So I heard. I watched Puig play only twice this year, once in the Galaxy's season-opening 1-1 draw with Inter Miami and a second time in his team's Fourth of July defeat to LAFC at the Rose Bowl. Outside of short highlight clips on social media, I never saw the former Barcelona prospect, not even when he assisted on the goal that sent the Galaxy to the MLS Cup final. That wasn't a reflection of my interest. Some of my friends will make fun of me for publicly admitting this, but I like Major League Soccer. I covered the league in my first job out of college and have casually kept up with it since. I take my children to a couple of games a year. My 11-year-old son owns Galaxy and LAFC hats but no Dodgers or Lakers merchandise. When flipping through channels in the past, if presented with the choice of, say, college football or MLS, I usually watched MLS. But not this year. While the MLS Cup final between the Galaxy and New York Red Bulls will be shown on Fox and Fox Deportes, the majority of games are now exclusively behind a paywall, courtesy of the league's broadcasting deal with Apple. MLS Season Pass subscriptions were reasonably priced — $79 for the entire season for Apple TV+ subscribers, $99 for non-subscribers — but I was already paying for DirecTV Stream, Netflix, Amazon Prime, PlayStation Plus and who knows what else. MLS became a casualty in my household, as well as in many others, and the possibility of being out of sight and out of mind should be a concern for a league that is looking to expand its audience. Which isn't to say the league made a mistake. This was a gamble MLS had to take. Now in the second year of a 10-year, $2.5 billion deal with Apple, MLS did what Major League Baseball is talking about doing, which is to centralize its broadcasting rights and sell them to a digital platform. Regional sports networks have been decimated by cord cutting, making traditional economic models unsustainable. The move to Apple not only increased the league's broadcast revenues — previous deals with ESPN, Fox and Univision were worth a combined $90 million annually, according to multiple reports — but also introduced a measure of uniformity in the league. The quality of the broadcasts are better than they were under regional sports networks. Viewers know where to watch games and when, as every one of them is on Season Pass and most of them are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. local time either on Wednesday or Saturday. "That's been fueling our growth and driving our fan engagement," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Friday at his annual state of the league address. Apple and MLS declined to reveal the number of League Pass subscribers, but the league provided polling figures that indicated 94% of viewers offered positive or neutral reviews of League Pass. The average viewing time for a game is about 65 minutes for a 90-minute game, according to Garber. In other words, the League Pass is well-liked — by the people who have it. The challenge now is to increase that audience. The launch of League Pass last year coincided with the arrival of Lionel Messi, which presumably resulted in a wave of subscriptions. But the league can't count on the appearance of the next Messi; there is only one of him. MLS pointed to how its fans watch sports on streaming devices or recorded television than any other U.S. sports league, as well as how 71% of its fans are under the age of 45. The league also pointed to how it effectively drew more viewers to the Apple broadcast of Inter Miami's postseason opener with a livestream of a "Messi Cam' on TikTok, indicating further collaborations with wide-reaching entities could be in its future. Garber mentioned how Season Pass is available in other countries. The commissioner also made note of how Apple places games every week in front of its paywall. "What we have, really, is a communication problem," Garber said. "This is new, and we've got to work with Apple, we've got to work with our clubs and we've got to work with our partners to get more exposure to what we think is a great product." The greatest benefit to the league could be Apple's vested interest in improving the on-field product. MLS insiders said Apple has not only encouraged teams to sign more high-profile players but also pushed the league to switch to a fall-to-spring calendar more commonplace in other parts of the world, reasoning that doing so would simplify the process of buying and selling players. The on-field product is what matters. The on-field product is why MLS continues to face competition for viewers from overseas leagues. The on-field product is why the league hasn't succeeded in converting every soccer fan into a MLS fan. And ultimately, if casual viewers such as myself are to pay to watch the Galaxy or LAFC on a screen of some kind, the on-field product will be why.Principal Financial Group Inc. reduced its holdings in Rush Enterprises, Inc. ( NASDAQ:RUSHA – Free Report ) by 12.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 291,599 shares of the company’s stock after selling 40,384 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Rush Enterprises were worth $15,405,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. FMR LLC increased its position in Rush Enterprises by 34.8% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,174,262 shares of the company’s stock worth $273,356,000 after buying an additional 1,336,528 shares during the period. Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its position in shares of Rush Enterprises by 148.1% during the third quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 308,204 shares of the company’s stock worth $16,282,000 after acquiring an additional 183,965 shares during the last quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. increased its holdings in shares of Rush Enterprises by 13.2% in the 3rd quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. now owns 1,186,393 shares of the company’s stock worth $62,677,000 after acquiring an additional 138,488 shares during the period. Algert Global LLC lifted its position in Rush Enterprises by 284.0% in the 3rd quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 159,610 shares of the company’s stock valued at $8,432,000 after purchasing an additional 118,041 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Edgestream Partners L.P. boosted its stake in Rush Enterprises by 678.7% during the 2nd quarter. Edgestream Partners L.P. now owns 130,602 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,468,000 after purchasing an additional 113,831 shares during the period. 84.43% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Stephens raised their price target on shares of Rush Enterprises from $66.00 to $69.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Rush Enterprises Stock Down 1.4 % Shares of Rush Enterprises stock opened at $54.63 on Friday. Rush Enterprises, Inc. has a 1-year low of $40.99 and a 1-year high of $65.15. The company has a market capitalization of $4.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.49, a PEG ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.00. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $58.88 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $52.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 1.40 and a quick ratio of 0.28. Rush Enterprises ( NASDAQ:RUSHA – Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $1.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.84 billion. Rush Enterprises had a net margin of 3.93% and a return on equity of 15.43%. The company’s revenue was down 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.96 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Rush Enterprises, Inc. will post 3.64 EPS for the current year. Rush Enterprises Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 12th. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 12th were paid a dividend of $0.18 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 12th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.32%. Rush Enterprises’s dividend payout ratio is presently 19.10%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO William M. Rusty Rush sold 117,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.98, for a total transaction of $7,517,650.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 174,154 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,142,372.92. This trade represents a 40.29 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, CFO Steven L. Keller sold 14,625 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.50, for a total value of $855,562.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 83,365 shares in the company, valued at $4,876,852.50. This represents a 14.92 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold a total of 176,000 shares of company stock valued at $11,167,173 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 12.53% of the company’s stock. About Rush Enterprises ( Free Report ) Rush Enterprises, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated retailer of commercial vehicles and related services in the United States and Canada. The company operates a network of commercial vehicle dealerships under the Rush Truck Centers name. Its Rush Truck Centers primarily sell commercial vehicles manufactured by Peterbilt, International, Hino, Ford, Isuzu, IC Bus, Blue Bird, and Dennis Eagle. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RUSHA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Rush Enterprises, Inc. ( NASDAQ:RUSHA – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Rush Enterprises Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rush Enterprises and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .mnl168.login 。

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Indonesia’s decision to pursue membership in BRICS – an emerging economy bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – signals that President Prabowo Subianto is steering foreign policy in a direction contrasting with his predecessors. During Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s two-term administration, then-former Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi led efforts to integrate Indonesia’s economy with Western institutions by working to secure membership with the OECD. Since BRICS is an alternative to Western-dominated organisations , many observers scrutinised and questioned Indonesia’s nonalignment commitment. However, Foreign Minister Sugiono argued that BRICS aligns with Indonesia’s ‘free and active’ foreign policy, allowing Indonesia to collaborate widely without aligning too closely with any single bloc. For Sugiono, joining BRICS means