From the Editor

As for most of you, my profession looks a little different in the face of COVID-19 compared to the relatively recent past. I do a considerable amount of my office work at home. In fact, I am sitting on my sofa writing this letter. When I do go to my place of work, I spend most of my time in field plots. I avoid the office buildings and minimize my contact with my colleagues. I feel lucky in that my work goes on and my paycheck arrives every two weeks. Many people in our country are not so lucky.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had some interesting and sometimes negative impacts on the native plant world. Restoration projects have been significantly delayed or canceled. Travel has been largely curtailed. Social aspects within many workplaces have been completely restructured. Hiring activities have been reduced. But some positive things have come out of this as well. Most of us have time to address aspects of our work that are often low on our priority list. I have noticed a huge uptick in submitted manuscripts to NPJ during the past few months. I attribute this to the fact that most of us have more time to dedicate to authorship as other aspects of our work have slowed down. Communication of our findings is a critical part of the emerging native plant field. And now, it appears we are finding the time to complete this activity. I am pleased that NPJ is a part of this process.

May you use these months of semi-isolation to inform and to learn. Positive outcomes will also come of this crisis, if we approach it with optimism.