And what a beautiful day it turned out to be. The sun was actually shining for the first time in weeks!

When I first logged as a member of this forum, I receive a PM from a generous member, also in Tenn., offering me a Sals Corleone if I wanted to pick it up. Well, I didn't have to be asked twice! So today, Hubs and I made a day trip 1hr to the North of Chattanooga and spent the afternoon with sirlampsalot. 

He was so gracious and took us to see the figs that he planted behind his business. OMG! They were seriously bodacious! I wish I had my camera with me at the time... they literally reached the second story of the building. And of course, I was treated to a tasting of what was ripe at the moment. It was awesome! These trees reminded me of what I always knew as a fig tree in my youth. Huge and sprawling!

Afterwards, he was kind enough to take us to his farm, where he has so many figs that he has to keep them corralled, literally! LOL We were given the grand tour and I ate my way through various figs until my fingers were so sticky, I had to find a water hose. I was blown away by the number of trees on his property and his knowledge. What I learned was invaluable and I will always remember today and strive to pay his kindness forward.

SirLamps lured me with the offer of a Sals and then upped the ante with Hardy Chicagos, Downs Celeste, and Green Italian as well as an unknown purple. I'm so excited to begin my stewardship and I've promised SirLamps to keep him updated on his grandchildren.

I adore this forum and the fine folks that make it so awesome! Thank you, and thank you C.H. for such a lovely afternoon! I'll never forget it.

Sophie~

And here's the long awaited pics...

Me and C.H. next to one of his bohemoths at his house.....



Some of the babies....



And more babies!!!



Taking care....



The new kids on the block!



Thanks again Sir... I'm forever grateful. S~

Thanks for the pictures !

You're welcome Dieseler! C.H. spoke very highly of you by the way. :)

Sophie, these are great pictures!  Now you have some beautiful pictures to go in those lovely pots you scored.

So nice thanks for sharing.  I got to visit with a fellow member today as well.  Had a great time and swapped some plants of several different types.  Turns out we were neighbors and didn't have to drive far at all.  Sorry no pictures though.

goss

Thanks Sophie yes him and i have had correspondence.
Its nice to match screen names with faces so thanks again for the pictures and sharing your experience.

Thanks Sophie and your husband for the visit.  You brought the sunshine for a change.  Good pictures too.  Hope your trees do well for you. Thanks Martin for your kind words. I am looking forward to the SE gathering in NC in Sept. Though I have had notes In US and around the world, this is my first meeting with a forum member face to face, thanks Sophie. Unfortunately, this year has been a year for excess rain, excess birds and excess hungry stinging insects such as honey bees, wasps, yellow jackets, bumble and carpenter bees, etc.  The rain has caused even my figs with the tight eyes to split and the fig open like a book and the varmints devour them in short order.  Most of my fig eating this year has been sharing with birds and bugs.  I have used the Organza olive green bags on Malta Black and Black Portuguese and had good success.  On a better note, Chater Green fig tree from Encanto had a few figs on it this year and they were delicious, not big, little bigger than Celeste but with an amber inside, and so far they have dodged the hungry #@!*'s cept me.