As the NorCal get together is only 2 weeks away, I thought an update was in order. The date is Saturday, August 29, at my house in Sebastopol. It'll be from about 11:00- 3:00. Food and drinks are covered, so don't feel obligated to bring anything. If you have figs to share... great. Plants to trade or give away, also great. I'll have a table set up for plants that you wish to share. Selling will be frowned upon. Also, so that it is fair to all, we'll wait until noon or so to do trading or gifting. The free raffle for the Italian 258 will be open to members of either forum, and will be around 2 o'clock or so. A few of you have been to my place, but for those that haven't, please e-mail me for my address and phone #. It's easy to get to from the 101, I'm about 15 minutes West of Santa Rosa. It'll be a day of figs, food and friends. (and maybe some great Russian River wines for those so inclined) I hope that many of you can make it, I look forward to meeting you.

Hi Gary
Very nice of you to host this event, wish Connecticut was closer. By the way you Smith and Monstruos of Lipari that you were so generous to give me (at no charge) are doing great ,i will be enjoying some fruit soon.

Thank you, Mario. Happy to hear that the Smith and Monstrueuse are thriving. The Smith was one of the easiest to start figs I have. I planted 2 in ground and am still waiting to taste for the first time. Still a few weeks away, I don't think that they'll be ready in time for the get-together. If you come to CA ever, give me a shout.

Bumping this up. This Saturday at the farm. I believe I've heard from those attending, but any that I haven't please contact me. Thanks!  

Sorry have to decline due to distance but what a beautfiul looking farm!

Is that a vineyard and an olive grove?

Hello Pino. It is a vineyard and beyond is a Gravenstein apple orchard. Wish you were closer:))

Well, the get-together was great!. Perfect weather, 20 very nice people, and more figs than we could eat. Harvey brought a selection of 25 varieties, and we had several others from Ross and myself. I asked Harvey to chair the tasting duties, and he did so wonderfully. We got a history and description of most of the figs that he cut and passed around. This took most of 2 hours. Consensus seemed to be that Galicia Negra is worthy of all the hype and more. A memorable fig! Also considered to be top tier: Bourjassotte Gris, UCR 187-25, Zidi, Emelyn's Purple, all of the Col de Dames, and Pastilierre. Beale was also given high praise. Also, before everyone arrived, Harvey gave his only Genovese Nero to me, so that I could share it with my friend Wendy. It was superb! The Pretos and Black Madeiras were a bit past ripe, I think Harvey said, so not fair to judge. To give you an idea of how many figs we tried, here is a list of ripe figs on my trees that we didn't even get to: Abebereira, Ischia Black, Castanhal, Ronde de Bordeaux, Blackjack, Negronne, Marseilles, Violette de Bordeaux, Madeleine Des Deux Saisons, and Peter's Honey. We had 8 members entered in the raffle, and the 5 gallon Italian 258 went home to Berkeley with Tarek. At the end of the day, Harvey and I shared one last fig, the 1st from my Victoria MP. It was very good, and quite beautiful. I could no longer feel my tongue:) As I was quite occupied, there are few photos, but here are 2 of the tasting and one of Victoria MP. Everyone went home with plants and new wishlists. Thanks to all that came, it was fun, and great meeting/seeing you all.
     

Glad you guys had fun and probably learned something new about figs!. 

Fig enthusiast seem to be great people I haven't met a bad fig dude yet, knock on wood!

Hey Gary, who all attended?  I am glad every one had fun! 

Hi Dennis. We had Harvey C, Sarah and Dean from Redwood City, Ross from Santa Rosa, Irv from S.F., Bob Jones and his wife and daughters from Tehachapi, Don Polensky and his friend Nancy from Morgan Hill, Scott Roberts from San Ramon, Tarek Khoury and his mom from Berkeley, and Neil and Regina Crowley from Reno, Nevada, Jed Wallach, and my friend Wendy. I think that's it.