That makes sense. It is easier to move them, but finding storage space is rough. I have to just hope some day soon I have a bigger garage or a barn.

Say hello to Martha.
The only tree I have a name for in my collection.

Tree was purchased with a dozen other mature Belleclare trees from a collector.
Tree was saved by Chris until the nursery was closing and sold to this long time
collector.  Tree can be seen in the Martha Stewart video. She had wanted to purchase
this particular tree, but Chris refused to sell it to her at the time.

Petite Negre
History of this tree was confirmed by Chris DiPaola.

Martha before her haircut yesterday




Matha from above



Martha  ready for the Spring

Belleclare Long D' Aout

Tree developed a bit of lean this year at the top,
so this spring after root pruning and re-potting,
it will get staked to straighten it out.
Then I  will start to develope a full crown with some pruning.

Belleclare Weeping Italian EverBearing


Another TV star,
this tree is the one you see in the Martha Stewart video.

Sorry for the poor photograph,
tree was in a tight spot and did not have the room
to photograph properly.
Will get some good photos in the spring.

I won't be around for a couple of weeks,
headed to China in a few hours on a business trip.

Time permitting, my plan is to search out a fig tree I was told about,
that produces the largest figs in the world.
Variety is called Won Hung Low

;-)  :-)

Back.

Martin, Who Flung Poo was on vacation,
met his brother and sister,
Wo Flung Dung and Sum Ting Wong  ;-)

Had spare time, was a long journey, two flights each way,
over 6,000 miles round trip, and lots of driving,
but made it to the 500 year old fig tree.

Saw many fig trees and grape vines in this area,
they have roadways covered for miles with grape trellis.

Tasted the most amazing dried figs I ever had,
also got to eat fresh melons that were locally grown,
very unique taste.

Interesting side trip,
wish I had more time to explore this area of China
and during the proper season.

Great photos with expert pruning. Does Martha come begging for figs?

Sounds like and adventurous trip. I am ready for the travelogue - just let me get some popcorn.

Hungryjack did you take any pictures on your journey that your willing to share if so would enjoy seeing them.  ; )

Would also love to see photos.  Glad you had a good time.

I have a couple of crappy pics I took on the cell phone I use in China,
just have to figure out how to download them from the camera.

This was a long and tiring trip,
further than I originally anticipated.
From start to finish, the trip was about 80 hours in duration,
I traveled over 6,500 miles round trip, due to travel delays
and blizzards and other transportation issues,
I spent about 75 of those hours traveling,
slept a total of 3 hours in a farm house freezing from the cold.

I knew it would be a crazy trip with such limited time and
great distances to travel, but did it anyhow.
Would like to return to this region at another point in time,
very fascinating place in China with alot of history and cultures.

I post a map below,
I went to the western part of the Xinjang from Shanghai in the east,
arrived/departed in China at Beijing.

Wild Mountain Figs

 I had the chance to try some dried figs,
they were small, dried cherry size.

There were a couple of different versions,
the very dried ones that needed hydration
and one type that was dried in a similar fashion to
dried figs from Cali or Turkey,
with sufficient moisture content to eat without rehydrating.

They were small in size, like a large size button,
darker in color and sticky from the sweetness of the fig.
Had an intensive fig flavor, with a little nuttiness and very sweet,
but not overpowering.

Best tasting dried fig I have ever eaten by a wide margin,
this fig was priced in a similar fashion,
as it was a little more than 10 times the cost ( $55 kg)  of other dried mountain figs at this vendor.
I was told these figs come from a specific mountain/area in Tajikistan,
transported on horseback from the mountains to the border and in limited supply.
I should have brought back a suitcase filled with these figs :-)

I had dried figs soaked in strong black tea which had a good taste,
had the same combo but with various spices and sugar added, again tasty.
Had figs soaked in several different wines, as this is a big grape area in China.

Since we arrived very late at the 500 year old fig tree,
and it was too nasty and late to head back towards the main city,
we spent a few hours resting/sleeping at the caretakers house nearby,
in the morning,  the family served us breakfast,
which had dried figs from the 500 y/o tree  prepared several ways.
The most unique and tasty to me was a porridge like dish that featured
the whole dried figs that were boiled in Yak's milk with  raisins, dates and walnuts,
with some additional spices and served in a bowl.
Eat some directly from the bowl  and the remaining portion was poured over rice,
it was a perfect combination of salty and sweet and very filling and warming.

Hungry Jack, have you managed to know if Chris is still in the area? I have a few other friends that were Belleclaires affectionados that were pretty upset with Richie (i think that was his name) after the nursery closed. 

Chris is still around and happy as a fig :-)
I speak to him several times a year,
I try not to bother him that often.

Purchased your friend's tree collection
I know because he had mentioned your name to me
as interested in the collection,
if I remember correctly, transportation was the issue for you.