< Previous70 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2024 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2024 71 HOMEPORT “I like to think that I’m drawn to Anona because as a child of (we assume) former slaves, she had such great courage,” said Sara Salzman, a case manager at Gulf Coast Center. Her husband, Chris Tucker, is a regis- tered nurse at HCA Healthcare. “Anona went off alone to New York to become a teacher, and then returned to Galveston to contribute something back to the community that raised her,” Salzman said. “She gave back to her community in the same way that Chris and I both believe we do — Chris in health care and me in the mental health commu- nity. We wish we knew more about her, but from the one photograph we have seen, she appeared to be stately, gracious and proud.” In 1924, the school expanded, resulting in the relocation of the Smith house and the 1913 accessory structure to 3205 Ursuline St. Anona Smith remained at the historic home until she died there of pneumonia and diabetes on July 11, 1944, at the age of 51. Jazz great Willard Dick- erson bought the home in 1945. He was well known around Galveston for his musical prowess, but he also worked as a band director for Central High School and a counselor and social studies teacher, educating his students about the need for change in the South. When Galveston’s Menard Park integrated in 1961, Dickerson directed the first concert there considered to (Above) Artwork made from the original tin ceiling tiles is framed at the top of the stairs in Sara Salzman and Chris Tucker’s home. (Opposite) The dining room features a variety of ceramic artworks, from the dinnerware to pieces displayed on the large cabinet anchoring one end of the room. “We feel an affinity with the past owners, especially with Anona Smith – I so admire her.” SARA SALZMAN72 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2024 HOMEPORT be the moment the park desegregated, Durham said. When Ruby Dickerson died in 2002, another couple bought the home and restored it. They sold it to the Klein family in 2008. Salzman and Tucker bought the house in 2015 and liked that it’s in walking distance of Congregation B’nai Israel at 30th Street and Avenue O, where they are members. “We feel an affinity with the past owners, especially with Anona Smith — I so admire her.” The Smith Dickerson House was the 130th historic structure on the is- land to receive landmark status from the city. There are several criteria that will qualify a property for this designation. The four-bedroom home retains its 11-foot ceilings, original wood floors, lattice-paned windows in the living room and many of the original windows throughout. There is an unusual amount of storage, consid- ering space limitations at the time of construction. A walk-through closet off the primary bedroom with beau- tiful pocket doors separates the large bathroom from the front entry hall. A framed art piece made of ceiling tins graces the wall above the stairs, commemorating the past. “Our home met the requirements for its character, interest and value as part of the development, heritage and cultural characteristics of the city of Galveston,” Salzman said. “Other homes qualify for their dis- tinctive characteristics of a period or architecture. Ours met the require- ments because of its association with the lives of people significant in the city’s past.” Sara Salzman and Chris Tucker’s historic home features a walk- through closet in the primary bedroom. COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2024 73 KARENFLOWERS-(409)789-7377 DAVEBRIDGWATER-(409)392-5655 JOETRAMONTEREALTY (409)765-9837 STEWARTRD 10213 Theresimplyisn’tanotherpropertylikethisin Galveston!Absoluteone-of-a-kindprivate, secludedhome,protectedbytheSeawall,this open-concept,single-storyhomeboasts gorgeousmodernappointments,anchoredbya largeconcretekitchenislandandoversized stainlessrefrigerator,thishomeisperfectfor entertainingorafamily.Enjoycoffeeandthe moststunningsunriseinGalvestonfromyour backpatio,withacowboypoolandremovable awning,outdoordiningspace,andbird watching.Experienceprivacy,thebeautyof Galveston’slandandnature,andconvenient livingclosetoeverything! OFFEREDAT $1,345,00074 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2024 The Cecil Houdyshel crinum features shell pink flowers with rich-pink buds and a sweet fragrance. These plants have lily-like flowers occurring in clus- ters on stalks around 3 feet tall and can be white, pink or striped, such as milk-and-wine crinums (opposite). JENKS FA r ME r COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2024 75 GARDEN VARIETY SHOWY AND STRONG These bulbs thrive under the toughest conditions story by BARBARA CANETTI S ome people say crinum plants never die. These hardy bulbs, part of the amaryllis family, are just about the toughest plants found along the upper Texas coast and everywhere else. They like the heat. They don’t mind the cold. They can handle a drought. They enjoy a drink. They thrive along the coast in the salty air. They easily self-propagate inland in gumbo soil. They’re fine with dry heat or humidity. And they stay green all