Hi everyone! I'm new to the forum and thought I'd introduce myself...

My name's Ellen Force. I'm a neuroscientist by profession and a botanist by passion. Outside, I largely grow fruits and vegetables, with additional emphasis on iris and butterfly host/nectar plants. In the greenhouse, I have a few hundred orchids, along with some citrus trees and now figs.

I started growing figs four years ago, and this year I've decided to expand my collection. I was delighted to come across this forum, and have been lurking in the shadows for some time now. Time to say hello properly, so...... hi!  :-)


My current fig collection: Adriatic JH, Atreano, Alma, Black Mission, Blue Celeste, Bourjasotte Gris, Col de Dame Blanc & Noir, Fico Nera de Duemane, Flanders, Ischia, Italian Black, Lebanese Red, LSU Gold & Hollier, Panache, Petite Negri, Raspberry Latte, Sal's, St. Anthony, Sumacki, Syrian Long, Ventura, Violette de Bordeaux, White Marseille, White Texas Everbearing

Hi Ellen and welcome !! Very , very nice collection of figs !! Orchids too - oh I can't wait for pictures of both !!

Ellen, welcome to the forum. You said and "now" figs. By your collection, it looks like you already contracted the figaholics disease.

Hi Ellen...welcome to the Forum...I see from your post that you are well on your way to an awesome fig collection... best wishes to you in the persuit of your hobby.

Welcome aboard! Always nice to see another nutmegger.

Hi Ellen,

Nice intro. I'm sure with your experience you will be eating plenty figs soon. Your collection shows that you know what to look for in a fig. Welcome!

Welcome.  And since someone's going to say it, finally the Force is with us!

Great collection you have there.  What's your specific area?  There are lots of academics here.

The Force is indeed with you! :-P

I'm in north central CT, zone 6A. All my figs are in pots, getting moved outside in the warmer months (as we don't have that many) and staying happy and toasty the rest of the year in the greenhouse.

Mike, you're certainly right. Once I made the decision to expand, it all sort of happened at once!

Thanks for the warm welcome, guys!

Finally! Someone who can explain what goes on in our brains when we indulge in figs!

I meant what area of neuroscience.  :)  There's still a few figs you might consider.  Maltese Falcon, Maltese beauty, Marseilles VS Black, Black Ischia, Gallacia, Black Madeira and Battaglia Green.  I'm assuming you have Col de Dame Blanc and CdD Noire - 2 separate plants.  Or do you have the single CdD Blanca & Negra?

Whoops, sorry Bob! I'm in regenerative neuroscience; I grow populations of new neurons for implantation into people who've suffered neurodegeneration or brain injury.


I actually just bought Marseilles VS Black yesterday! I completely forgot to put it on my list above. The Malteses interest me greatly, I can't wait to get my hands on them. And yes, my CDD Noir and Blanc are two separate trees. I hope to experiment with grafting this year to make combination trees, but I haven't gotten there quite yet.

Dale, I'm of the opinion that people whose pleasure centers activate upon eating figs have the very, very best brains. Or, at least the wisest!

Sweet collection.
Welcome!

Welcome! I'm happy to see your from the same area as me (I live in Springfield MA) Maybe you can join me find a fig that will survive in ground with no protection with me

Ellen, you're the perfect person to do home tissue culture.  There's a protocol that seems to eliminate fig mosaic virus.

http://www.kitchenculturekit.com/index.htm

The Force is always welcome and a very nice collection.

goss

Hi Elle,
Welcome to a great forum.  Nice to see new people coming on board.  It's a fun place to learn about figs.

Welcome Ellen, so glad to have you! Looks like you have a wonderful collection, please post some pictures when you get a chance we all slobber over pictures.

yes pix. pix is good. i'm trying to catch up on welcome thing. welcome to the forum. 

Welcome Ellen,

  I too am new to the forum enjoy growing orchids and if it wasn't for orchids I would not have my fig trees. All started last year when a friend who is also on the forum decided to divide his orchids and invited me over to reap the bounty of his divisions. During that time as I was leaving he said here and handed me a fig tree. Kept it all last year, past the Rhode Island winter and in the spring it came out of dormancy and I was happy. I have since expanded my collection due to the same person to 15 healthy happy fig trees.

  I can honestly say the little time I have been on the forum, I have learned a ton about these wonderful trees. I also have all my trees growing in pots which I will winter over in my basement. So welcome, its good to see a fellow orchid grower.

Hello and welcome!

Paul,

     I am continually amazed at coincidences like this. I got several in my orchid group started on figs by handing out extras. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to here it happened somewhere else, too. Maybe we should get Ellen started on orchids while we're at it.

Hi everyone! I'm sure my orchid friends wouldn't mind picking up an additional addiction, either! But for the moment, my collection is in the expansion phase, so they'll have to wait a year or two before I'm able (or willing) to share. :-P

I have a greenhouse chock full of orchids, though. I present you with evidence: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amaliaforce/sets/72157621792924593/

I will do my best to get pictures of my fig trees in short order, though the weather is not giving me an opportunity as of yet. I had figs off my petite negra, mission, and ischia... but they never made it inside, let alone near my camera. I'll try to do better in the future. :-)

Hi Ellen, and welcome to the forum. Just looked through your orchid pix and all I can say is WOW!! Now I can't wait for your fig pix :-)

Ellen,

  Your orchids a wonderful. I am impressed you grow Cats, Phals, Dends, Vandas, looked like a Brass and some Oncid and like the others I cant wait to see your fig pictures. Trust me you will have no problem growing figs they are so easy and very tolerant even in our varied climate of New England :) 

Ellen,

That's tremendous. Is that Encyclia cordigera I see in there? And I thought I spotted Paph lowii. it looks like you might have one of the Colmanara Wildcat clones. I'm impressed with how clean these blooms look.