with

Critters, Flowers, and Seeds

2008-08-10T15:37:00.012-05:00

This past week was very busy and very rewarding.While out taking pictures of flowers, I mananaged to catch a few nice photographs of critters that were out visiting flowers for their nectar.This Purple Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) with exceptionally deep color lavender blooms was being visited by a number of bees. They were moving fast, and I had a hard time catching up with them, focusing and

More Wildflowers Than I Expected

2008-08-04T15:31:00.017-05:00

I hope that you are not tired of wildflowers. I love to see them, and I'm always trying to learn new things about them, such as their bud form, how long the blossoms last, and how they look when they go to seed.Purple Sage or Cenizo (Leucophyllum frutescens) is fairly common in our area. After a rain it is covered with beautiful lavender flowers. It is known as "the barometer bush" and some

Hot summer days, occasional summer rain

2008-07-28T19:48:00.025-05:00

The day after my last post was published, we finally got a rain that was more than a sprinkle. Hurricane Dolly came ashore, and though we were far from the eye, we got some much needed rain from rain-bands that spiraled out from the center. The total here at the ranch was 2.01 on the official rain-gauge by the corrals. It was not enough to change the water level significantly in ponds, but the

First 3 weeks of July are hot and dry in 2008

2008-07-20T14:27:00.022-05:00

So far this month it has been very dry with temperatures often above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. I avoid the heat by being outside only in early morning and in the evening when it is cooler. Critters that live outside have to find ways to deal with the heat, and plants just have to "tough it out". Some of the pictures are about what the lack of rain and high temperatures are doing to plants, creeks

Workshops About Land Stewardship

2008-07-13T12:47:00.013-05:00

Stewardship of land involves practices that enhance water both in aquifers and on the surface, encourage native plants, especially grasses, and provide adequate food, water, shelter, and space for all native species of animals. Some places that look pretty to our eyes don't fit those criteria - think of the average golf course.However, land that has been taken care of with good stewardship