Hello Everyone, I would like to introduce myself. I am Shirley, and I live on the south side of Seattle, in Des Moines. 

I want to start by saying how much I appreciate all the support and shared knowledge provided here.  

Threads providing basic information that are posted at the top are extremely helpful as I continue to learn more about figs.

My story:

It all started when we moved to our current home which has a big old fig tree right in the middle of the back garden.  I had no idea what it was, so that first year I just watched it grow and develop. One day around the first of August I bit into a fig. It was dry and tasteless.  I had no idea it wasn’t ripe.   I soon learned what a ripe fig tasted like and I was hooked.  

I start drooling every year about this time, as I anticipate that first fresh fig of the season.  Yesterday I noticed a few on the tree beginning to plump and droop with the weight, so any day now.  Over the years my fig loving friends named my tree the “Magic Fig Tree” and so it is.

I have only eaten one variety of fig, those from my tree, but I can see that is about to change.

The area we live, about 2 miles south of SeaTac Airport, is about to change, hence my quest to propagate my fig tree.  Soon after moving here we learned of future developments.  Because of a bad economy and many delays, it was slow coming, but it is now fast approaching.   We have had 10 years to enjoy our little piece of paradise.  When the time comes to move, I want figs to go.

The little two lane road in front of our home is currently changing into four lanes, with all that goes along with it.

F4F was one of a few websites I discovered last spring as I was trying to figure out how to propagate my 60 year old Desert King.  (At least I have been calling it DK for the last 10 years).  I would like to post some picture, once I figured out how, to ask for your expertise to confirm or correct me as to the variety I have.

Although I discovered F4F last spring I only started reading the “forum” regularly this March when I began selling cuttings on eBay.  As I am a complete neophyte when it comes to figs, I searched the forum for answers to questions from potential buyers.   I had never sold on eBay before so I learned quickly.  By the end of spring I had also purchased cuttings from eBay.  I think this is how it begins, you start with one and next thing you know you have many.  The cuttings I purchased rooted and are now in pots.

Very welcome.Nice story.

Welcome :) I'm relatively new here too. Looking forward to seeing some pictures of that magical tree :)

Welcome Ms. Shirley. Ahh the holy grail, a "Magic Fig Tree". Congrats, I'm hoping for magic figs someday as well. =)

Welcome to the forum!

Welcome aboard:)  

Welcome to the forum

Francisco

Welcome.

Welcome Shirley! 

When you reply to a topic you will see a little green icon in the font strip.  It's the one that looks like a tree sort of.  Just click it, and a browse box opens.  You can search your computer and choose a photo of your tree.  It won't take anything bigger than 1mb, so I try to size mine 640 x 480, but it will take them a little bigger.  If you send them to yourself with your smart phone, just choose size small to send.  Easy to post.

Sorry about the city sprawl coming your way.  We see it here.  This is a dairy farm / citrus orchard town, and builders are slowly eating that up.  They are widening main roads, and I see them putting in sewer lines.  At the moment, it's just bare land around this, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see what's ahead.  I envision our old city center to build new and grand, leaving old town and moving to the center of the new sprawl.  This reminds me, I need to take photos of those pretty cows before they all sell out. 

And OMG!  I drove past a farm that had many Texas Longhorn steer resting under trees two days ago.  Gonna have to stop the car and cross my fingers they aren't bulls!

Suzi

Welcome

Nice introduction, Shirley. Welcome to the forum. Desert King is a favorite of mine, and I'm glad that you are thinking ahead to save yours.

Hi DesmoinesWafig,
Welcome to the forum.
It seems that you already have a nice toy to play with at rooting, so just do it ! ;) .
Just one question: in 10 years, you didn't add more daughters from your tree in your property .... How can that be ?
Didn't your tree send root-suckers (small plants in the dirt near the trunk) ?

Welcome to the forum 4 fig friends. We may not know everything but we know more than we did yesterday.

Shirley, thanks for sharing your story and welcome to the forum.

Aloha and welcome, Shirley.  You'll find a lot of knowledge here, as well as, wonderful people.

Welcome, Shirley.
Looks like you're building up a nice collection.
VdB is one of my favorites so far.

Hi and welcome :)

Welcome to the forum, Shirley! 

Welcome!  I am up north, near Northgate Mall. I have a magical purple fig with amber pulp.. it is good. Beats the odds of figs not growing well for us in this region... you have another fig person near you. If you want one of mine, I have some airlayers rooted into the ground. Coming fall, I can dig one up for you.



(Hey Mimi, where have you been?)

Thank you all, for your warm welcome.

David -

Although I am a northwest native, my roots lie in Gainesville, GA.  My dad and grandmother were both born in the same cabin.  After dad got out of the military he moved west.  Pictures attached.  Lets see if I did them right.

Billy –

 You just never know where you will find it and low and behold it is in your own back yard.  My fig tree is magic to friends, family, coworker and others who have enjoyed the abundance it has offered. A friend named it that years ago, and it just stuck. 

Suzi –

Thanks for the quick tutorial on posting pictures.  I know the information is posted somewhere.  Much appreciated.  Yes, change is everywhere.  My childhood memories are of farm land that are long gone.

Gary –

I had to do something.  Not having figs from my tree is not an option.  It is just such a wonderful fruit.

Jdsfrance –

To be honest, 10 years ago I was just enjoying the fruits and happily sharing them with others.

Also, I had no idea how to propagate cuttings and no idea I could.  I have learned a lot in the last year.  Prior to that my attempts were 100% failure.

I do have daughters from my mother tree that were started last spring.  They are about 4 foot tall now.  I still have lots to learn.

Next, I would really like to propagate my contorted filbert. It is beautiful year round, but I haven’t figured out how.  I think I need root stock.

Wayne –

Absolutely, I learn a little more every day.  I happened upon the five leaf pinch at the perfect time this spring when I could try it.

Nate –

I can tell there are wonderful people here.  Every now and again I miss reading for a week or two and enjoy catching up.

Rui –

I tried to add some new varieties, as I had never tried any other figs and     tried to pick just a few really good ones.  Time will tell how they do in our climate.

 
        

The last two pictures are the cutting rooted this spring.

Shirley,

Congratulations!

What a nice, robust and healthy fig!
Your garden , although with just one big producing San Pedro delicious breba (King) looks fabulous to me.
It immediately brought up to my mind the potential to graft on such a big and robust tree, 2 or 3 (or more) additional selected varieties.
This would compensate the main crop of this tree which, I believe, you cannot ripen!
And a year or two from now you could well be tasting and comparing other nice and delicious figs with diff colors, flavors ..
Good luck

Francisco

Hello, and welcome aboard !!

Grasa, that is a generous a offer.  Lets talk later and see if I have a trade you may be interested in.

Shirley, my mom in law lives in   Seatac, just up from the Fed. Detention, at about 14th, when I come to visit her, I could bring you my fig... send me a private message with your phone we shall coordinate. I love your greenhouse/ hand built? does it work well for you?

Grasa, Your mom in law is only a stones throw from me.  Yes, the greenhouse is hand built.  My SO figured out what materials he needed and built it for me a couple years ago.  It works well for my needs.