The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-04-02
THE CITY OF OLEANDERS.
How Oleander Bushes Flour
ish in Galveston.
a Humorist Dwslls Upon an Attraction
of the Texas Seaport

Of the Texas Seaport
A correspondent asks: docs the ole
ander grow in the open air in Texas
the whole year around?"
1t does not. The only city of Texas
in which the oleander does not require
shelter, good treatment and kind words
in winter. is Galveston. Owing to the
fact that Galveston is on an island
and, as is frequently the case with
islands, is surrounded by water, the
climate is milder in winter than it is
in any other Texas city. The warm
air rising from the Gulf Of Mexico
protects Galveston from the chilling
norther, which kills off all kinds of
tropical vegetation elsewhere in Texas.
Owing to this natural advantage. BAN
anas. oranges. prickly heat, oleanders,
and spring boils can be raised in the
open air in the middle of January in
Galveston.
They, the oleander bushes, not the
Spring boils, grow to the height of
twenty feet, and adorn the curbs of
the streets. No more beautiful sight
can be imagined than streets lined on
both sides with oleanders in full bloom
the Gulf breeze tossing them about in
wanton mirthfulness. a mass of gor-
geous pink and white blossoms filing
the atmosphere with delicious perfume.
This is why Galveston is called the
"Oleander City," as these beautiful
flowers are seen and smelt on every
side. The perfume is so strong at
times that strangers are liable to get
the headache.
The oleander shrub Is said to be
poisonous, and there is a pathetic
story told of an imported schoolmaster
who used an oleander switch with
great liberality on an unfortunate boy
VINO. however, felt much better when
the teachers hands swelled up to the
size of canvas-covered hams.
Outside of Galveston Island the OLE
ander refuses to flourish like a green
bay tree during the winter season. No
persuasion can make it endure the Win
ter. When the northers set in, the
proprietor of an oleander plant wraps
blanket around its shiver;ng limbs,
or else brings it indoors and puts it
behind the stove, just as people do at
the North. In any city outside of
Galveston a large oleander bush is a
rarity. When the fortunate owner of
such a plant perceives that it is really
going to bloom, the local press devotes
a column day to the startling event.
Poetry begins to flow, and when it f.
nally does bloom, there is as much fuss
as if a local election was being held.
People come in from the country, rid
ing fifty miles in wagons without
springs. So difficult is it to get the
oleander to bloom in some towns. that
when it does occur there is a process
sion, with speeches and salutes, and
other evidences of mental excitement
There is story told of an o!eander
tree being stolen in Austin just as it
was about to bloom, and the Governor
called out the troops. A vigilance
was formed, and half a
1ozen men were hung before it was
found out that the tree that was to
blossom had not been stolen at all.
1t was there all the time, but it was so
small that it was overlooked. 1t is a SOL
'mn fact that when in Austin an clean.
Ter blossoms. the nelghbors all stay up
With shotguns and dark lanterns, Just
Is they do the night the Legislature
Idjourns.
AS we have already intimated, Gal
'eston is the only city in Texas where
he oleander can be left out in the cold
md survive the ordeal. Sift.
ll9S.