Favorite Finds this Week- Saturday Sidelines

Happy Saturday! Welcome to Saturday Sidelines where I’m sharing all of the fun finds I have found on the internet this week. It’s been a full week of gardening, events, and gathering.

Favorite Finds This Week

Last Saturday I shared one of my May Vue recipes, Lemon Balm Cookies. It just seemed to fit to share my love for lemon balm with you this week on the blog.

Recipes, uses, and reasons to have lemon balm growing in your garden can be found here.

BEST place to buy herbs…

While I’m talking about herbs, NOW is a great time to be adding herbs in pots on your patio or deck or added to your herb garden.

But, guess where I learned was the BEST place to buy herbs? Wait for it…Trader Joe’s Produce section. Last year I had the BEST luck with herbs from there and it was worth a repeat performance.

Yep! I bought one little 3″ pot of basil last year and it filled a HUGE pot on my deck that required support as it grew.

It made the BEST pesto that I shared here.

So? Back to Trader Joe’s I went a few weeks ago and there in the produce section were once again those tiny little pots with organic herbs.

And…drumroll…a few weeks later…

See what I mean? I have already begun adding a few stakes into the pot to help support as it continues growing. The pot to the left was planted with Trader Joe’s oregano and sage and they are doing well, too.

Lots of basil ready to use for caprese salads, lots of recipes, especially pesto.

Garden Inspiration

This week my husband and I attended a spring event at our local Extension office. Oh, my goodness! The program was full with a wonderful wildflower presentation, cooking with local produce, and great information about bees.

Lots of door prizes, great food, and information was abundant.

The recipe tasting, seed packets, and favors were amazing.

I took home so much…among them my husband won that beautiful lavender centerpiece…and I got a great gift basket.

Who doesn’t love free gifts? Right?

If you aren’t taking advantage of their resources and programming? Please change that!

If you live in the Paducah area, there are great global foods classes in the next two weeks…Polish bagels and Mexican tamales.

Doesn’t that sound fun?

I’m tiptoeing my way to sign up for the Master Gardener’s certification in the fall. Any of you been through that program yet? I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments.

In Exciting News?

Paducah, my hometown, was featured on the Best Bite in Town on the Food Network last night. When you are personal friends with many of those local restaurant owners? Makes the celebrating even sweeter. If you are headed to our area, any of those local restaurants are among our favorites. Just click above to find out more.

More of my favorite finds this week:

• Do you have flower pots that need an update? Love this idea.
• Along with the wildflower presentation at the extension event, my friend, Jennifer, shared how to attract butterflies in the garden. It was the perfect continuation of that event. If you are still looking for flowers to add, here you go.
• As outdoor entertaining begins, this inspiration was perfect.
• This lemon cake has been saved for my next family gathering. Can’t wait to enjoy Elizabeth’s recipe.

Memorial Day Favorite Finds

• I’m in the mood for a Shrimp Boil for Memorial Day. Are you? Easiest recipe here.

• Patriotic party planning ideas here.

Make simple stars from watermelon with blueberries for a festive side dish for Memorial Day and July 4th celebrations.

• Perfect corn salad recipe.

Patriotic Finds

If you need more patriotic inspiration for next weekend, just click on the links below to shop. Same great price for you…but, as a LTK, Amazon, and Walmart associate I may receive rewards to help share more great content on this blog. Have fun shopping!

Meanwhile? I’m stripping wallpaper for an office makeover, planting more flowers and shrubs in the landscape and getting the back screened porch ready for entertaining.

Whew! Overload over here!

Have a great weekend, friends!