In the link below, more towards the bottom Dan says the Cajun Honey which JR has for sale does come from cuttings taken from Italian Honey. 

Cajun Honey and Louisiana Honey are two entirely different figs.

The fig that JR sold as Louisiana Honey came from cuttings that I personally gave to him. Those cuttings were taken by me from an Italian Honey fig tree.  When I gave a large bag of those cuttings (and some others), I told him that I had discovered another heirloom yellow fig that was the sweetest fig that I have ever tasted. I told him I was going to call it Louisiana Honey.  This heirloom fig came to the US by immigrants and was first planted on an island offshore in Louisiana. Hurricanes have since destroyed the original tree. Later that season when JR started selling the trees from the IH cuttings that I gave to him, JR had it listed in his price list as "Louisiana Honey". 

So...........I had to change the name of my newly discovered fig and now call this yellow heirloom fig......Cajun Honey. This fig belongs in the super-sweet category of figs. It is sweeter than Italian Honey. The amber pulp strain of LSU Golden Celeste is "almost" as sweet as this fig. Cajun Honey figs drip lots of honey that turns solid and it tends to retain its yellow color when ripe.  All amber pulped Golden Celeste figs drip lots of honey too......however, they get "ugly" with those brown colored sugar spots. That is probably why LSU has chosen not to release this particular strain. I'll have a lot more to say about these figs later this season.

Dan
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Dan, that Cajun honey sounds like a good fig. Please let us know how it fares.

Jose, for some reason I cannot get into the chat room............sent you a PM.

I'll give reports later this year.

Dan
Semper Ficus

The Cajun Honey sounds like one fabulous fig. Dan--I can only imagine how you felt when you found that fig tree on the island. A shame it no longer exists. Will be interesting to follow how this fig fares.

For further clarification.............JR's fig is NOT the Cajun Honey heirloom fig that I discovered. His is an Italian Honey fig that came from cuttings that I personally gave to him. They did not come from the Cajun Honey mother tree. JR is sometimes free with his naming.......like he was with his Sicilian Black unknown that he sold AKA Sal's. Cajun Honey is a small fig....JR's IH fig is much larger and less sweet. It will split following heavy rains. Although it can handle light rain. Cajun Honey is more rain tolerant and bug resistant because its solid honey seals the eye.

One day Dan, you're going to be famous for populating the original Cajun Honey fig tree in the US.  Good job!  Can't wait to get one in my orchard.    

I figured it was the hurricane that took the tree out.  For clarification, do you have a current plant of the Cajun Honey or cuttings in progress?  If so, I know I (and others I am sure) would love to see photos, etc.    Thanks for the info!!

It is not about getting fame or recognition. For me it is all about "saving" some of those rare figs that may soon be forever lost. There are more Dr. O'Rourke selections in the area than most people are aware of. It is about finding heirloom figs that do well in my rainy climate and advising people of those which do well in my type of climate. It is about finding figs that produce at different times so that they will extend the fig season for those of us who truly love figs. It is a most enjoyable hobby for me.  I do not sell trees and I do not sell cuttings on ebay.

My Cajun Honey is one that died to the ground this winter and has not come up from the roots........fire ants got into the roots and I left too many unripe figs on the tree before first frost. I have a small backup tree.  It's all a good learning experience.......even the setbacks.

During the months of July and August, I will be searching for heirloom figs in a part of Louisiana that was settled by Italians many years ago. They have established the Strawberry industry that now exists in that part of the state. Fruit lovers that they are, I'm sure there are some good little known figs to be found in that particular area too.

Dan, I understand what you are saying.  I am looking for some unique and interesting fig trees in my area.  In my area there are just too many Brown Turkey and Celeste fig trees.   When I travel around my area and find people who have fig trees, I ask them what cultivar is it?  I get the same answer every time.  They always say, "it's just s fig tree!"  It just burns me up!  Don't get me wrong, Southeastern Brown Turkey and Celeste are excellent fig.  But there are so many other cultivars out there.  

Dennis,

That's one way you can find heirloom figs......by talking to people who sell, buy, or simply love fruit. That white fig may turn out to be a good find.  IMO, there are many heirloom figs left to be found in French, Greek, Portuguese, and Italian communities through out the US.  Many ethnic groups have settled in the Louisiana melting pot......especially the Italians and French.

What is so different in my area is those hurricanes that will knock down many fig trees as they pass through. These storms manage to insure that marginal fig trees will be eliminated. The owners will only replace their lost fig tree with a better fig. They will not replant a marginal fig tree. When I find someone who planted the same fig cultivar multiples times.....I know that it is a good fig. The "old timers" in my area who grow fruit LOVE to talk about their fig and fruit trees.

