I went on a bike ride today... the first one since joining this forum last month. I've done this ride plenty of times... but this time, I lagged behind. Almost fell off my bike twice... because I kept looking for fig trees. I found 2 along the trail, both on public land and so I became obsessed with finding more along my ride tucked into this corner and that corner.

On the way home, it was dark and getting cold, we rode fast... I yelled and said I need a break... you know, I needed a break right next to one of the fig trees I saw. I couldn't see nor remember how to take my light off my bike, the bf says whats wrong are you okay? I lifted up my entire bike and shined it on the tree. He rolls his eyes and said wow theres a ton of figs still on the tree! He said you have 1 minute but starts riding off... he knows I hate riding at night and my rear bike light wasn't working which makes me more uneasy... I had to scramble, he carried the pack this time... I broke off 2 cuttings stuck it in my bike shorts and under my shirt and allowed it to scratch me up and down my back all the way home.

I got home and went straight to rooting, didn't feed the dog, never took off my helmet, got scolded for not putting my bike away and leaving it outside but I have these 2 unknown cuttings and I was happy.

 This disease is contagious Jen, and you've caught it!!

We're here for you...

ROFL....ROFL...ROFL...ROFL...Cheekyjen, I just could not stop laughing! More then that, i HAD to read your post to my daughter & my husband wilst bent over laughing. (They think I'm nuts for wanting to collect figs!). The best part is how you didnt take your helmet off and "went straight to rooting."! Are we silly or what? And then my husband says "you're laughing so hard because it's what you do every day." Yup! It's addictive!!!!

So what I'm getting from this is that you stole some cuttings? ;-)

In LA, the cuttings steel you :) They are pretty much on every street, it is a dangerous city! Lol

[QUOTE=adipose]So what I'm getting from this is that you stole some cuttings? ;-)[/QUOTE]

Is it considered stealing if its in a public park? Little kids break off sticks and sword fight all the time! After some research, there are lots and the park tags fig trees for removal, so I could be doing it a service!

I got hit on my last trip to NYC, you always here how figs are everywhere there... and yes, they are... I left with 6 unknowns!

And will be on the prowl my next trip as well!!! 

I had to read your post to my wife as well! We both love biking and then how you got preoccupied with the figs was great! My wife is pretty considerate of my new addiction tho but she did find it quite humorous :)

You first start to notice trees that weren't there before until they become a road hazard. Not a long time ago I went for a drive with my wife and while driving, saw a fig tree and almost ended up in a ditch....
On the way back home I tried to spot it again and failed as the speed on that road was 60 mph. Unfortunately this tree is about two hours away from my home and don't know if I'll be able to go back there anytime soon.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB lol!! You are definitely in a place that your preoccupied-ness with everything figs will not garnish you weird looks or that classic "rolling of the eyes" lol that many of us are all too familiar with.. Hehe! I applaud your not allowing those baby fig twigs to dry out AT ALL lol.. Heck taking that helmet off or putting your bike away could be done at any time right?? Haha! Sure wish I still lived in SoCal so I could go on a few "bike rides" myself about now :)

Welcome!  We can all relate.  LOL

I went back to go see it... since I only got to see it riding by at some mph. Its a very large tree, actually multiple trees. The older tree starts on the downslope. It has hundreds of little green figs on it, when cut open its white/peachy on the inside.... I could see where I took my branches and cut it off nicely so it wouldn't be so rough. There were some fresh wounds where people have taken cuttings recently and also not so fresh wounds.

I found another tree fairly close by in one of the parking lots of this park. It was behind a chain that said no parking so I didn't cross it, but that was a large tree as well. It looked like someone pruned it recently and left all the wood right next to it... sigh

Geeeeeze...... This really is a disease. Imagine, I just got yelled at for my "addictive behavior" about this fig stuff. Good to know its just her!

[QUOTE=Cheekyjen][QUOTE=adipose]So what I'm getting from this is that you stole some cuttings? ;-)[/QUOTE] Is it considered stealing if its in a public park? Little kids break off sticks and sword fight all the time! After some research, there are lots and the park tags fig trees for removal, so I could be doing it a service![/QUOTE]

Eh, as long as you made more figs out of it I don't care.  I was just joking around :)

That said, I wouldn't do it in view of a public official just to be safe.  And, I wouldn't do it on private property out of common courtesy.

I have a "neighbor" a few blocks away that has a tangerine tree and every year it grows about 1000 tangerines.  After I eat all of the ones off my tree, I look at his tree, which never gets picked, or eaten, and think to myself, "I should take those since he doesn't eat them."  I should really ask him but instead I just get annoyed....lol

Lol, yes, we have fig trees Everywhere in LA. I guess our climate is just perfect year round. And, my addiction has actually become the norm at my house. Even my husband is pointing out trees now...hehehehe.

Hi Cheekyjen,
Nice story; reminds me of some I witnessed during my holidays.
But remember: a fig tree is not necessarily a good fig tree. I sure hope that yours is an edible one.
Figs on tree this time of the year, does not bode well though ...
Well grow it and next year keep a closer eye on the mother tree and see if the fruits are edible.
By the way, you just rode some miles with yours; some of mine made a 2000 km/1250 miles  trip in the car :) . At least they didn't scratch my back ...