By Georgia Osten
I guess I was inspired to go work in my garden after visiting the Galveston Farmer’s Market on Sunday. The Farmer’s Market has become a ritual every Sunday after church and breakfast. My husband wakes me at 5:30 on Sunday morning so we can get ready to catch the 7:00 ferry. That puts us on the other side at 7:20 which gives us just the right amount of time to make it to Sacred Heart Church on the Boulevard. We’ve become quite accustomed to making this trek. Not only do we love the service, but we have our favorite breakfast places as well. Last Sunday, it was ShyKatz on Ave. L. The Sunday before was Star Drug Store on 23rd. The Sunday before that was Sunflower Bakery & Café on 14th. I love them all, I’d have a difficult time naming my favorite. I’d love to order pancakes from Star or Eggs Benedict from Sunflower or French toast from ShyKatz, but I always order a sensible egg, toast & bacon breakfast instead. Maybe if I ever lost 20-30 pounds, I’d let myself go ahead and indulge.

Anyway, after breakfast, we wander over to 33rd for the Farmer’s Market. I head straight to the two ladies running the vegetable stand, Daphodill Farm out of Magnolia. I start with 3 or 4 fresh homegrown tomatoes. The cucumbers are to die for and Sunday, I purchased some okra. Oh, how inspired I’ve become. When I grow up, that’s exactly what I want to do, grow my own vegetables, and go sell them at the Farmer’s Market! Not long ago, my husband said he wanted to build me a chicken coup. I told him yesterday; I’d much rather he builds me a greenhouse.

When we arrived home, there was still a little shade on my garden and I swore that would be my project for the day, weeding my garden. It’s not so much the weeding, as the clearing out of sweet potato vine attacking my plumerias and my hibiscus. I was a little nervous getting in there, snakes and all … I told my husband I would bring my phone with me in case I saw one. He said, “what are you going to do, throw your phone at the snakes?” HaHa! Just in case you’re curious, here’s some things you can plant that snakes don’t like: marigolds, allium, lemongrass, mother-in-law’s tongue, garlic, wormwood, pink agapanthus, basil and just about anything with a strong odor.

Next year, my goal: fewer sweet potato vines and more of the stuff above!

[GO: Aug-1-2023]