Lolita, if you are hapoy with it then that's all that matters, right? What you decide is worth it, is your perogative. We all have our own reasons for doing things. We all decide what is and isn't important to us. Congratulations on winning this auction. I'm sure you are very happy!

I'll confess.  I was in second place.

Some people seem to focus more on money than figs?

What's on my Christmas wish list?  Not one thing.  I was thinking about collections that some folks have such as paintings, sports memorabilia, fancy clothes, purses, etc.  I live well below my means because most "things" aren't that important to me.  I buy tools I need, some electronic gadgets, and figs.  I buy figs for personal enjoyment and as a business investment since, for the time being, I can usually sell enough in a year or two to recover my cost and still keep enjoying the figs for many years to come.  Even though I sell most of my things I've also given away lots and received lots as gifts from others.

I've been a member of this forum much longer than most and remember thinking at one time I'd never pay more than $25 or so for a fig cutting or tree but it's become a passion of mine and I know it is for many others also.  Even though my farm income was down significantly this year (mostly due to weather), I have set aside funds to make sure I can always buy what I really want.  I can't afford everything I'd like but can afford anything that's important to me.  I don't ever get too surprised at any prices anymore.  In the summer of 2014 somebody paid $1,500 for an Italian 258 tree on eBay.  A couple of months someone reportedly paid much more for another variety (will keep details of that private as I don't want to be accused of promoting something I may be selling).  Good for them, they can also buy what they want.

Congrats to Frank and Lolita, young at heart.

Congratulations to the winner. Interesting some other people trying to sell this variety.. Or is it just hyping the price 

Congratulation Lolita, keep on playing !!!

That was one of my main points Harvey, does a person have to have the I-258 now for $1500 or wait like I did and pay $14 for a super nice cutting. Some do but most hobbyists do not. Also, does any fig taste better than I-258, the Maltese varieties, all the CdD varieties, Black Madeira, Preto, and the list goes on and on of former expensive varieties at their prime promotion. Some of these varieties are not even getting bids on eBay because of the widespread availability. I am sure the next new find will be promoted as the best or better tasting fig than what is already available. Oh well, that's life, be patient my friends and you can eventually get any variety that you want for a price that you can afford.

The problem is that people are less likely to share a variety they think they can sell for big bucks . Supply and demand says choke off the supply and $$$$$$ . A few years ago good varieties were widely shared gauranteeing the proliferation of the variety, now things have become about not sharing but profiting and the survival of the variety is irrelevant .

Wayne, I think either paying the $1,500 for a nice tree or waiting until you can get a cutting for $14 is fine.  There is no reason for criticizing either buyer.  Different people have different priorities.

Ponte Tresa was not promoted or hyped.  Frank doesn't do that.  His first reports of the taste of this fig was based on travels and before he even owned the tree and he is a very credible witness.  It's worth buying to find out for oneself but at what price depends on the individual.

$1500 for a tree Jesus... I though gold was expensive....To be honest I wouldn't mind spending money on what I desperately want, that being said I will only from a well known seller and certainly not that much. I would rather take my son on a holiday. People say FMD is a good seller, I don't know this person, so if my previous comments offended you in any way I sincerely apologies. When I spoke to MP I was surprised to find out most of the most expensive varieties sold on eBay or wherever comes directly from him and funny because he sells his cuttings for less than 25 euros. For those who said supply and demand , common guys it's a plant not a Koala bear, it can always be mass produced. I wonder when Baud and MP being in the business and all for many years will start to sell their cuttings and trees for big dollars..

Kkk2210
Baud and others in Europe must be scratching their heads in disbelief and laughing at the rediculous prices Americans are paying for twigs

Johnparav,
So true, but what I read on fig groups is that most of the Asian buyers on eBay spend hundreds and it's sad that they can't get it cheaper. We should all be helping one another. It's a fruit for God sake. I understand people have financial issues everybody does.

What makes me interested in this variety is...
1. The photo and that dark red pulp which suggests robust flavor
2. Frank's description of the taste.  Of course his taste preferences are not identical to mine or yours but it still means something.
3. The fact that it is from a more northerly area.  The mother tree is actually in Switzerland, not northern Italy as I think I read upthread somewhere.  This suggests that it might fare better in shorter season areas and/or areas with cool winters.

All that said, there are no guarantees that this will turn out to be a fantastic fig variety.  It obviously needs further evaluation and even then it will do much better for some people than it will do for others.  

Harvey, you need to read my previous posts about Frank, or maybe read the entire thread, I even tagged the thread from Ourfigs, I have bought a lot from Frank, as in my previous post, he was as surprised as the rest of us. That is the problem with long threads, sometimes we neglect to read everything. And, sometimes we read more into what is being written.

Like I said Harvey, the written word is sometimes misread or misinterpreted, I could be guilty of doing so.

I was looking through the sellers recently completed sales.They have sold live RdB trees for as little as $33 recently.I'd be happy to get a nice plant for a price like that.No worries about getting cuts to root,just feed and care for it.

Nice.

Whatt RDB for $33 , I think I'm in the wrong job .

Congrats, Lolita!

I would be curious to see how a non-pollinated PT fig looks like.
I guess next summer we will find out!

Hi, guys!
I actually was thinking this cuttings will go for more money..
Why? I think this is still cheaper then fly to Swiss, look for the mother tree, some how to bring cuttings here..
If I won money in power ball, I will bit much more money..
And question was why?
I think this one of the best tasting figs..
I'm hope to find this one.. one day..
Hopefully Lolita real good in rooting cuttings and this cuttings will became a beautiful plants and produce lots of figs..
If not.. This is will be real sad..
I understand art, color, wish..
But, still, this one for a real fignut..

Hope your doing well Olya

Greenfig, I think FMD posted a photo of the non-pollinated fruit around October of this year on the ourfigs forum.

"There are many more people here for the love of figs, than the love of money." This has been my experience here on the forum. It is a rare and wonderful thing to be amongst true lovers of this amazing and diverse tree. Looking forward to Ponte Tresa making her way into many gardens and hearts.

Y'all are crazy!  And that makes me smile :)  Keep it up!  Good luck with the cuttings Lolita1234!

Best of luck but isn't that going to be sad if they fail or if they are a fake variety...