On Saturday, March 6, Blanco Verde will get back on the bus to tour the Bamberger Ranch Preserve.

Located just north of Blanco, the ranch was bought by David Bamberger in 1969 with the specific intention of restoring to functional health the worst piece of land in the Hill Country.

Thirty-seven years later, the 5,500 acre ranch is one of the largest habitat restoration projects in the state.

The tour will demonstrate some of the projects, methods and innovations used in this ongoing restoration including: cedar removal and management, water conservation, habitat restoration, and planting of native grasses to prevent soil erosion.

We’ll walk the Grass Trail and identify over eighty varieties of native grasses planted there.

But when Bamberger says habitat restoration, he’s not just talking grasses. In the late 1970s he became part of a project called Species Survival Program with the American Zoo Association.

The Association chose to rebuild the population of the Scimiter-horned Oryx on Bamberger’s land.

The Oryx had not been seen in nature for twenty years, and only survived in zoos across the country. The program’s goal is to reintroduce the animal back into its native habitat in Africa. Bamberger also ships the Oryx to zoos anywhere in the world for breeding purposes.

There’s also a Chiroptorium, a man-made cave that houses a million Mexican free-tailed bats. Lastly, at Madrone Lake, we will pause and reflect on the wonders of nature.

One of the main missions of the ranch is to educate, and over 3,000 people visit the ranch yearly. There are many programs for children and more detailed workshops for adults. Join us as we learn about and support this treasure in our Hill Country.

We’ll meet at the courthouse in Blanco at 8:00 a.m. and caravan to the ranch for a three and a half hour tour, finishing at 12:30.

The $20 charge includes entrance fees, transportation, and coffee at the courthouse before we head out.

We will travel the ranch in the Bluebonnet, an open air trailer with a shade bonnet, so be sure to dress for the weather. An optional picnic after the tour is planned.

Ask for those details if you’re interested. Please call or email Maggie at 833-0245 or maggiegoodman13@netzero.net to register or more information.