Head snap

Author

Comment

musillid

Registered:1327758167
Posts: 1,507

Posted 1453042444	Reply with quote #1

I live seventy miles south of Cleveland, Ohio. It gets cold here. Winds come right out of Chicago, miss any warming effect from the lakes, sweep down over the start of the Great Plains and hit us with a frigid smack in the face. That's how it was two winters ago. We bottomed out at -20F and it stayed that way for a few days. That's why I was astounded driving through town two summers ago when in my peripheral vision I spotted a tree in the lawn of a business that made my head snap sideways. It took a few more drives-by before I could shake that feeling of cognitive dissonance. It was indeed a fig tree that had made it through that winter. I promised myself I would call and ask whose tree that was. Time passed and before I knew it, summer and fall were history and the bare, dead stems of that tree stood stark against yet another bone-chilling winter. I wrote off that fig. Two winters like that in a row? It probably didn't have the reserve to come back. I was wrong. Once again that fig sprouted out of the ground. It came out as a small shrub and grew several stems to four feet or more. I resolved to get some cuttings. Autumn arrived. Leaves gave up their green, slipped their moorings and drifted to the ground. I was ready. I drove by once more, only to find that the lawn service had this year dutifully trimmed that fig to the ground. No cuttings for me! El Nino will make this a mild winter. That tree will be back. I will be ready. I think, though a change of tactics is in order. Early on I will find the person responsible for that tree and make a friend of him (her), and then perhaps you will see one more member added to this forum and if we can't determine the identity of that fig, it will be dubbed "unk Mansfied Hardy." __________________ Dale non compost mentis in Zone 6a

GregMartin

Registered:1370378358
Posts: 550

Posted 1453044620	Reply with quote #2

Subscribed! Thanks Dale. Looking forward to the next update! __________________ zone 5 Maine Seeking: Saint Martin, Naples White, Black Tuscan, Bécane, French Alps, Abruzzi, Tenica, Wild Mountain Figs from the coldest corners (Iranian, Turkish or other...would love seeds too)

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1453048450 · Edited	Reply with quote #3

That is one STRONG FIG TREE! You definately want cuttings from it. So you should go get whatever is there now! I took cuttings from a STUMP two months ago. My mom mentioned that she has been watching this STUMP at her local 99 Cents store for many years as it keeps getting chopped down by gardeners. That fig tree just wont go away! So one day, we went there and found literally one tiny, tiny stump with three or four twigs coming out of it. I took all the tiny twigs thinking they would just die since it was green wood and really they were tiny, maybe 2 inches long. Well ya know what...the twigs are ALIVE! That tree just wants to live! Below is a picture of one of the four twigs. My mom took two and I took two. She grew hers in water, which by the way, the twigs sprouted roots witin one week! I grew mine in perlight & worm castings. Havent seen roots yet but my mom has a REAL green thumb and my thumb isnt truley always green. Both of mine are alive though. I suggest you go look for twigs and give it a try. If it survived two winters maybe even twigs will grow? Ps: I named my tree "Lola99" as my moms name is Lola and 99 cent store is where she found it. Mind you, she has no clue what type of fig it is at all since she has only seen the stump and a few leaves here snd there. We will find out! Attached Images image.jpeg (914.44 KB, 27 views) __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

kyle3728

Registered:1448341640
Posts: 27

Posted 1453077691	Reply with quote #4

I grew up just east of Canton Ohio. I will be interested to see what you find out! __________________ Wish List: UCD Black Ischia, Florea, Any Rimada figs Iroquois, South Dakota Zone 4, Greenhouse, Zone 9-10 https://www.facebook.com/FairacreFarm

musillid

Registered:1327758167
Posts: 1,507

Posted 1453082231 · Edited	Reply with quote #5

Kyle, Largest Abruzzi population in the US is centered at Canton. Youngstown is east of Canton. Family there, too. My sixth grade teacher was from South Dakota. They build strong women out there. Meg, They are pretty amazing plants. I suspect that I will find this one is a Hardy Chicago bought at one of the big box stores a few years ago. Greg, On a slow day I am going to call these folks and start asking questions. I will post what I find. __________________ Dale non compost mentis in Zone 6a

don_sanders

Registered:1429304713
Posts: 219

Posted 1453099061	Reply with quote #6

It would be interesting to see what the figs look/taste like. I hope it works out for you. __________________ Don - Columbus, OH. Zone 5b/6a Wish list: Rafed/Adriano's Genovese Nero, Your favorite fig.

LJFiggy

Registered:1448185688
Posts: 145

Posted 1453112201	Reply with quote #7

Looking forward to hearing positive updates, Dave...what a will to live and thrive! That tree deserves to continue on. __________________ ~New to growing figs, I currently have tiny fig plants which are supposedly Little Ruby, Violette de Bordeaux, Desert King, and Petite Negri. I hope these were accurately labeled! Now rooting LSU Gold and Purple, Celeste, Panache, Peter's Honey, and Unknown Varieties from cuttings, thanks to generous forum members. Figs on my current wish list (along with any others recommended): Osborne Prolific, Battaglia Green, Smith, Kadota, Italian Honey, Atreano, Verte or Green Ischia, Panache, Peter's Honey, Black Madeira, Smith, Noir de Caromb, etc. ~

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1453224803	Reply with quote #8

Yes, do keep us posted on this one, Dale. __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

Previous Topic | Next Topic

Modal title

Insert Code

Please paste your code into the box below: