From the Editor

This special issue features the work of South Texas Natives, a diverse group of stakeholders working to increase the availability of native plant materials in south Texas. The opening article shares the philosophy and objectives of the organization; their template is one that other organizations may wish to follow. The subsequent 10 articles showcase some of the native plants South Texas Natives have worked with.

This issue is also special because it marks some significant changes to the Native Plants Journal. After 9 years of creative energy, our designer and compositor extraordinaire, Amy Grey, is leaving us. Amy had the ability to make anything look good, often tweaking the layout to find a way to use some itsy-bitsy low-resolution image to the journal’s advantage.

We also extend a hearty farewell and sincere thank you to Kate Caras and her staff at Indiana University Press. In 2004, Kate came to the rescue of Native Plants Journal after the University of Idaho closed its press. We were desperate and Kate was willing to take a chance. During our tenure at IUP, the journal expanded from 2 to 3 issues per year with the new summer issue including the native plant materials directory, and electronic subscriptions have steadily increased. Beginning with volume 12, the University of Wisconsin Press will be the publisher. The UWP environmental portfolio now contains Ecological Restoration, Landscape Journal, and NPJ; we look forward to working with Pamela Wilson and her staff. During this transition time, staff at both presses are available to assist you. Contact IUP at 800.842.6796 or UWP at 800.258.3632.

With this issue we welcome our new book review editor, Dr Rick Hammer at Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, Texas. This NPJ feature has languished a bit of late, and we are grateful to Dr Hammer for volunteering to help. And, as always, my gratitude to these reviewers who help maintain the quality of the material we publish: Carrie Adams, Thomas G Barnes, Jerry Baskin, Kristina Connor, Anthony S Davis, Bill Dvorak, Nancy J Ehlke, Matthew W Fidelibus, Bonnie Furman, Danny Gustafson, John Harrington, Kirk Henderson, J Chris Hoag, Raymond Hunt, Mike Kane, Robert P Karrfalt, Rob Keefe, Heidi A Kratsch, Larry Lass, Douglas D McCreary, Michael Meagher, Jessica Mitchell, Jeffrey G Norcini, Anh Phan, Rodney Pond, Isaac Reyes-Vera, J Dale Simpson, Forrest S Smith, James Steed, Robert Tripepi, Henry S Utomo, Vic Vankus, Jeff Walck, Nicholas Wheeler, and Barbara L Wilson.

As always, thank you for your patronage and tell your friends about Native Plants Journal.