Well friends I guess I owe everyone an official introduction also!
I was born and raised In Athens Greece but spent every Summer, as far back as I can remember,in a little cabin or summer home as we called it at a nearby beach called Artemis(as per the Goddess of the hunt ).
Athens is a concrete jungle so you won't find many figs there,except fon the occasional rare find like The Kesariani " that looks awesome! Artemis is a different story! Fig farms,vineyards ,and olive trees as far as your eye can see! We ate fresh figs from mid July to mid September and although back then they were just"figs" now I'm pretty sure they were mostly Vasilika Melissi.
Got married to Mrs Eleni K and moved to the big city in 89 . We lived in Flushing Queens for about 15 cold years and decided to head south in 2004 to visit friends for The holidays. A year later we were calling Atlanta home!
A couple of years past and one lovely day on the way home from work I spotted a familiar sight, it can't be! A fig tree in Ga? And then I saw another one and another, they were there the whole time. I was so caught up in my every day routine that I had forgotten ,I was passing by all those precious memories of an awesome childhood ! Simple but awesome. And that is how I reconnected with my most favorite fruit ever and desided to buy one and give it a try! That Saturday morning I and Mrs K found ourselves driving even further south towards TyTy Ga and You all know what that gets you! Not what You think You buy that's what! My Japanese Ishau turned out to be an LSU purple and the white Italian turned out to be a celest (we identified both thanks to You all and through your postings on this forum so thank you all very much for all the knowledge and info You share with all fig growers out there! All my figgies were bought and by now I have a LOT! Nothing too exotic but I love and appreciate every single one! I saved 2 nice sized Brown T(Celeste lol) from HD from certain death or so I thought and the following year 2 Brunswick also good size that were listed as celeste (go figure) but I knew right away that they were different ! I was hoping for Dalmatie after checking out a very cool article from Planet fig but after the first of 35 figs ripened I knew I had two very healthy Brunswick babies!
Oops,running out of space and You guys and gals out of patience! It is a privilege to be among an awesome group of people such as this! Chris Ukn no more!!!!! Thanks again.(special thanks to Waynea for the idea)

Great story, Chris!  I love it!

Thanks Joann!

Welcome, Chris.  If you were surprised to discover figs in Atlanta, GA, imagine how surprised you would have been to discover all the figs growing in Flushing Queens!!!
Cheers,
Jim

Great post, Chris.  I'm sure your collection will be out of control before you know it.  ;)

Thanks Jim! lol I know figs everywhere ,do we know who the most northern grower is?

Thanks Frank,already happening but now I have a partner in crime! Mrs K starting to qualify as a full fledged fig nut! Good times !

Great intro Chris, now we could do an entire thread on Ty Ty. Being new to figs a couple years ago, I bought from Lowes, Walmart. Tractor Supply(very first "celeste" I think), Ty Ty, and other commercial fig experts(big box & self proclaimed trust me nurseries). So I have several named but really unknowns in the ground. I give them credit for fueling my interest in figs. But now I am amongst forum members that I trust will steer me in the right direction and will let me know who to trust. Also, I have learned a lot about rooting, air layering, and best practices on growing. So Chris, you have found the right place to be if you are serious about figs.

[QUOTE=FiggyFrank]I'm sure your collection will be out of control before you know it.  ;)[/QUOTE]

Oh my yes!!!!  You think just a couple will do....  NO, NO... Oh my no.  2 will become 4, 4 will become 9, 9 will become 21....  You know how it is with a good thing.

Chris great story and welcome from Queens, we miss you, many of my neighbors are Greek.

Thanks Wayne ! That's why I got sucked in and started posting from day one without an intro! Love the forum and everything about it!
By the way here's a pic of my fridge! Well the top of it! Serious enough? Lol

Great background story, thanks for sharing it with us.

Thanks rafaellissimo! Miss you guys too! No Greeks In this part. of the woods! But lots of fig trees though! I' m about 35 miles from the closest greek community but no complaints ! We live among some realy nice people! Oh and our last name a big conversation starter!

Great story, welcome!

Thanks Philip and You too also! Let me know if I can help in any way!

Thanks Calvin! My pleasure .

Welcome!  You're more likely to get a Vasilika Sika or Melissi from your family back in Greece than from anyone here.  There's a VS going around that's really a Stella, most likely.

Feels strange giving you a welcome Chris, since you beat me here by 2 years, lol. But welcome nonetheless!! You are truly good people, and I'm glad to have met you here, my friend. 

Regards,
bill

...and great story too!! =)

Thanks Bob! Working on it but I know that importing cuttings from Greece is restricted so am a little skeptical !!!! Thanks Bill! Signing date is11/12/2014 so I ve only been a member for about three weeks but I have been following the forum for a good while through Google search on different topics! Figs4fun always comes up first on any fig question ! Have a great day y'all ! Heading to work!

Nice intro, Chris.   Artemis sounds amazing!   Maybe friends or family could send you some 'wood samples' in the post- just remember your old f4f friends when they do!

Great introduction Chris
here is a street view of a tavern in Artemis just in case you get home sick.

https://www.google.gr/maps/@37.9696853,24.0074048,3a,75y,106.88h,81.89t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s6dYTw8mTBWzcPb2M7GeDUQ!2e0

Wonderful story/intro, Chris. Similar history for me except instead of Greece, substitute Italy. We are practically neighbors now. If you are ever traveling I-10, drop by and say hi.

