Well, this past weekend I did take that Road trip I mentioned last week,  for a two day holiday with my wife. It was her birthday present to me. It was a 325 mile drive and it was late into the afternoon when we arrived in the oak dotted Sierra foothills, along this very VERY rural road.  The road is just a few miles long and with 'the GPS coordinates and pictures', it didn't take long to find the exact spot- though there were a couple other patches of fig tree's growing in the ditch which was now a raging stream). The area had just received 12" of rain over the past weeks time. Once I found the patch, I next located the 'exact tree' that forum member Ben (Bent) had posted, (there were still a couple of hard/unripe figs up in the branches), and grabbed the pruners and set to work, leaning over the bobbed wire to get the cuttings I wanted. My hands got cold very quickly in the damp and near 40 degree temps. but the cold seemed like nothing, as I was warmed with great anticipation of sprouted cuttings in the coming spring. After storing the cuttings in the trunk, we drove farther up the road and didn't see any more figs and so turned around heading back in the way we came. As we traveled about 200 yards past the tree I took cuttings from, we spotted another large patch where I took more cuttings. As we were driving away, (a couple hundred feet ahead) was man was walking his dog along his fence. I stopped, got out and introduced myself. He was very friendly, and told me that this last patch of figs near his driveway that I'd just cut, were always very hard figs and unpalatable (see picture with lots of figs high on branches). I thought it strange since the fig cuttings and the figs in the tree that Ben described, and 'that were edible', looked nearly identical to the ones the property owner said were uneatable (though the tree's were now leafless, so matching wasn't accurate).   Long story- longer, he invited us up to his house and showed me (2) 24 volt hydro-power generators (that he pipes water to from a canyon higher up) which were located in his yard ( He has 2 mostly 'seasonable streams' pass through the property, that become a trickle in summer). He said that it was enough power for winter but in the summer he counts on solar power. He had built a beautiful custom home on the property and invited us to meet his wife, and they offered us beverages.  Very nice people.  He then took me on a walk along the soggy path and raging creek on the property, he'd bought some 18 years earlier and he showed me two fig trees growing almost in the middle of the overflowing creek, which he thought were 'Mission figs' brought in by seeds from birds before he'd arrived, and were the only ones that he ate, and said they were delicious. I wish I had worn rain boots but managed to lean in enough to take some cuttings of those without getting my feet soaked. It was then he asked for a few cuttings as well (after I explained how he could start some to plant close to his house). He then showed me an area of boulders where the Native Americans had over the centuries used to grind acorns- I took a couple pics- see below. He said there were dozens more holes in the boulders farther down the creek, but it was getting late and I didn't have time to look (though I really wanted to).    Well, I have 4 bags of cuttings from different tree's and don't know which will produce edible figs, but I will start them and see were it goes. The supposed inedible ones, may not be common figs and might need a wasp. The ones he liked, the missions must be a common type. Anyway, I'll grow them out and see whats what and let you all know, hopefully at the end of this summer. We left our adventure having met some very nice people and taking in gorgeous scenery. I hope to go back some day.  That night we found a nice motel, ate out and enjoyed our first real date in about 3 years. One of those life-time memories.  Btw, if it turns out that they are unusual or exceptionally good tasting figs, I will get you the owners phone number, if you'd like to plan a trip of your own and/or I hope to have cuttings available at some point.  Good luck on your own fig hunting expeditions in the year to come. Happy New Year! Noel


 
     

Sounds like it was a fun trip Noel.Good luck with the cuttings.

That's a great fig adventure story.

Glad you had a good trip. You were in my neck of the woods. The tree showing Figs is a Capri fig which is a male. If the others are from seeds they are most likely san pedro or smyrna. However, they would also be a new variety especially since the owner confirmed he obviously didn't plant them.

Thanks for sharing the story and photos, Noel. What a nice trip for the 2 of you!

Thank you for the post!  The fig tree behind the 1st 2 pictures were definitely edible and very good (in my opinion).  We collected about a dozen or so figs from that tree and ate them with dinner that evening.  My original post has a picture of the leaves ("5 finger" leaves) and figs which are a ribbed yellowish green fig with a red berry center.  The skin was a little tough but I still found them delicious and unusual; I haven't tasted a fig quite like it before.

The 3rd picture with the figs still on the branches I assume is the tree that had a very different leaf: 3 big big lobes.  There weren't any ripe figs on it in October and it sounds like it is not an edible fig.  I took cuttings of it anyway that have since rooted; I suppose I can get rid of those now.

When you start rooting the cutting, you will be able to tell the difference between the 2 varieties right away.  The edible figs have a delicate "five finger" leaf.  I'll send you a picture of my rooted cutting for comparison.

Thanks Ben. I'd be very very much interested in seeing them. 

Noel what a great story That rock that was carved out from the indians is amazing Good luck with the cuttings 

Great story, seems all the unknows all have rich stories behind them!!

Great story, I enjoyed the pictures Noel, thanks for the nice post.

Dom

Such a wonderful experience. Thanks for sharing Noel.

First, Happy Birthday, Noel!!! Wow very fun! Your wife did a great job planning, too. Great pictures. Pls keep us posted!! Happy & blessed New 2017!