I started bringing Ken Love's poster of 126 different fig varieties with me whenever I go fig hunting. When those fig lovers see all of those pictures, it always makes for good conversation and sometimes good leads towards finding other heirloom figs in the area. I had that poster framed and it hangs on the wall beside my desk. I look at it often........worth every penny I paid for it.



Dan
Semper Fi-cus

Great tip Dan, I just might get me one of those posters!

I got a Cajun honey from Mr. Robin. It's about 3 feet tall and has few figlets on it. IMO its leaves shape/pattern dose not resemble the Italian Honey. 

Your tree is definitely (100% sure) an Italian Honey fig......the cuttings James Robin used to propagate those trees came from me. The name Cajun Honey (AKA Louisiana Honey) was one given by me to one of my other trees. It is an heirloom fig that James Robin does not have.  Pisses me off that he did that.....

I will post pictures of "your" fig and the mother tree in this thread later on in the season.

You know Dan, I did ask JR about if his Cajun Honey and if the cuttings for it was from a Italian Honey? He said, NO. He told me that he got the cuttings from a lady who leaves in LA and has the mother tree in her position.

I am not at all offended......just telling you what I KNOW your tree to be. JR's memory is not what it used to be. I am definitely not calling him a liar. There were well over 75 cuttings in the bag of cuttings that I gave to him. He sold no type of honey figs (Italian, Cajun, or Louisiana) prior to that. And, I gave him another big bag of Strawberry (Adriatic) cuttings.....which he placed in the refrigerator right next to his "mist propagator" setup. He did not sell the Strawberry/Adriatic one either until I gave him cuttings. HE wrote the name of those cuttings on those bags after we were talking figs all morning. You posted a picture of his misting setup. I had taken quite a few pictures of his setup as he was trying to root "fig leaves" at that time. We talked about that project on several visits over many months. He asked me not to put my pictures on the Internet until he wrote an article in the "Southern Fruit Fellowship" publication. I never did put them on either fig forum.

You have been to James Robin's place one time. I have been there many times, over several years.      Just saying......

He did gave me the permission to post any pictures that I took that day. I made sure of that by asking him multiple times if I it was OK, and each time he said yes. 

I am going to post pictures of both the fruit and of the mother tree for you. Like I've said....I am 100% sure of this. Few things happen in the retail fig world in South Louisiana that I do not know about. And I have lots more fig related information on some things that I simply cannot put on the internet at this time......some is for publishing later.


Dan
Semper Fi-cus

.........when it fruits.....Mr. Impatient!!
Dan
Semper Fi-cus

I speak to JR at least once a year (via phone).

gorgi,

lol.......some are still trying to pick away at my credibility....lol

Navid,

Not only has JR gotten those particular "Italian Honey" cuttings (at least 75) from me.....he also got a big bag of Strawberry/Adriatic cuttings too. And yes indeed he is a nice guy who does his very best to keep his fig trees well identified and free of nematodes. I remember the day I gave him those cuttings. We had been discussing figs over at his place all morning long the day I brought him those cuttings.....and JR apparently wrote the name of my unknown heirloom fig (which we had discussed too that morning) upon which I had written IH on the bag. He was going to put those cuttings in his outside refrigerator (next to his propagation mister) and hundreds of roaches came out of the refrigerator. I even joked about that being the secret to his success in rooting. Say whatever you want......those are the facts. Those cuttings simply DID NOT COME from an "old lady". Nor did his Sal's come from Belleclare Nursery.....they came from an "old lady" whose initials are M.S. And, she used to live in Metairie, La. Years ago I talked to her and got the information that JR's Sal's was an heirloom Sicilian Black fig that actually came to the US by MS's grandfather directly from Sicily. That too is FACTUAL.......

Like I've stated before, JR's memory is definitely not what it used to be. You notice such things as time goes by.  He once told both me and my brother some things about his mail order sales while we were in his office that he does not recall telling me. My brother came with me on that trip particular trip because JR thought they were both in the National Guard together. This was at the time he first started with mail order sales and he had that nematode problem.  We talked a lot at that time. I was the person who first put his information on the interenet and he wanted to know what people were saying about him. A fellow named "marylandmojo" was threating to turn him over to the Feds. JR has forgiven all involved during this time frame.......Even some who did not pay him. He is a Christian man and has forgiven all.  But, I remember "clearly" what he told me in his office. In fact, his older (80's) friend (don't recall his name) who passed away about a year ago had an "okra" slicer that he wanted to show to me. It was so well made and so functional that I had him make one for me.....costs only $100.  IMO it is is a well crafted "piece of art"....made out of stainless, Teflon, and aluminum. This piece is kept on a shelf in my office where I can appreciate its quality and craftsmanship. He did not choose to get a patent on his design. Sadly, JR might not even remember those discussions and transaction that occurred in his very own kitchen and living room. Not bashing anybody......those are just the FACTS.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus