Yesterday I dropped off a fig at the Center for Historic Plants at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson here in Virginia. This fig will join several others in their "Historic Collection".
Let me share this story with you all;
Earlier this spring I was contacted by another member of f4f who had a fig that had been in his family for many years. I had posted that I was looking for cuttings and he wanted to give me this beautiful 6 foot fig tree. He wanted another copy held by another collector in the area to safeguard any possible event that might cause him to loose his collection, which included this long held family fig.
I was more then happy to accept this tree and was very impressed with the amount of information and history he and his family had amassed over the years.
It turned out this fig had quite a history. It's roots had been traced back to the Folly Castle in Petersburg Virginia. In fact there was even a strong possibility that Jefferson himself had gifted this fig to John Hartwell Cocke II and that ties it to Peter Jones of the Folly Castle.
There is certainly more to this story but I'm attempting to keep this brief. 
The point is that because this forum exists and because it's members are so generous we can now be proud that we've added to the richness of history that's preserved at Monticello. We have increased Monticello's historic fig collection from 3 figs to 4.
This may be a small contribution but it is the small facts and events that build up to give us the richness and flavor that makes history so enjoyable. We, as a community, have helped flesh out and add to the Monticello experience. In fact we may have opened a small chapter that will help illuminate and add to the history of what and who Jefferson interacted with and what happened to the figs Jefferson brought to Virginia and where they spread.
This would not have happened as it did without this forum and it's generous members.
Thanks for listening,
Michael Grace

Wow!  Amazing story!  Thanks for sharing it :-))

Could you post pics of the tree?  What kind is it, and if you don't know, maybe tell us the attributes of the fig:  color out/in, size, flavor... stuff like that.

Suzi

Yes, this is a very interesting story indeed.  To add to Suzi's questions - does this variety have a name yet?

I'm sorry, as you may have noticed I'm usually posting lots of pictures, but for some reason I have yet to get pictures worth posting.
This cultivar was named Battaglia Green as Susan Battaglia "discovered" it and Paradise Nursery (gone now) named it after her. Obviously it was not discovered as it existed both at Folly Castle and at the home of the grandparents of the f4f member who gave it to me.
Monticello will rename it to more appropriately represent it's history. I suggested "Folly Castle" which would be the obvious name, but the Center for Historic Plants will do whatever they feel is most appropriate.
thx

Great story!!  We are indeed lucky, proud, and honored to have such an Ambassador as yourself.  THANK YOU

OK Danny, that won't get you any more cuttings from Monticello then I'm already sending you. Just teasing - and thanks. BTW when you posted this I was on the phone with the Sotterley Plantation in MD trying to talk them into sending me pictures of the Sotterley Fig as I have never seen a ripe one. This is one of the figs from Monticello I'm sending you. They did not know Monticello had their fig. From what they told me about this fig I am extremely excited about having them. I just love it when history pops up in really odd places.
For those of you reading this that are history buffs or fans of Jefferson I may have a Sotterley or 2 to trade. Also Bremo - from Bremo Plantation in Va. Sorry I've already given away all the cuttings but will return to Monticello again and can restock - can't over do it though. And it will be spring. I am also very interseted in acquiring any really old varieties that may have been available to Jefferson. If appropriate and old enough these will be donated to Monticello.
If you are interested in cuttings PM me after xmas. thx

Interesting.  It's been on my wish list for a while!!  Thanks for the info!

Suzi

Suzi,
Sorry I'm out of all things Battaglia Green, but if you put me on your calendar for next year I should be able to help - but there should be BG available as it's a really beautiful fig and not that rare.

Michael,

That is very cool! A historical fig collection is a good way to approach collecting. Having a fig that has ties to a founding father is a very cool thing indeed. I guess they went through an authentification process with you to ensure it is the right fig from the right source and I think that would've been a very interesting thing to experience. Hope you have your name credited at Monticello. Nice work!!

Barry, I did not attach my name to this fig. The family that kept this fig alive and gave it to me deserves the credit. All I did was follow a few dots and get lucky. But thanks.
If we as a group can come up with any other really old varieties we may be able to further add to this collection.
It feels good to give.
Sometimes I know I get too involved in what I want and forget about everyone else - that's just not healthy. I try and keep myself honest by donating a certain number of figs trees to schools, nursing homes, etc. every year. 
thanks

One of the things you might want to do if you are working on increasing the collection is check out the Virginia Big Tree Database http://bigtree.cnre.vt.edu/bigtree_results.cfm I know there are at least 4 figs on the list. There is also a Remarkable Trees of VA book and if memory serves there is at least 1 large fig in that as well http://www.web2.cnre.vt.edu/4h/remarkabletree/results.cfm

I love the idea of historical plants. they mean so much more when their history is well-documented. We share such stories is this forum and they are a delight to read. I hope that Monticello  has not just the fig, but the story behind the fig that makes it so meaningful on the personal, human level.

Michael,

Do you have access to the historic figs of Virginia?

@Michael
@Chris      Kinda wondering if you two were going to get together, too close not to.  The thunderbird post above is close as well, you guys are in the middle of the historical agriculture district, gotta be fun, tracking figs down.

Matt - thx. You need to come visit at some point. Can you please resend or check the VA Tech link you sent as it's not working for me 
Dale, they need a bit of help getting motivated. If I can find them a couple more trees over 100 years old w/ history I think we can get a lot more going. 
Chris, I'm not sure what you are asking/

Michael, 

What I was trying to say is: Do you still have cutting or could get cuttings of these older Virginia Varieties?

I think were only about maybe 3 hours apart.

I have been talking with some of the historic sites down here to spread their older figs to other historic sites as well. 

Here is what I know as a VT student of the historic trees in my area:

Need to go by and see 1) how they are doing and 2) get permission from the land owner for cuttings.

It has been several years since they were measured and data collected. Would be nice to get a variety name on these threes beyond the generic latin. 

Here's one idea. A friend of mine owns the oak figured prominently in Shawshank Redemption. http://www.theshawshankoaktree.com/  I am a bit surprised they are not selling seedlings yet. At any rate, the same might be done with historic figs at Monticello, if we knew the historical significance.

Chris,
I can get cuttings in spring most likely.
I had not really - up until just recently - done much with the historic trees. I had one dropped in my lap so I did what I thought was appropriate with it. I am interested, but not in a position until spring to allocate a lot of time to anything new. My main project is getting more figs planted around the DC area.
I do have a few of the trees considered historic by Monticello in 1 gallon pots.
Monticello has tried selling figs but they claim folks only buy the Brown Turkey trees. 
I'm not sure how you want to go forward. 
Certainly doing what you've posted above would be a good start.
cheers.
Dale, 
There doesn't seem to be much of a market for "historic" trees at this point.

I just may have to get me a Shawshank shirt or mug, very cool guys!! And very cool that you have these historic fig trees. I am a bit surprised that there apparently isn't much of a market for them. Guess Johnny Appleseed put the kabosh on fig trees as an historic tree 

There is zero marketing done for the figs at Monticello. But Barry I'll go in on a Shawshank oak. One of those movies I've never been able to surf past.

Sounds like we need a good marketer.