Candide concludes at the end of Voltaire’s satiric novel that the best of all possible worlds is to stay home and cultivate one’s garden. This Saturday, the Sunset Garden Club offers just this opportunity at the 12th annual Herb and Garden Festival. Small enough to explore in depth, local growers will be offering every herb from anise to yarrow, along with herbal products, native plants, yard art and flowers. Speakers for the herb fest are Susan Gautreaux, “Easy Care of Antique Roses,” at 10:15 a.m., Arlene Kestener, “Herbs,” at 11:15 a.m., and Michael Seal, “Care-Propagation and Arrangements of Bromelliads,” at 1 p.m. For more information call 662-5225.
Along with garden items, the festival and Friends of the Community Library will sponsor a book sale and signing of over 20 books by local authors, featuring Karleen Barry, better know as Madame Sauce Piquante, which is the name of her cookbook. Other writers who will be reading are inspirational writer Bonnie Taylor Barry, historical fiction author John Francois, cookbook author and columnist Marcelle Bienvenu and Louisiana’s Poet Laureate, Darrell Bourque. The festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Saturday, May 3, (raindate May 4) and is located on Marie Street across from the old Sunset High School. For more information call 668-4551, or email [email protected].