Stumbled across a gorgeous picture on amazing pics today with this caption, "Stunning Red Autumn Woods, Madeira, Portugal". It made me curious. Is this where good figs come from? I'm trying to get my fig history lesson for the day.

Interesting picture. Is it real or 'enhanced'? Mediterranean climates aren't generally known for displays of fall color.

There is some interesting information on Madeira and figs in this thread starting with post 23.

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/violeta-still-strong-6569728

Very nice photo, thanks for sharing.

Best,
Tam

Thanks for the info. Not sure if this picture is real or photo shopped but I would love to visit Madeira someday to confirm! So the info I am seeing is that violetta gave birth to preto which is actually BM and if you asked for a BM in Madeira they may hand you a fish. =)

"Martin,

Thanks for showing your grown-up Black Madeira

That is a very nice and robust tree. And it looks very prolific as well.
Think we are all lucky and happy growing this cultivar and its ancestors, Preto and Violeta.

Tam,

Thank you.

The name Black Madeira was ( I think) given to Figo Preto after it landed and rooted in California. The name is exclusive to America

In Madeira it is 'Figo Preto' as it is called over there. Nobody to my knowledge, in Madeira, knows the meaning of Black Madeira, neither relates this expression to a fig.

In southern Portugal this cultivar, the father of Preto and BM is Violeta.

Note: Last year, eating with friends in a local restaurant run by a fellow from Madeira and tasting some local black Smyrnas for dessert, I asked him if he was aware of Black Madeira, the fig... He said that I was probably mixing up fish with figs, to what I asked why..
and he said that the only black madeira he was aware of, was the popular Madeira's scabbard, (which is black), the filets and roe are a delicacy and sell like hot cakes to his British clients.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cY56UlafLO0/Tr6oheqA-BI/AAAAAAAAJhI/6oX9uDV8DHo/s1600/3.JPG

Francisco"

Scott,

Thanks for your concise description of the history of Black Madeira's different names.  Very helpful.

I don't know much about the picture but my wife and I were lucky enough to have spent one glorious day on the Island about 3 years ago. 

Funchal was the port of entry and where many British and Irish expats make their home. Lucky people!
I remember the Madeira wine. I remember the warm, sunny March day and friendly locals. I remember looking for fig trees, spotting them and not being able to access them for various reasons. No Black Madeira cuttings from me. :( 

that's a beauty. i remember mountains in korea back in 70's. lovely fall colours.

Frank-

I saw how Madeira wine is quite unique. It looks like the purposefully oxidize it. Adding this trip to the bucket list!

I spent a week in Madeira in late October and early November 2004.  My father's parents immigrated from there and I loved the visit and thought I'd maybe like to retire there.  There are some beautiful forests but I didn't see anything like this and doubt anybody has.  Someone had shared this photo with me before and I searched back then so I knew this was not legitimate.  It seems that this photo has been spread around a whole lot more since then because it was a lot tougher for me to find the original photo this time around even though I remember to search for "Basque".

http://imgur.com/gallery/kMBdX



I had made this trip in connection with my participation in an international chestnut congress on the continent.  But I was also sure to visit the chestnut festival on Madeira here: http://www.madeira-web.com/pagesuk/curral-freiras.html