This past week I was in San Diego for work and had the awesome opportunity to visit Jon and his Nursery. I was completely blown away by Jon's kindness and hospitality.  

I was greeted with a warm smile and no less than 3 dozen figs ready to taste, many of which were firsts times tastings for me. The figs Jon selected ranged from Adriatic, to Hardy Chicago, CDdN, Vista, a bunch of numbered varieties to finally a perfectly ripe Black Madeira. Many of the fig taste were very good and much much better than any other figs I've had to date as most I've have had were commercially grown or from my own local climate. The tastes ranged from deep strawberry to hint of raspberry to almost melon. Various levels of seed crunch to almost non perceptible seed crunch and skin thicknesses ranged from thin to al dente proved to be a taste and tactile adventure that while I thoroughly enjoyed, I was not quite prepared for. I just didn't know the fruit of a fig could be so excellent.  It took me half a dozen figs until my palate kicked into wine tasting mode and I started to get more and more out of each bite of fig and they just keep getting better and better. The Black Madeira Jon shared with me was berry jam, all jam, nothing but jam. Heck I just wanted to swish it around my mouth like a very fine Bordeaux and savor it and let it linger. Now I know why Black Madeira is the paramount of figs and clearly understand that there is no hype, just pure truth.  

Jon took me on a tour through the farm and showed me the many figs that were in his care. Some were from exotic places in the Middle East to local promising results of seedling experiments that resulted in hundreds of fig seedlings.  One may be the next BM, CDdN or RdB. At every turn along the paths we walked were countless figs in various stages of growth that had many interesting and encouraging stories to share with us. Leaf patterns from all the trees were super interesting from small and delicate to the gigantic ones the took like T-Rex foot prints. Some where finger-like leaves and some banana leaves I swear I could surf on. The banana sampled was delicious and very different from what we get in CT locally. Of course everything we find in the store are boring in my eyes now but alas they'll still find their ways into our lunch boxes for the time being.  Jon may one day find me seated on a stool within the canopy of banana trees potting up trees and shooing the birds away in hopes of earning a few more figs to taste. 

Back in my hotel it slowly dawned on me how very fortunate I am to have many of these fig varieties in my own small collection but more importantly all of you folks in my life. Jon you're an inspiration to us fig collectors everywhere as a vigilant steward of the fig, our online community's sponsor and the most gracious of hosts. Thank you very much for your time last Thursday afternoon in sharing your vast knowledge, delicious fruit of course, and best of all your friendship.

I can't wait to visit again!
 

Yes I did Sophie and thank you. We're talking religious experience here as I hadn't stopped thinking it and talking about it to my fig trees.

The adventure of a lifetime!

wow,,,,,, maybe one of these days,,,

I say lets get one of them old Blue Bird school buses, paint huge flowers and figs and leaves all over it and just do a road trip west! We'll pick up all of the east coast folks first and the rest at points in between, then we'll just swarm Jon with FigLove! LOL Peace~

I love it! We'll repurpose the first few seats from the front into a kitchenette. Sink, fridge, counters and power inverter for AC. Keep that coffee urn cooking 24-7.

Nice report!

Yes a very nice report! And I'm all for a road trip to Jon's place, would love to see his set up.

Sophie, if you drive a bus like that you're going to use some of the old lingo: Groovy, cool, hey man, etc.

Of course we'd need more than one.
"gene"

Gene, did you take that pix in your driveway?

I think you guys back east can use this to help construct your own double decker so everyone gets a window seat!

Vince,

What a coincidence!   I just made my first trip to Encanto Nursery this past Saturday morning.  What an experience!   Very similar to yours so, I won’t go into all the details and superlatives.  Other than to say, as a newbie, I was somewhat overwhelmed by the numbers of fig plants of all variety and sizes of figs 

Luckily for me, a trip to Jon’s wasn’t exactly a journey, so to say.  With an light Saturday morning freeway traffic, he’s only about 15 to 20 minutes down the road.   Now a weekday, might be multiples of that, depending on freeway construction projects going.  Funny thing, I printed up a map to his place, turned on to Fulmar Street and before I could look for an address, I see this jungle in the middle of the block.  Ah ha….. that must be the place!   It was..!

Anyway, like you, we sat in the middle of the driveway dissecting and tasting figs of all types and flavors.  My palate was totally confused after about six.   It was such a beautiful day and Jon was way too generous with his time.  Crazy thing, I had my camera and got so carried away following Jon around and yacking that, I never took one photo.   Didn’t realize that until I was on the way home!   I did come away with a couple of real nice one gallon fig trees that Jon was saving for me so, that was a consolation.   I do look forward to the next visit, hopefully the “Fig Fiesta” in September.

Here is our local life, in Ocean Beach.

Sophie…..  I’m thinking, from firsthand experience, the” Love Bus” might just fit the bill.   http://www.thelovevolutionsolution.org/       These free spirits were our camp mates for several days while motorhoming in the California desert last spring.    Kind of took me back to some of the more memorable days of my youth………… :-)

Jon, Sorry to say but no that wasn't my driveway but here are a couple of shots from that era and my set of wheels and dress. Hope you enjoy.

Who would have thought.

@Gene - We used to have a Volkswagen Bus like that in the early 70's, used it for go cart racing on the weekends. There's a gentleman in our town that has one that's painted zebra stripes and the kids love it.

@Jon - I think there will be an increase in the pilgrimages to your treasure trove over there each summer and fall. The Mecca of figs. At the risk of getting flamed by a fellow East coaster I'll admit our tye-dye isn't as good as your's on the West coast. Very vibrant and unique! Thank you again Jon!

@Jack - Pretty amazing experience for me also and definitely and eye opener towards how good a fig can be. I actually had to augment my conversations back home because all I want to do is talk about Jon's place an the boss noted that not everyone wants to talk about figs all the time. There must be something wrong with them.