Rare & Endangered

Rare & Endangered http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell.html After many calls to locate this specimen I found that The San Antonio Botanical Garden had a reclamation project with a few specimens but I also learned about a man named David Bamberger who was also doing this work. It turned out that his ranch was close to my hill country home, which was perfect because this painting took me two years to complete. After many visits and countless hours with him to research the Texas Snowbells I would consider him a friend. I would like to share what was written about him in Water from Stone - The Story of Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve: "While, on the face of it , this project may not seem particularly heroic, the implications are far reaching in the second largest American state with the smallest percentage of public lands. "Private land rights in Texas are the sacred cow," ... and in the region where the snowbell grows ranchers are particularly suspicious of the Endangered Species Act and federal intervention on their lands. David went straight to the private landowners, searching out new Texas Snowbells colonies, growing the plant himself and reintroducing it where the federal government isn't welcome." This is just a small glimpse into the life of a man very dedicated to conservation and his mission to take the Texas Snowbells off of the critically endangered list. See more at www.bambergerranch.org CLICK ON AN IMAGE FOR MORE DETAIL OR ‘PLAY SLIDESHOW’ (FULL SCREEN) The flowers are clustered at the end of branches and hang upside down looking like small white bells. The bloom is quick and drop in masses which cover the ground like snow. http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell.html#0 026db5e7-e4b9-4f1a-b2ba-d7e4c946980f http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/29.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/29.jpg?derivative=micro

http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/29.jpg?derivative=mip

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 13px; " class="style_1">The flowers are clustered at the end of branches and hang upside down looking like small white bells.  The bloom is quick and drop in masses which cover the ground like snow.<br/></span></p></div></div> David Bamberger showing off the big-toothed Maple, another native that he has introduced on his ranch, called Selah. http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell.html#1 b15f22e1-5e11-4e39-bd2e-71d9189b5eda http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/29.5.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/29.5.jpg?derivative=micro

http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/29.5.jpg?derivative=mip

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 13px; " class="style_1">David Bamberger showing off the big-toothed Maple, another native that he has introduced on his ranch, called Selah.<br/></span></p></div></div> He bought the worst ranch he could find and restored it to a gem in the hill country. There was no ground water on his property until he restored the native grasses. http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell.html#2 61bae865-a028-4d2e-b393-f0df8201542c http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/30.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/30.jpg?derivative=micro

http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/30.jpg?derivative=mip

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 13px; " class="style_1">He bought the worst ranch he could find and restored it to a gem in the hill country.  There was no ground water on his property until he restored the native grasses.<br/></span></p></div></div> I first saw this endangered small tree (listed 1984) in November 2005. It is a deciduous tree, but we actually found the leaves still on the branches and this is the specimen for the growth pattern done in graphite on my painting. http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell.html#3 c5291444-e202-4815-ae47-9310aa0ad2d7 http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/31.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/31.jpg?derivative=micro

http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/31.jpg?derivative=mip

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 13px; " class="style_1">I first saw this endangered small tree (listed 1984) in November 2005.  It is a deciduous tree, but we actually found the leaves still on the branches and this is the specimen for the growth pattern done in graphite on my painting.<br/></span></p></div></div> He is telling me about the identifying factor of its light green silvery underside of the leaf that distinguishes it from the Sycamore Leaf Snowbell. http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell.html#4 0c64dc33-0576-486a-aea1-6a8714566501 http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/32.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/32.jpg?derivative=micro

http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/32.jpg?derivative=mip

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 13px; " class="style_1">He is telling me about the identifying factor of its light green silvery underside of the leaf that distinguishes it from the Sycamore Leaf Snowbell.<br/></span></p></div></div> On his property he has interpretive trails with many native trees and plants. It is a destination for entire classes of schoolchildren to learn about conservation. He even built a bat cave with an observation post for researchers! http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell.html#5 3a936849-6970-49b1-a4bb-55b9bd483d21 http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/33.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/33.jpg?derivative=micro

http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/33.jpg?derivative=mip

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 13px; " class="style_1">On his property he has interpretive trails with many native trees and plants. It is a destination for entire classes of schoolchildren to learn about conservation. He even built a bat cave with an observation post for researchers!<br/></span></p></div></div> Greenhouse that he built just a couple of years ago where about 2000 seedlings will be started from seed. http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell.html#6 6f4b0949-98d8-4ad2-ab60-fd8101b33486 http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/34.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/34.jpg?derivative=micro

http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/34.jpg?derivative=mip

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 13px; " class="style_1">Greenhouse that he built just a couple of years ago where about 2000 seedlings will be started from seed.<br/></span></p></div></div> Here are potted plants starting to mature in November. http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell.html#7 10933ec0-2901-4bf4-94d1-25f8b47f032d http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/35.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/35.jpg?derivative=micro

http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/35.jpg?derivative=mip

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 13px; " class="style_1">Here are potted plants starting to mature in November.<br/></span></p></div></div> At a later summer visit. When the plants reach this height he plants them in the wild and only in the same watershed where the seed was collected. http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell.html#8 9f80c9c3-208b-4c68-9fe8-93cc1fc1caf8 http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/36.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/36.jpg?derivative=micro

http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/36.jpg?derivative=mip

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 13px; " class="style_1">At a later summer visit.  When the plants reach this height he plants them in the wild and only in the same watershed where the seed was collected.</span></p></div></div> Each plant in the wild is protected with these tall cages, presenting quite a challenge when planting in remote areas, many times on cliffs and terrain inaccessible to deer. http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell.html#9 0592aeba-af5a-43a9-ae43-5d1dcfe7accc http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/37.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/37.jpg?derivative=micro

http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/37.jpg?derivative=mip

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 13px; " class="style_1">Each plant in the wild is protected with these tall cages, presenting quite a challenge when planting in remote areas, many times on cliffs and terrain inaccessible to deer. <br/></span></p></div></div> The first year I started the painting I had missed the bloom and I decided to wait instead of painting the flowers from photos which David gave me. It wasn't until a year later that I saw the bloom and could finish the painting of blossoms and seeds. http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell.html#10 2e0ea4c4-a1fc-4cad-8ca7-97e93e399ca4 http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/38.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/38.jpg?derivative=micro

http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/38.jpg?derivative=mip

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 13px; " class="style_1">The first year I started the painting I had missed the bloom and I decided to wait instead of painting the flowers from photos which David gave me. It wasn't until a year later that I saw the bloom and could finish the painting of blossoms and seeds.</span></p></div></div> After an October seed collection trip, he called me so that I could paint them. But he had an ulterior motive, putting me to work hulling and then counting the seeds and returning them to the sack that recorded where they were collected. http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell.html#11 0d09efb4-6f35-4993-9aa8-06f52aea6fdc http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/40.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/40.jpg?derivative=micro

http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/40.jpg?derivative=mip

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 13px; " class="style_1">After an October seed collection  trip, he called me so that I could paint them. But he had an ulterior motive, putting me to work hulling and then counting the seeds and returning them to the sack that recorded where they were collected.<br/></span></p></div></div> Each pod can have multiple seeds. In 10 years of work, his last planting in fall 2007 brought the total to 700 plants that he has reintroduced into the wild. This project will be carried on by Steven Fulton, who works on the ranch. http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell.html#12 2461b731-e642-4d38-8ae6-78db7fcdbe09 http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/39.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/39.jpg?derivative=micro

http://www.lotusmcelfish.com/LotusMcElfish.com/Field_Trips/Pages/Texas_Snowbell_files/Media/39.jpg?derivative=mip