paving the way to advance the new government’s goals of food security, energy independence, poverty alleviation, and human capital development. The bloc offers access to funding, technology, and trade opportunities to tackle key challenges in those sectors. BRICS, with its emphasis on fairness and cooperation, supports Indonesia’s vision for a more inclusive and sustainable future. The shift from Retno’s OECD focus to Sugiono’s BRICS approach reflects at least two visions. First, Indonesia seeks to reassess its strategic position as the leading economy in Southeast Asia. Second, the country seeks to switch from its nonalignment stance to multi-alignment . The later will help navigate partnerships with both developed and emerging economies , balancing traditional alliances with new opportunities. Joining BRICS can amplify Indonesia’s influence in its already strong ties with each of the member countries and unlock opportunities beyond one-on-one partnerships. Fear of missing out Indonesia’s pivot to BRICS reflects both its relationship with major powers, such as China and the US, and regional pressures. Neighbouring countries Malaysia and Thailand have recently expressed interest in BRICS, creating a sense of competition within Southeast Asia. Both countries joining the bloc could erode Indonesia’s leadership and influence in the region, especially in affecting global affairs. Through ASEAN, Indonesia has sought to act as a regional stabiliser and mediator amid rising polarisation between the West and China . As its de facto leader, Indonesia has historically championed initiatives like the South China Sea Code of Conduct and Myanmar’s peace process. Its G20 presidency further underscored its role as a mediator between global powers. This ‘fear of missing out’ has spurred Indonesia’s interest in BRICS. Joining BRICS ahead of its regional peers ensures that Indonesia maintains its leadership position in ASEAN. For Prabowo’s administration, BRICS offers a platform to advance Indonesia’s interests in maritime security, economic growth, and global governance. It is a strategic move beyond an economic decision to amplify its voice on global issues and prevent fellow Southeast Asian countries from overtaking it in shaping the bloc’s agenda. Bold (but not one) direction Indonesia’s BRICS membership announcement highlights the new administration’s foreign policy ambitions, centred on two key shifts: adopting a multi-alignment strategy and strengthening its ‘good neighbour’ policy. Prabowo envisions engaging with all nations, fostering friendly relations while opposing oppression. This approach resonates with Indonesia’s historical commitment to sovereignty and equality in international relations. Indonesia has traditionally adhered to a nonalignment principle . This virtue has aided the country navigating major power blocs without binding itself to any single alliance. However, the current geopolitical climate – marked by intensifying tensions between global powers, regional conflicts, and intricate challenges – demands a more flexible and strategic approach. By joining BRICS, Indonesia avoids taking sides and instead diversifies its partnerships to maximise benefits. This multi-aligned approach enables active participation in BRICS discussions on multilateral reform. Prabowo’s ‘ good neighbour policy ’ further underscores the importance of maintaining positive relations with all countries. It empowers developing nations and advocates for a more equitable global order and economic system. This strategy also facilitates Indonesia’s resilience by fostering partnerships in food and energy security, poverty alleviation, and human capital development . Such collaborations reduce reliance on Western financial systems and enhance Indonesia’s autonomy. Ultimately, these strategic directions position Indonesia as a sovereign and dynamic player capable of balancing global relationships while advancing its own priorities . What about the OECD? This move does not mean the OECD is off the table for Indonesia. Instead, Prabowo’s approach reflects a dual-track strategy that values both alliances for their respective benefits. The OECD remains a long-term objective to enhance Indonesia’s economic governance and regulatory standards. It serves the goal of providing the country with stable relationships within the Western economic framework. Meanwhile, BRICS offers an immediate avenue for Indonesia to deepen ties with equivalent economies and actively shape policies that impact the Global South. Sugiono’s statement in Kazan emphasised Indonesia’s commitment to engaging in other forums, including the G20 and OECD discussions. It highlighted the country’s flexibility in international alliances. This dual-track strategy reinforces Indonesia’s role as a bridge between developed and developing nations, maximising the benefits of both alliances without sacrificing its autonomy. What’s next for Indonesia? Indonesia’s decision to join BRICS marks a significant evolution in its foreign policy. By participating in BRICS, Indonesia positions itself as a critical player in global discussions on economic reform and development, asserting its voice within a multi-polar world order. Indonesia is charting a path that balances traditional alliances with emerging opportunities, reinforcing its role as a dynamic, independent player on the world stage.

