Talk about fresh: Café opens in Frankfort garden center

The new Sage Garden Caf é is in a wonderful setting: a garden center. Organic produce for the menu is grown there, along with bouquets of fresh flowers and plants for decorating tables.

The idea behind Jennifer Wilson and Tina Emrick's venture at Wilson's Nurseries, 3690 East West Connector in Frankfort, was to make the café a "very fresh alternative."

Chef Emrick previously owned Clare Ann's Catering and Personal Chef. Her specialty items include homemade breads (sourdough and oatmeal walnut), and cranberry chicken salad. The menu includes breakfast items, sandwiches, salads and soups. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call (502) 352-2725or go to Wilsonnurseriesky.com.

Upcoming events

■ Gardenside suppers are back at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. The dinners are held on the Trustees' Office lawn, outside the garden gate. The Seed to Table series of three-course meals will feature heirloom vegetables grown in the Shaker garden, and grass-fed meat, poultry and other produce from nearby farms. Dates are July 9 and 23, and Aug. 13 and 27. The suppers are $85 a person and begin at 6:30 p.m. Shakertown is at 3501 Lexington Road in Harrodsburg. Call 1-800-734-5611, Ext. 1545,or go to Shakervillageky.org.

■ Doodles, 262 North Limestone, will feature live music on the patio from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. The Old Glorys will entertain with an eclectic mix of Americana, blues and country. Call (859) 317-8507 or go to Doodlesrestaurant.com.

■ Alfalfa Restaurant, 141 East Main Street, will be open for brunch 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., after the 10k race and before the parade, on Monday, the Fourth of July.Promotions on the menu include a farmers market omelette with eggs home Pickens, Elmwood Stock Farm vegetables, cheese Boone Creek Creamery and fresh peach pancakes with peaches from the "fishing lady" market Mary Tyler producers.

Wednesday and Thursday, alfalfa offer wines at half price. "We will try new wines of the summer, with wines from Kentucky to play a bigger role on our menu," said Jake Gibbs. Call (859) 253-0014.

Special Weekend

■ Julep Cup, 111 Woodland Avenue, is characteristic flavors of the Southwest this weekend.Dishes include wild mushroom and sweet corn tamales and tortillas crusted scallops. Beth Mankel The group will host the Friday and Saturday from Jo Nardilillo. Call (859) 226-0300.

Living Simply So That Others May Simply Live: Summertime Stay-cation

Where are you going this summer? Everyone makes great plans to go here and there, day-camps, summer-camps, holidays, vacation and the list goes on. People always give me the "Awwwww, you aren't going anywhere." But in all honesty, I love my backyard and that is somewhere isn't it? We also just came home from 'back home' for the funeral of my godfather and spent two weeks on the farm. In our quest to live simply, we decided to make our home and yard our place of prayer, work, relaxation and fun. Do we really need to go to an all-inclusive resort to relax? Perhaps, but I personally don't need that. Although, we spent quite a lot on the backyard buying plants (2 rosebushes, 4 current bushes, 5 raspberry bushes, 2 hacksapberry bushes, 2 rhubarb plants, three ornamental bushes, a strawberry plant, a few marigold and pansies, onions and various seeds)and accessories (hoe, shovel, pitch fork, rake, compost, gardening gloves, a few containers, topsoil and pro-mix), it was probably worth less than an all-inclusive vacation for 2 people to the Dominican or Mexico and it lasts longer (hopefully). This year our harvest won't be as bountiful as in the next few years, but it is worth the investment. We bought smaller bushes with a smaller price tag, so we will have to wait. On the other hand, we have already been able to harvest some baby spinach and the lettuce and radishes are soon ready. The pea are climing my climbing apperatice and the bean will be too in a short time. There are plans to buy a few fruit trees as well. We still can't decide if the should be pear or apple. Our winter conditions make it hard for many fruit trees, but if they grow I will have lots of canning to do. Too bad there isn't room for an orchard... Living simply and gardening go hand in hand. Gardening teaches patience and perserverance, faith and understanding. You must wait for your food, but if you keep everything weeded and watered you will be rewarded. You have to have faith in God that He will provide you with the knowledge and material you need for the success of growing an abundance. He also provides you with the understanding that you are working with Him in providing for the family. I love garden for all of these reasons. I love staying in my backyard and praying. Praying for His help and mercy, praying that a few bees or butterflies show up to aid in pollination (hence the ornamental bushes and flowers).

Organic Gardening

American gardening

Grow Plants in Pots

Country life

Taylor's guide to heirloom vegetables