Island History and Summer Holidays

Greetings from the barrier Matagorda Peninsula Island. I hope that everyone is doing well, and adjusting to this south Texas pre-summer heat. I swear, the older I get, the hotter and more unbearable these summers seem to get.

While I’m thinking about it, I’m often asked about why I refer to this island as both a peninsula AND an island. . . ok, here we go. The proper name, and the reference indicated on every coastal map I’ve seen, is this location being called Matagorda Peninsula, and this is the original proper name. However, in 1962 the Corp of Engineers, in order to make a large vessel and deep water navigable passageway from the Gulf of Mexico into Matagorda Bay, so tankers could access the local refineries, cut an approximately 3/4 mile long swath through the peninsula, creating what is commonly referred to as the Big Jetties.

In the Corp of Engineers accomplishing this several year long project, the southwest end of this 1,400 acre section of “peninsula”, by definition, became an island, completely surrounded by water on all sides, (Matagorda Bay to the north, Big Jetties to the east, Gulf of Mexico to the south and Pass Cavallo to the west). This is why I have always referred to this barrier island as Matagorda Peninsula Island. OK, enough about that.

I hope that everyone enjoyed their long Memorial Day weekend a few weeks ago, and did not lose sight of the true and dedicated meaning of this holiday, and of the many brave soldiers that lost their lives defending our freedoms. We should give thanks every day for these heroes.

The island was certainly busier on Memorial weekend than normal. Of course the weather was very nice, and that is always a deciding factor on how many weekend islanders make the trek across the bay to spend time at their places out here. It always makes me smile when Sunday afternoon, or Monday in some cases, gets here and everyone is packing up to return to the mainland. . . YAY!!

I’m very happy with the progress of my tomato plants this year, they are all doing very well. I’ve been picking and eating ripe cherry tomatoes right off the plant, they never make it inside the house. The larger variety tomatoes are starting to ripen now, the larger ones take 80-90 days to ripen, from the time they are planted into the ground. I’m seeing several large tomatoes that could hit the 1 lb+ mark in weight, and I’ll know for sure when I go in for supplies and hopefully be able to weigh them at the Post Office. These large beefsteak varieties are Big Zac, Steakhouse and Mega Marv.

Well, that’s it from the island for now. Everyone have a fun and safe July 4th weekend, and don’t forget about the POC fireworks display on front beach on Saturday night, July 1st.

Summer is here and the sun is bright, so let the good “thymes” roll with the twenty-four beds in our community garden! The garden has certainly progressed and delighted many in the process. We have before and after pictures to prove it! Locally-grown produce and herbs are showing up on quite a few plates in Port O’Connor.

Naturally, worthwhile endeavors sometimes present challenges but huge dividends. This first planting has become an educational experience. What a lesson to learn how so many local birds devour red tomatoes. What a pity they could not have plowed the dirt in our early days instead of the produce. And taking the good, such as a resident bunny, comes with the bad, the critters and conditions that enjoy the space as much as we do: powdery mildew; cutter ants; nasty caterpillars; and aphids.

Gardeners are certainly seeing more of each other with the increase in weather temperatures which requires frequent watering. They take the opportunity to share the fruits, herbs and veggies of their labors with one another. While cultivating their garden beds of tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, corn, peas, onions, beans, and various herbs, they share ideas, too. Gardeners are most certainly enjoying digging in the soil.