CARSON, Calif. — The LA Galaxy finished 26th in the 29-team Major League Soccer standings just one season ago, and their biggest supporters boycotted certain matches to protest a decade of poor performance. The most successful club in league history seemed light years away from its luminous prime. When the Galaxy raised the MLS Cup again Saturday amid confetti and fireworks, their spectacular transformation was complete. In only one year, a team that was profoundly lost had rediscovered its peerless championship pedigree. "We won this trophy, and it's finally back where it belongs," striker Dejan Joveljic said. Joseph Paintsil and Joveljic scored in the first half, and the Galaxy won their record sixth MLS Cup championship with a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls. After striking twice in the first 13 minutes of the final, the Galaxy nursed their lead through a scoreless second half to raise their league's biggest trophy for the first time since 2014. MLS' most successful franchise struggled through most of the ensuing years, but everything changed after LA spent smartly in the offseason to build a high-scoring new lineup topped by Paintsil, Joveljic and Gabriel Pec. The Galaxy finished second in the Western Conference and streaked through the postseason with an MLS playoff-record 18 goals in five games to win another crown. "I'm just so proud of this group after the challenges that we (had) and the way they bounced back and competed as a group," Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. "We spent a lot of energy at the start, but I'm just so proud of these guys. They've cemented themselves as legends in this club." The Galaxy even won this title without perhaps their most important player. Riqui Puig, the playmaking midfielder from Barcelona who ran their offense impressively all season long, tore a ligament in his knee last week in the conference final. Puig watched this game in a suit, but the Catalan catalyst's teammates hadn't forgotten him: After his replacement, Gastón Brugman, set up LA's opening goal with a superb pass in the ninth minute, Paintsil held up Puig's jersey to their roaring fans during the celebration. "I was really waiting for this moment," said Paintsil, who scored his 14th goal of an impressive season. "I'm much more, 10 times faster than them, and Gaston saw the space. ... It was really a good thing. We did it for Riqui, and we did it for our family that came, and our supporters." Just four minutes later, Joveljic sprinted past four New York defenders and chipped home his 21st goal. Brugman was named the MLS Cup MVP after a commanding performance in midfield. The Uruguayan hadn't started a match for the Galaxy since Oct. 5 after an injury-slowed season, playing only as a postseason substitute before the final. "I dreamed of that yesterday, of something I could give to the team," Brugman said of his pass to Paintsil. "Today, it happened." Sean Nealis scored for the seventh-seeded Red Bulls, whose improbable postseason charge ended one win shy of their first Cup championship. With the league's youngest roster, New York fell just short of becoming the lowest-seeded team to win the tournament under first-year German coach Sandro Schwarz. "I love these guys," Schwarz said. "Some guys, they are crying. In the big picture, that's a start. Sometimes when you lose the final, it's tough, but you use this experience to create the next energy, the next intensity." Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy made four saves to win his second MLS title in three seasons, but Nealis beat the 2022 MLS Cup MVP in the 28th minute when he volleyed from the penalty area. The second half was lively: Red Bulls captain Emil Forsberg hit the outside of the post in the 72nd minute, while Pec and Galaxy substitute Marco Reus nearly converted chances a few moments later. The ball got loose in the Galaxy's penalty area in the third minute of extra time, but two Red Bulls couldn't finish. After Galaxy owner Phil Anschutz received the MLS Cup that bears his name because of his steady financial support of the league during its shaky years, Galaxy captain Maya Yoshida carried the trophy to his teammates for the celebration. The Galaxy extended their lead over DC United (4) for the most MLS Cup championships in league history. The Red Bulls remain one of three original MLS franchises never to win the title, along