Great story Chris. I enjoyed It.

Very nice story

Chris, I live in Marietta for 7 years.  About the only place that has fig trees is Pike's Nursery.  But beware, no one there has any knowledge about figs.  When I was there, Monrovia was their supplier.  The only figs they had back then was Brown Turkey, Celeste, and Black Jack.  The Monrovia Brown Turkey does not do well in our humid wet climate but other Brown Turkey figs do better.  If anything, get the Celeste or Black Jack and place it in your hottest and sunniest spot of your yard.

Hi Chris,
Nice intro !
You'll see that now you will be spotting figtrees whenever you pass by .
Here, I spot now figtrees that have been there for years ... My eyes were just not hunting for them.
Now without even hunting for them, my eyes get caught by the leaves or figlets on the branches .
Running out of space ... yes I do ... Figtrees are like rabbits . All it takes is getting the first two and then the yard is full :) . But that's what I like !
Good luck with your trees !

I was just as surprised as you to learn (from this forum) that fig trees are growing ALL OVER the South. Great story Chris! Take care!

Chris,
Enjoyed your story, I'm glad you are with us.

Welcome to THE forum where it all happens:)

TyTy... uhm, I meant Yiasou LOL

Signing date is 11/12/2014 so I ve only been a member for about three weeks...~Chris

*face palm* I'm a knuckle head. =)

Regards,
bill

Great intro Chris. I found catching myself in the memory lane as I read through your intro. Thanks.

Greetings Chris, great story, glad to know you!!

Oh my goodness ,I came back from work to find all those wonderful replies ! I'm totally overwhelmed !
Thanks Jesse and already working on it hopefully we ll all benefit!
Andrea not a dry eye in the house after looking at the pic! We know exactly where that intersection is! Our house is on the left side or Palaia Loutsa! Thanks a mil brother!
Thanks a lot Frank, then You know what I'm talking about Paisano! Thanks for the invitation ,I might take you up on it! Love that green fig . Stella?
Hershell thanks very much!
Thanks a lot John,glad You liked it!
Dennis thanks for the info,I'll definitely try Pike! I have two Ukns from Folly Beach SC that I got last winter one green (that's what the owners call their house"green fig" but they don't know anything about varieties , and another possibly dark,celeste looking leaves, fruit very late still tinny on the tree as we speak!Any info appreciated!pics below.
JdsFrance mon ami thanks very much and You're right it seams like they are everywhere now! :)
Thanks Donpaid! Some of my neibours that are born and raised here told me that the fig tree was a must have for a homestead here in the south! Mostly celeste but You can find the occasional fmv free Ishia black lol! Most of you know what I m talking about!
Aaron thanks very much and thanks for all your awesome pics and fig expertise ! Melissi ? Cross Your fingers , just say n !
Bill , no problem brother ! Any figs yet?
Thank You Mohan! I felt great writing it and sharing my thoughts and feelings with a bunch of friends that can relate!
Gloria thank You so much, glad to be part of this group!

Welcome Chrisk!

I have to say it seems ironic or some humorous twist of fate that caused someone from Greece to come to America to learn about figs :)

Wonderful intro, Chrisk. Welcome to the forum.

Ed ,mr and mrs K LOAO! That is so true! Thanks very much great to be here! Omani thanks very much!

Awesome

[QUOTE=ChrisK]Bill , no problem brother ! Any figs yet?  [/QUOTE]


My friend,
I potted my cuttings Nov. 28. So, if my novice attempt is successful, it may take a couple more weeks until figs, lol.

bill

Chrisk, Great Intro and story! Glad you  joined us....:)

Good morning y'all!
Thanks garden whisperer!
That's very good news Bill,You ll be picking before long lol, in the meanwhile this is how I fight of my fig cravings!
Thanks Frank, great to be here!
Have a great day forum !

[QUOTE=ChrisK]Oh my goodness ,I came back from work to find all those wonderful replies ! I'm totally overwhelmed ! Thanks Jesse and already working on it hopefully we ll all benefit! Andrea not a dry eye in the house after looking at the pic! We know exactly where that intersection is! Our house is on the left side or Palaia Loutsa! Thanks a mil brother! Thanks a lot Frank, then You know what I'm talking about Paisano! Thanks for the invitation ,I might take you up on it! Love that green fig . Stella? Hershell thanks very much! Thanks a lot John,glad You liked it! Dennis thanks for the info,I'll definitely try Pike! I have two Ukns from Folly Beach SC that I got last winter one green (that's what the owners call their house"green fig" but they don't know anything about varieties , and another possibly dark,celeste looking leaves, fruit very late still tinny on the tree as we speak!Any info appreciated!pics below. JdsFrance mon ami thanks very much and You're right it seams like they are everywhere now! :) Thanks Donpaid! Some of my neibours that are born and raised here told me that the fig tree was a must have for a homestead here in the south! Mostly celeste but You can find the occasional fmv free Ishia black lol! Most of you know what I m talking about! Aaron thanks very much and thanks for all your awesome pics and fig expertise ! Melissi ? Cross Your fingers , just say n ! Bill , no problem brother ! Any figs yet? Thank You Mohan! I felt great writing it and sharing my thoughts and feelings with a bunch of friends that can relate! Gloria thank You so much, glad to be part of this group! [/QUOTE]Chris,
crossing all my fingers..and wishing and saying N !
I hope this works, LOL

Thanks Aaron,me too!lol Definitely on the right track though!