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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > O'Rourke, Improved Celeste, WHATEVER!
 
 


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snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 

Now that the excessive heat has moved on, it's now raining and projected to rain every day till the weekend.  A few of my trees have ripening fruit.  About 2 years ago, I bought 2 O'Rourke trees from Dalton.  Growing the figs in a container the first year, the figs looked grayish in color with a long neck and very sweet.  Since I place the tree in the ground, the fig have turned to a brown fat bell shape and are sugar sweet.  I picked these today.  These figs came from 2 different trees because I was not sure if my O'Rourke was a "true" O'Rourke.  It was single lobe, 3 lobes and 5 lobes which I thought were common in O'Rourke figs.  I was wrong.  Turns out, O'Rourke has Brunswick type leaves.  So, these trees are Improved Celeste, not O'Rourke.  The figs weighed 18, 23, and 28 grams and were very very sweet.  My wife loved them and so did I.  Maybe one day I will get a true O'Rourke.  And BTW, Almost Eden do not have the true O'Rourke.  They are all Improved Celeste but a very good strain and I am happy!
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Dennis
Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a 
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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
I'm hopeful that I'll get to taste at least one Improved Celeste this year.  I have a few plants

Does anyone know who might have the true O'Rourke?  I'd be interested in a small plant or cuttings this fall/winter!
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slingha

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
James Robin is selling them this year. ordered one a few days ago
Dan796

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
I'm waiting on cuttings of Celeste to arrive right now,
I'd be interested in cuttings of the improved celeste also to see what the difference will be if anyone can spare a few cuttings. Thanks!
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Dan~ WV zone 5-6
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lukeott

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Hello Dennis, Can you show pictures of true ORourke Leaves. I have one from a good source, but want to make sure. Like in your case, mistakes are made. It happens sometimes with confusion. If I can confirm it's O'Rourke, Will start a airlayer for you. Don't get all excited yet, cause it could be Improved Celeste or whatever.


luke
snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Luke, sorry but I do not have the true O'Rourke.  My effort to get one failed.  O'Rourke is suppose to have Brunswick (long finger) type leaves.
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Dennis
Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a 
noss

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
The O'Rourkes I've seen (2) have more fingerlike leaves.  My ICs have one to three lobes.

I'm wondering why this is so difficult for people to get a true O'Rourke?  The shape of the leaves on the tree at LSU are more fingerlike, aren't they?

How does one get cuttings from LSU?  Do you have to know someone?

noss
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noss/a.k.a. Vivian Lafayette, LA Zone 9a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanc, Col de Dame Noir, Scott's Yellow, Tony's Brown Italian, any other fig that is good in the rain/humidity and has a real figgy flavor.
genecolin

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Noss I think the answer to you question on "why is it so hard to get a real O'Rourke" lies in the fact that the two have been mixed up from the beginning. Also I have never seen anything about LSU releasing the Improved Celeste. It may have just walked off campus and got into the trade and when LSU officially released the O'Rourke many thought it was the same fig. Just my guessing but I wish someone had the complete answer.
"gene"
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"gene"

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Houma, La.
snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Noss, there are so many people and nurseries out there that say Improved Celeste fig trees are the same as O'rourke.  Dalton, Almost Eden, and JR sell a fig called O'Rourke.  I do know for a fact that Dalton and JR trade trees and cuttings.  I got my trees from Almost Eden, Durio, and Petal from the Past.  A few weeks ago, Almost Eden sold O'Rourke and IC completely seperate.  After I order a few trees from them, I asked Jon of AE to send me pics of the leaf patterns of his 2 trees.  He told me, they look the same!  I checked my order and sure enough, they were the same.  He changed web site and removed the O'Rourkes.   I'm not mad or angry, I just want the confusion to end but it doesn't look like it will.  According to Petals from the Past,  they are calling their O'Rourke, Improved Celeste!  Go to their web site and you will see.  ARGH!!!!!  So, all of my trees are nothing but Improved Celeste but an excellent tasting fig!  All of my trees including th 2 gallon trees are ripening at the same time and they are Improved Celeste.