with FC Dallas and the New England Revolution. The Galaxy finished 17-0-3 this season at their frequently renamed suburban stadium, where the sellout crowd of 26,812 for the final included several robust cheering sections of Red Bulls supporters hoping to see their New Jersey-based club's breakthrough. But this season was about the Galaxy's rebirth. The club famous for employing global stars from David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Robbie Keane and Javier "Chicharito" Hernández swiftly turned itself into a contender again by acquiring young talents without international fame. The Galaxy signed Pec from Brazil and grabbed Paintsil, a Ghanaian playing in Belgium. The duo combined with Joveljic to form a potent attack with orchestration from Puig, one of MLS' best players. "Losing a guy like Riqui after the performance he put in all season was devastating," McCarthy said. "Even if he wasn't on the field, we did it for him."Special medical camps under way in flood-hit areas: KN Nehru

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So, King Charles III finally turned up for the Australian leg of his victory lap of the Commonwealth. History editor Dr Glenn Davies declares it's time an Australian head of state was one of us... and also a resident. IT'S BEEN OVER two years since then-Prince Charles stepped into the top job. A royal tour between 18 and 26 October 2024 marked the first time that Australians experienced a royal audience with their king. After over ten years, four governors-general and two monarchs, a sitting Australian Head of State finally appeared Down Under! Our absentee King’s 17,000-kilometre journey from the other side of the world saw Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla , grace us with the presence of a British Monarch on Australian soil for the first time as our Head of State (although the grace was presented only in Sydney and Canberra). King Charles III was greeted in Canberra by the Prime Minister, but not a single state leader — all declined their invitations , citing “other commitments” ranging from election campaigns to cabinet meetings. Paying a King's ransom King Charles-the-whatever is coming to Australia on 18 October until some other date you can no doubt find in your calendar, if you could be bothered. Queensland experienced its second King’s Birthday Public Holiday — even though KCIII’s actual birthday is 19 November. Queenslanders took the day off work; not in recognition of their hard work, but to recognise the British Monarch who will most likely be sleeping through our public holiday. The King’s Birthday Public Holiday doesn’t remind us of anything good about our country. At worst, it tells us Australia’s head of state gets the job by inheritance. Perhaps it would have been better if the British Monarch had turned up for "his" birthday weekend? I suppose, though, that would have been awkward: a public holiday in Queensland, only at this time of year (with WA a week before) and Queensland not even on the visiting schedule. Oops. The lack of actual public activity around King’s Birthday Public Holiday shows just how much the concept of monarchy is out-of-step with contemporary Australia. Since his birth as Prince Charles, KCIII has known he would one day take over the top job. One morning in 2022, Australians simply woke up to hear news from Britain that could affect our country for decades to come. Australians did not choose King Charles III as our Head of State. It is a disgraceful fact that without Constitutional change, the citizens of Australia will never be consulted on our head of state. Etiquette tips for awed commoners when meeting King Chukka Here are some vital deportment behavioural protocols in the face of British flapdoodle. It’s time for an Australian to be our head of state and do the job full-time rather than someone working from home at Windsor Castle — who can’t be bothered Zooming into an Australian office once a week. We are a unique multicultural country and we need someone who understands how to embody us, to be the guardian of our Constitution — to be a unifying symbol at home and someone we are proud to see representing us abroad. Our head of state should be elected on merit, not gifted this position by birthright. They should have the skills and work experience to do the job. It should be one of us. A person responsible and accountable to us and