Sometimes, I get all existential and ask. "Is it all worth it?"/

And then a vermilion colored miracle like this happens.

FMD types - Sometimes, I get all existential and ask. "Is it all worth it?"

Sometimes you get what ?

In other words, sometimes it feels like a full time job fighting fungi, fmv, nematodes,freezes, heat, rain, fig rust, birds etc. Sometimes, I feel like taking up a less challenging hobby.

Amazing looking fig you have there FMD. Is that half inch pvc? 

Frank.. in one word "YES"....

How do you get in that thing to pick figs?  I notice it's your only fig tree inside the cage.  Are you planning cages for all of them?  Good job!
Suzi

I understand Frrank hopefully that wanes when your main crop comes in and you get to enjoy them.  ; )

Martin, they are relentless.
I am Wile E Coyote, Elmer Fudd, Sylvester the Cat  and they are the Roadrunner. I go shopping at Acme (Lowes) for the latest contraptions but they always seem to win. I am just waiting for an anvil to fall on my head.
My next scheme will more than likely involve TNT.

OK, the conduit is 1/2". You can lift the netting to get to the figs. I am working on a portable model that can be moved from one tree to the next depending on which figs are maturing. The black ones need protection more than the white ones.
It pisses me off that I have to do this in order to sample fruit that I worked so hard to produce. 
Yes, I like my whine with cheese just fine, thank you.

I feel your pain, Frank. My figs are fine (so far, knock on wood!). but a couple of times I've had a groundhog or other varmit move into my garden just when the tomatoes start to turn and try to wipe out the whole crop. Man, is that a heart-breaker!

Add some pvc elbows, & glue to that idea, and  "VIOLA!" instant portable!
Attach the netting with plactic straps or velcro.

FMD, I love it!  I just made this for my container Black MIssion fig trees with lots of ripe figs.  I found some tomato trellis and used zip ties to attach the bird netting on the sides.  I uses 2 cages and there you have it!  When the figs are gone, I just unhook the two cages and fold them you.  However, I like your PVC idea better.  Way to go!

I too feel your pain, Frank. The birds must have gotten at least 1/3 my blueberry crop this year. I don't even get any until there are so many ripe that there are too many for the birds to eat.

One bird got so fat, he had to run away - too heavy to fly anymore.

Portable anti-avian fig protectors:


You can make them taller by adding lengths of tubing as seen in the photo.

Nice work Frank. I need to do the same. Did you glue the joints?

Jimmie, don't get me started on my complete and total ignorance of all things engineering. After hours of trial and error, I did end up gluing the tri-socket joints. I felt like a cro-magnon cutting his meat with a blunt rock.

Nice set up, Frank.   I know that stuff is light, but 1/2 inch is small diameter.
How does it hold up in wind?  How are you anchoring it?

Thanks Dave. Fortunately, high winds are infrequent in Tallahassee, but they could be anchored in various ways including staking, or weighing down with bricks etc.

Thanks noss.  Our high monsoon winds will rip up anything not heavily anchored and blow blow it into the next county.  I have used concrete form stakes.  They work good.   But they cost nearly 4 bucks each, and I'm going to need 40-50 of them.  Looking for a cheaper idea.  I am thinking of maybe 3/8" rebar, but then you have to cut it.

If you know anyone in concrete construction they probably own a rebar shear or a cut off saw you could use.

OR

you could rent a cut off saw. You could cut them all in about five minutes.

Yup.   That's probably how I'll do it.   Meanwhile...I am always looking at other options.

My biggest dilemma with "bird cages" is the size of the fig tree or bush. What do I do next year when  theoretically the plants will be 2-3 times the size they are now? I say theoretically because last year they were all killed to the ground by a late freeze. 
Regardless, the cage over the Hardy Chicago has given me the opportunity to truly savor this variety for the first time and WOW!, what a great tasting fig! It starts off with a teasing light effervescent berry flavor on the palate exploding into a complex sweetness that lingers long afterwards. Open one up and breathe it in...ahhh, almost as good as eating it.

Hardy Chicago: the unpretentious rock star of figs.

FMD - shhh dont tell anyone.  ; )
I been saying for years how good Hardy Chicago is.
Glad you like now come over to the dark side !

All of my HC figs are ripening now.  I have one that's 7 feet tall and the figs are absolutely amazing!  When they crack all around, oh my gosh they are so sweet and rich!  I haven't cover the tree so I stand in the bed of PU to cover the ripe figs.  The tree is in a huge pot but I really should put that dome shaped PVC over it.