My picture were there and now they are gone.  Here they are once again.

Attached Images
jpeg ImprovedCeleste1.jpg (149.74 KB, 167 views)
jpeg ImprovedCeleste2.JPG (56.66 KB, 163 views)
jpeg ImprovedCeleste3.JPG (63.70 KB, 143 views)


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Dennis
Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a 
noss

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Well, BOO!  Hiss!  Bummer, but how many things can you get that are wrong still be winners like the ICs are?  They are delicious figs. 

Dennis,

Don't those figs in the pics look good!  At least if you get ICs rather than O'Rs, you get something good instead of just disappointing trash trees, but Dennis, I want an O'Rourke, too and have for three years, now.  I hope we get one, eventually.  All of us who want them.  :) 

I got an "O'Rourke" from Dalton and stupidly got it in the winter, so I didn't see the leaves--SURPRISE!!!  I got another IC, but hey, more delicious figs to eat, still, I've wanted a true O'Rourke from the start.

When I got my first IC, the man I got it from made sure I knew it was an Improved Celeste and didin't even try to say it was an O'Rourke.  I have great respect for him.

Living in South Louisiana, I am aware that many places have their trees listed as O'Rourke/Improved Celeste and only know the difference because of the forums.  (I have nothing but appreciation for the people here, bless your generous and helpful hearts.)  One would think that people in this area would know there is a difference between the trees, but they don't, so how can we expect anyone anywhere else to know?  It's too bad.

Your pics make my mouth water.

Who discovered the difference between the two and when?

noss
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noss/a.k.a. Vivian Lafayette, LA Zone 9a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanc, Col de Dame Noir, Scott's Yellow, Tony's Brown Italian, any other fig that is good in the rain/humidity and has a real figgy flavor.
Figluvah

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Hi Viv,

If I lived as close to JR as you do I would go to his place NOW and pick out me a O'Rourke (You already know he has the real deal!and what the leafs look like.

That is what I would do.
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Cecil (Z 8b?) in the sticks of E.Tx

(Elkhart/Palestine TX)
noss

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
Cecil,

I will do that because I'm missing James and Betty so much.  I hate to bother them, though.

I'll call him this week and see if I can go see them.

Viv
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noss/a.k.a. Vivian Lafayette, LA Zone 9a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanc, Col de Dame Noir, Scott's Yellow, Tony's Brown Italian, any other fig that is good in the rain/humidity and has a real figgy flavor.
Figluvah

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Good deal Viv,

Tell JR & Betty that Dorcas and I said Hi..
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Cecil (Z 8b?) in the sticks of E.Tx

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snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Good day!  This past weekend, I did a high level inventory of some of my container fig trees and guess what I found?

I found 4 TRUE O'ROURKE fig trees!  HA HA!  They were growing right next to my Improved Celeste trees.  HA HA HA!!!!!!  I AM BUSTING WITH JOY!

Early Summer, I bought several figs from John at Almost Eden.  Back then he had listed on his web site both Improved Celeste and O'Rourke available.  So, I bought several of each but not in one shipment.  After my in ground Improved Celeste fruited this year, I was in love with IC figs.  So I emailed Jon asking for clairifaction on the difference between the 2 trees.  He said they were the same!  ARGH!  I was confused!  So I started this post.  Some members emailed me pictures of their O'Rourke and IM leaf patterns.  WHat I learned is some members do not have the true O'Rourke!  What they have is an Improved Celeste!  Heck my big container IC was sold to my by Dalton years ago was called O'Rourke and I labeled it as such.  Dalton thinks they are the same and they are not!  I was confused until many forum members showed me where I was wrong.  So, this weekend, my so called "O'Rourke" fig trees were labled Improved Celeste, their correct name.