unwaveringly loyal to us — and only us. We have our own identity as Australians. The Royals represent Britain and cannot represent us or really unite us as Australians. So many Australians believe in freedom and equal opportunity — not that some are born to rule over others. We come from all walks of life, from all corners of the globe and this ancient land. Our shared commitment to our common future is what binds us together. Standing against this is the elevation of Charles III. I’ve argued previously here that there is no place for princes and kings in modern Australia. The public repudiation of former PM Tony Abbott’s knights and dames decision showed that Australia has moved on from the old colonial way of thinking. We can have respect and affection for Britain and its celebrity royals but still, question why we do not have our own head of state. The British Royal Family: A cult of obsession Support for an Australian Republic referendum is persistently stifled by the mainstream media's obsession with treating the Royal family as celebrities. The royals are welcome to visit as representatives of Britain, but I look forward to when the British people and their royal family will welcome a visit by the first Australian head of state. In the words of Australian comedian and radio presenter Sammy J : "So to our King, we say g’day and we praise his DNA, his ever-loyal subjects across the sea. We might have golden soil and a bit of wealth for toil, but us Aussies are still girt by monarchy." For us in Australia, royalty only ever visits us from somewhere else, from across the seas. It’s not something that lives with us. Royalty comes and royalty goes, but it is never a true part of us. Thanks Charles, but we’ve got it from here. Toodle pip. You can follow history editor Dr Glenn Davies on Twitter/X @DrGlennDavies . This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License Support independent journalism Subscribe to IA. POLITICS REPUBLIC AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL KING CHARLES III Queen Camilla British Monarchy Royal Family #auspol head of state Republic Australian Constitution King’s Birthday Public Holiday Sammy J Share ArticleNews24 | Cape Town urges devolution of emergency funds for swift aid to fire victims

LA Galaxy wins record 6th MLS CupThe second annual Rusk County Youth Beef Field Day was held Nov. 21 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Farm in Overton. The event was hosted as a joint effort between Rusk County AgriLife Extension Service agents Maley Green and Grant Davis and the Overton Research Farm. This event started as an opportunity to provide local high school-age youth with hands-on experience in agriculture. While agriculture covers many topics, the purpose of this field day is to focus on aspects of beef cattle production, which is one of the main sources of agricultural income in Rusk County. This event featured agriculture professionals functioning as educators, providing the students with local expertise. Rusk County AgriLife Extension agent Grant Davis and Rusk County Farm Bureau member Damon Bassett taught students about aspects of forage production in Rusk County, and what to expect in a quality hay sample. Rusk County Farm Bureau President and Pct. 4 Commissioner Bennie Whitworth shared the importance of proper cattle management in your beef cattle herd. He focused on proper vaccination and deworming methods, stocking rates, and the importance of assessing and overseeing the health of your herd. Dr. George Perry, a research professor with the Overton Research and Extension Center, focused on cattle reproduction, used ultrasound on available heifers, allowing students to see the process of calf development in utero. With a few orange tractors in tow, Luke Wallace with Lowe Tractor focused on important things to consider when selecting equipment for your operation. Students also heard from an agent with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Disaster Assessment and Recovery Unit’s Sylvia Balew. Balew educated those in attendance about ag safety and disaster preparedness. The event saw 55 high school youth in attendance from Henderson ISD, Leverett’s Chapel ISD and Overton ISD, along with some Rusk County 4-H members. The Rusk County AgriLife Extension Service would like to thank these presenters for sharing their time and knowledge with the youth of Rusk County.

I recently asked readers of this column if they could recommend nurseries that more of us should know about. In response, Peggy Neiman suggested I visit the San Gabriel Nursery & Florist in San Gabriel, “The employees are delightful and knowledgeable with a wonderful variety of plants and flowers,” she wrote, noting the nursery’s “very interesting history.” The story is indeed interesting, and I’m going to share a summary of that history here that I got from the nursery’s website, but you can read it in full at sgnursery.com . Before doing so, I should mention that I have visited this nursery and can testify to its vast selection of fruit trees, roses and ornamental plants that’s second to none. If you are looking for cut flowers, this is also the place to go since they have a wide selection of exotic flora from which to choose. Garden accessories are also available in generous supply. Unfortunately, San Gabriel is in the citrus quarantine zone so you will have to look elsewhere for these trees. The story of today’s San Gabriel Nursery & Florist begins in 1917, with the arrival by boat of 21-year-old Fred Yoshimura in San Francisco. He had come to America with the dream of starting a business that would enable him to support his family in Japan. The following year brought Yoshimura to San Gabriel, where he lived in a boarding house while working in the gardens that were being planted in San Marino and Pasadena. The enterprising young gardener took cuttings from the plants and with money saved from his gardening jobs was soon able to rent a piece of land and establish Mission Nursery, from which he could sell nursery stock that developed from his cuttings. At this time, sprinkler systems were being installed for the first time and Yoshimura became an expert in this technology, adding to his skills as a gardening professional. Soon afterward, Yoshimura met Mitoko Naito. At the age of 15, she had come to South Pasadena to work in a home as a domestic helper. In 1924, the two young immigrants were married. At the suggestion of one of their customers, Mrs. Yoshimura became one of the first florists in the area, learning flower-arranging skills from this same customer. As their business grew, so did their family, with the Yoshimuras having two boys and two girls, all of whom would help to expand the thriving family business. By the early 1930s, Mission Nursery had 60 employees and business was booming. In addition to selling plants, the nursery installed irrigation systems, fish ponds, and rock gardens. The nursery also imported stone lanterns and benches from Japan which became quite popular, even hiring a man who had spent time in Japan learning how to craft these special Japanese garden accessories. Fred Yoshimura was proud of his heritage and helped those around him gain a better understanding of his culture. He was active in the Chamber of Commerce and president of the Nurserymen’s Association. His charitable nature came to the fore in donating truckloads of plants to military bases throughout California. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Fred Yoshimura, along with 120,000 other Japanese Americans, was sent to an internment camp even as his oldest son would be drafted and serve in the United States Army. Once the internment of Japanese Americans began, it was assumed that the nursery would have to be sold. Mrs. Yoshimura was approached by several buyers but rejected their offers which were too low. Finally, Manchester Boddy, publisher of the Los Angeles Daily News, presented a fair offer that was accepted by Mrs. Yoshimura. Not only would Boddy’s offer allow the Yoshimuras to pay off their bank loans, but they would receive monthly payments throughout their internment that made it possible for them to start another nursery business in the future. It should also be noted that while Mrs. Yoshuimura was in the camp, she was hired by the government to run a flower shop. She grew the plants and flowers that were used in floral arrangements for weddings and other events. When the war ended in 1945, the Yoshimuras returned to San Gabriel and established San Gabriel Nursery & Florist across the street from where Mission Nursery stood. That nursery was soon closed when Manchester Boddy took all the inventory to his estate where he started his own nursery business. That estate eventually became Descanso Gardens and visitors there will set their eyes on camellias, azaleas, and Japanese lanterns that were from the stock Boddy acquired when purchasing Mission Nursery from the Yoshimuras. On the nursery’s website, there is a compelling photo of a field of pansies on the San Gabriel Nursery property at that time. In those days, pansies (and other flowers, I am sure) were not purchased in plastic containers. You would go to the nursery and point to the flowers you wanted and they would be dug up for you to take home and transplant into your own garden. It should be noted that Bellefontaine Nursery, in Pasadena, was started in the 1930s by the Uchidas, another Japanese American family. They too were interned during World War II, but with the assistance of friends were able to keep possession of the nursery during the war. You can read the complete history of the nursery and the family behind it at bellefontainenursery.com . California native of the week : Foliage, flowers and hips (fruit) of California wild roses (Rosa californica) are all fragrant and the hips are recommended for making tea. California wild roses will appreciate a bit more moisture than other native plants. While growing in full sun close to the coast, they will benefit from partial shade in hotter, more inland environments. California wild roses make a fine natural barrier because of their nasty thorns that will keep out meandering urban wildlife. Individual plants will grow in a thicket, with each rose bush reaching up to 6 feet tall with a spread of 10 feet. There is a wonderful display of these roses in a planter at the entrance to the Los Angeles Zoo.