All I have to say is that "all ya'll" (that's southern for everyone) are a bad influence on me - one who already has a compulsion complex! Haven't been on the forum but less than 5 months, yet, and as FMD also opined, I was thinking that here is a bunch of guys that have too much time on their hands and are taking this fig thing a little too seriously. And Now I are one! And all I did was innocently search for hardy figs that might grow in Nashville and to ID ones I already knew about (4 trees). Now, that the fig bug has bitten, thanks to the generosity of fellow forum members, I now have good healthy cuttings of 5 more varieties and the promise of more. And that with nothing to trade figwise except a bt and a celeste that had died to the ground. Well, I do have some fossils to send to a friend in trade for some cuttings and seeds - but I'm still trying to find some better specimens. Because of this forum, I don't frequent my BBQ forums, my fly fishing forums I don't visit as much, I now have to be more careful driving as I am always looking for new trees (I found 15 more trees yesterday), I'm talking to community gardens for space to trial trees, I am mapping and trying to identify the trees that I know about in Nashville, and I've downloaded many fig variety lists to research hardier trees. I can't wait to follow in the footsteps of the kind and generous members here - when I finally have big enough trees to give out cuttings and air-layers of varieties in my collection/trials. And now I'm thinking watering systems, irrigation, winter storage, and orchard. And to those guys and gals who have taken the time, energy and $$$ to record and document information about figs, my hat goes off to you. I can never repay you for the information that I glean from it. Through my studies of horticulture, I knew the fig family was large, but had no idea the EDIBLE fig family was as large as it was! My eyes have been opened. And then to find that there are figs that are hardy in ground was a bit of a revelation as was methods of growing tender ones without a greenhouse. I have also have a deeper dislike of squirrels, a growing dislike of certain birds, and a newfound dislike of ants. I can't yet find myself disliking the chipmunks - they are just too cute - I love how they stuff their cheeks with the seeds I put out for them! Yes, that';s the kinder, gentler Caney coming through - and no, I'm not wearing my pink tutu today. This is a construction company office! I have to keep up appearances.
In addition to all the "paying forward", the other thing I really like about the forum, is the civility. Yes, there is an occasional "hot" topic, but in the end all participants, shake hands, pat each other on the back, apologize and go on! That doesn't happen on a lot of forums. It's called respect and I admire it.
And thanks for tolerating another ignorant newbie who likes to hear himself type and that also happens to be an Ace thread hijacker and thread killer!