year, displaying beautiful fragrant blooms that only last a day or two. Crinums also are known as spider lilies, swamp lilies, sur- prise lilies, hurricane lilies or Guernsey lilies, said Fran Brock- ington, a Galveston County Master Gardener. Crinums are popular because they’re showy and require minimum care. None of them are true lilies but each develops from bulbs. “I think crinums are gaining in popularity because they give you such beautiful flowers in a variety of colors every summer with so little care,” Brockington said. “Crinums are F r AN B r OCKINGTON76 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2024 GARDEN VARIETY BA r BA r A CANETTI BA r BA r A CANETTI F r AN B r OCKINGTON F r AN B r OCKINGTON COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2024 77 SCANHERE: SCANHERE: Gin Gin Blossoms Blossoms onSat., onSat., Feb.3rd Feb.3rd EliYoung EliYoung Band Band onFri., onFri., Feb.9th Feb.9th Call Shani Atkinson 409.770.3840 shani@shaniatkinson.com www.ShaniAtkinson.com 16602 San Luis Pass Rd., Galveston, TX 77554 This 3BR/2BA unique geodesic dome-style house built in 1984 and extensively renovated in 2023 seamlessly combines historical charm with contemporary elegance. Positioned to capture awe-inspiring Gulf Views, this home boasts expansive windows across the front framing a picturesque view of the Gulf of Mexico. I sell the island lifestyle! 22814 Veran Drive • Galveston • $690,000 perfect for camouflaging fences or filling up empty corners without having to worry. They also provide you with offshoots you can pass along to friends.” Crinums can be found growing along the backroads of Texas, in old cemeteries and around abandoned houses. “Their bright white spidery petals rise out of the ditches,” she said. “Crinums need very little attention.” The evergreen leaves easily tolerate full sun, but they like partial shade as well. And, when they bloom, which is in winter, fall, spring or summer, they attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. The flowers appear on long stalks from the center of the plant. Unfortunately, they also attract slugs and snails, which eat away at the leaves. During the winter, many crinums will die down to the ground but emerge healthy in the spring. That’s the best time to divide the pups and separate the bulbs for new plants. Bulbs can be stored during winter months in netted bags in the garage. Horticulturist Jenks Farmer, considered by many to be an expert on crinums, said the bulbs are the crinums’ source of energy and food, which is why they are so tolerant of all conditions. “It is what bulbs are designed to do,” said Farmer, the author of the newly published book “Garden Disruptors” about introduc- ing crinums to public gardens in the South, where they had been shunned for decades as poor people’s plants. Some crinums even thrive close to large bodies of water, such as the Gulf of Mexico, despite the salty water and air. The genus crinum includes about 130 species, including Ellen Bosanquet (opposite, clockwise from top left), asiaticum or spider lily, Stars and Stripes, Americana and J.C. Harvey (above). F r AN B r OCKINGTON78 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2024 FEATURE SHORE THING These daisies can be spotted for miles along island beaches story and photos by BARBARA CANETTI T he world’s most successful gardener has left Galveston beaches a special gift. Mother Nature deposited miles of seeds for camphor daisies along the dune line and this winter they’re in full bloom. The yellow wildflowers bloom with thick green leaves, anchoring themselves along the beach and helping to stabilize the sand against wind and water erosion. “We are so thankful for anything with stabilizing roots on the beach,” said Elizabeth Schneider, environmental coordinator with the Galveston Park Board of Trustees, which manages island beaches. “We have Mother Nature to thank for these.” The daisies, along with other blooming wildflowers, are considered part of the beach’s dune system and therefore are pro- tected, Mackenzie Finklea, spokeswoman for Visit Galveston, said. The plants and flowers cannot be picked or cut. The daisies can be spotted for miles in almost a straight line on the east beaches, along part of the seawall and sparsely on the West End most of the year, but particularly in the fall and winter. (Above and left) Camphor daisies bloom along the dune lines of Galveston’s beaches. The yellow wildflowers help stabilize the sand against wind and water erosion. COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2024 79 scan here for interactive map of participating locations. WITH SUPPORT FROM PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS PRESENTED BY NONPROFIT ARTS SPACES GALVESTON ARTS CENTER 2127 STRAND • GALVESTONARTSCENTER.ORG GALVESTON ART LEAGUE GALLERY 2117A POSTOFFICE • GALVESTONARTLEAGUE.COM GALVESTON BALLET 2301 MARKET • GALVESTONBALLET.ORG GALVESTON SEAFARERS CENTER 221 20TH ST. • GALVESTONSEAFARERSCENTER.ORG THE GRAND 1894 OPERA HOUSE 2020 POSTOFFICE • THEGRAND.COM NIA CULTURAL CENTER 2217 STRAND, SUITE 101 • NIACULTURAL.ORG GALLERIES & ARTIST STUDIOS G. 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