Thanks to the incredible energy of over forty volunteers (the forecast kept a few people away), our Spring Clean Up, held this past weekend, was an amazing success. The regulars at Catskill Animal Sanctuary are in fact a little humbled by how much got done!!

Three new shelters were stained, the intrepid Judy Gelardi worked on her own to clean up our gigantic perennial garden (not a one of us can distinguish between a weed and a flower), and all our container gardens (large oak barrels) and one large raised bed were transformed by Kathryn (sorry Kathryn if I botched the spelling) Sebastian's green thumb.

The one project I feared might be too daunting was reclaiming a large portion of pasture choked by climbing vines, burdock, sumac and other invasive species. But armed with everything from chain saws and razor-sharp machetes (generously provided by volunteers Vinny and Diann DiBlanda) to garden rakes and pruning shears, two teams charged into the tangle, and in a few hours transformed most of it to its original meadow-like beauty. Take a look:

So, to EJ, Allie, John (Sebastian--yes....as in JOHN SEBASTIAN!!), Kathryn, Mi-Lyn, Sarah, Vinny, Dianna, John, Joanne, Julie, Michelle, Paul, Kelly, Bernie, Anna, Paloma, Mark, Adena and the Bard gang, to all the rest whose names I can't conjure up, and to the dozens of you who come here week after week with open hearts and strong hands:

thanks for sharing the love. Yes, I believe in magic.