I am tickled pink!   I am so happy I got the true O'Rourke now.  I got 4 figs from my little trees but that's alright because they will grow into big trees!  I thought about digging up my 3 IC fig trees but I won't.  They are growing solid in my orchard and each are at least 8" thick in diameter at the base.  I emailed Jon at AE and explained the difference between them.  He said somehow he got the labels mixed up.  I know it's an honest mistake.  I will definately buy from him again.  I'm glad he took down the O'Rourkes from his web site.  As it turns out, he did get the labels mixed because I got several shipments from Jon back in the summer and O'Rourkes came when I only ordered ICs.  And I got a mismatch in both orders!  I know Jon had the true OR becuase the person that gave it to him emailed me showing the correct leaf patterns of his tree before he lost it!  

HA!  I am so glad......I am busting with joy!
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Dennis
Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a 
rcantor

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
Congratulations!!
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Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.
noss

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
Well congratulations, Dennis!!!

Now, please show us the pictures of the leaves if you still have leaves, so we can see them?

Dalton's tree that he gets his cuttings from sure look like O'Rourke leaves to me when I saw it.  The tree I got from him that was labeled O'Rourke has one to three-lobed leaves, but the fig I got off of it this year sure was good.  I was about to get rid of it, but won't, now.

Wouldn't it be really funny if after all the hunting for O'Rourkes, it turns out that they aren't as good as the iCs?  Because the iCs sure are delicious figs.

Thanks,

noss
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noss/a.k.a. Vivian Lafayette, LA Zone 9a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanc, Col de Dame Noir, Scott's Yellow, Tony's Brown Italian, any other fig that is good in the rain/humidity and has a real figgy flavor.
snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
here you go Noss!  Here is a pic of 3 of them.  They are slowing loosing their leaves even though it has 3 figs on.

cheers,

Attached Images
jpeg myOrourke1.jpg (514.24 KB, 109 views)
jpeg myOrourke2.jpg (554.13 KB, 97 views)
jpeg myOrourke3.JPG (490.65 KB, 87 views)
jpeg myOrourke4.JPG (519.97 KB, 89 views)


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Dennis
Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a 
Mazway

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
Hi, I'm in southwest VA, in a cool 7a. I was wondering what might  be a better fig; Celeste  or Improved Celeste.
O'Rourke sounds good also, but not much time tested.
Mike
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Mazway
Southwestern Virginia zone 7a
Figluvah

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Posted Reply with quote  #19 
Yep,

Those leafs look just like the ones of my O'Rourke that I posted in 9-09

Condgrads Dennis
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Cecil (Z 8b?) in the sticks of E.Tx

(Elkhart/Palestine TX)
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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
Mazway ,
For me up in cool NH the O'Rouke has been much more productive and better tasting than Improved Celeste.
For me O'Rourke ranked 9 out of 10 in taste
Improved Celeste ranked 7.5 out of 10
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Kerry Zone 5 NH
Wish list :Galicia Negra , Col de Dame Blanca/Negra  .
Mazway

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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
Kerry,
O'Rouke  sounds like a good one. I'm starting to miss those fresh  figs  already.
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Mazway
Southwestern Virginia zone 7a
omotm

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Posted Reply with quote  #22 
I just wish I had a fig from my own tree, you all are making me very sad : (
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Steve
Houston, TX
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Zingarella
noss

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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
Yep--Those look like O'Rourke leaves, all right, Dennis.  All RIGHT!  Good for you.

Thanks for showing the pictures.

Steve--You are making me cry.  :(  What kind of fig trees do you have?  Didn't you get any figs from them this year?

noss
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noss/a.k.a. Vivian Lafayette, LA Zone 9a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanc, Col de Dame Noir, Scott's Yellow, Tony's Brown Italian, any other fig that is good in the rain/humidity and has a real figgy flavor.
omotm

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Posted Reply with quote  #24 
Noss,

I moved to Houston this summer and finally have a house with an open yard to plant.  I just planted a Celeste last week and have a Smith coming this week.  I'll catch up to all of you soon, but for now will have to take care of my fig "fix" looking at all these great photos and reading the stories.

Steve
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Steve
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