One of the most gratifying aspects of my job here at the Guide is the opportunity to present to you all of the wonderful things about living in and visiting the Catskill Mountains. I, along with the many writers and photographers who contribute to these pages, have an incredible forum with which we can let you know about our favorite places in this beautiful part of New York State.

Having such an open forum, though, sometimes results in serious lapses in judgment, and boy, did I make one in the March issue. A series of bad choices and mistakes, both on Karin Edmondson’s part and on my part, led to some disparaging remarks appearing in the Guide about visitors to the Region. I would like to take this opportunity to formally apologize for these remarks. They have no place in the Guide, and express sentiments that are not truly felt by me, by anyone at the Guide or by anyone at the Catskill Mountain Foundation (map). We are at the dawn of a new era, a new period of hope, and blanket statements about the actions of any group of people—be they first-time visitors, long-time visitors, second home-owners, transplants or “locals”—are simply not acceptable. I am truly sorry for these remarks, and apologize for their appearance on these pages.

Personal responsibility is just one way that we, as human beings, are able to live successfully in community. Another way is to take care of each other and of the planet that sustains us all. This issue of the Guide contains a special section called “How Your Garden Grows.” Those who work with the earth, be they backyard gardeners or farmers, are its stewards and quite often the first to know when something is amiss with the planet. Jay Blotcher’s “Living Green” column this month focuses on the Wildflower Festival at the Catskill Native Nursery in Kerhonkson (page 60). During this one-day event, Catskill Native Nursery founder Diane Greenberg and other experts will share horticulture and landscape tips designed to conserve the diverse but fragile ecosystems of the mid-Hudson Valley. In “A Conversation with Catskill Gardeners,” (page 70) T.M. Bradshaw and some of her fellow gardeners give us some tips on how to have a successful garden in the sometimes challenging and harsh climate of the Catskill Region. And finally, “Schoharie Buzz” celebrates the volunteers that help to maintain the Landis Arboretum in Esperance, one of the most significant arboreta in New York State (“How Does Your Garden Grow,” page 66). It’s interesting to note that all of these articles bring up the issue of biodiversity and the importance of picking the appropriate plants for a particular environment. Plants, like people, have their own communities, ones that are reflections of the diversity of this world and its climates.

Faithful readers will have noticed by now that every issue of the Guide includes a special insert about the Catskill Mountain Foundation (map), the not-for-profit organization that owns this magazine. I encourage you to look through this insert: I can almost guarantee that you will find something that will interest you, from films to literary readings to performances to gallery shows and lectures to tastings in the Fresh Harvest Café and much more. Also keep in mind that this insert offers just a preview of what’s going on at the CMF. Many events—especially the films shown at our cinema—have not been scheduled at press time. I encourage you to log onto the CMF’s Web site at www.catskillmtn.org to find out up-to-the-minute details. There, you can enter your e-mail address to sign up for our weekly newsletter—it’s a really convenient way to find out what’s going on in a particular week.

See you in the Mountains!

Yours sincerely,


Sarah Taft
Managing Editor
tafts@catskillmtn.org