Tomorrow is the fig fest and fig cake bake off.  Hurry Dennis hurry!

That sounds wonderful! Enjoy!

Oh my gosh.  Fig pancakes, fig cake, fig barque and it go on

I'm here! Had dinner at the flying melon resturant. They had figs foster on the dessert menu.

Are you at the inn.  I managed to snag a tiny sample of the second place cake for you,

Snaglpus I am in the area but for a different reason.  I was hoping to attend but it looks like it probably won't happen.  Could you find out the 7 varieties that are grown in Ocracoke and list them?  Could you also let me know if any of these trees are for sale and where I might could find one after the festival, say on sunday?  I would be very thankful if you are Schaplin could help me out with a little info.  I know the festival ends tomorrow but I won't be able to get to Ocracoke island tomorrow though I am at Atlantic beach right now.  I would like to go scoop up some trees though.

Also just returned from Ocracoke where the very nice looking couple in front of me bought the last Pound fig plants before the festival even started!  Anyone have any leads on where we might get a descendant of the Ocracoke Pound Fig off island?  A grand-Pound Fig!   

There were very few trees for sale.  One couple sold a few trees but sold out before the fest even started.  Surry you must have been there while I was there!  I was more persistent so she called her husband and he dug out a start from under the tree.  If my start takes I should be able to get a cutting or two later in the year.  Dennis got a maybe pound tree today.  There were two trees that got mixed up.  One was a Sugar and one was a Pound.  He took the one that they thought was the Pound.  The old trees that they call Sugar have very sweet very small fruit.

So for a partial list of the old trees

1. Blue
2. UNK Blanche Howard-Chester says it's similar to brown turkey this one both Dennis and I liked
3. Pound- big but somewhat bland fig
4. Sugar- very small reddish fig
5. Lemon which is used to describe a few varieties pale figs.  Chester feels they are different because the ripen at different times.

On the island they like figs that are picked before the hurricanes start. 

I really wanted to go to this, but just could't make it. I hope y'all had a blast. :)

We did bring home a few from Chester's house - 
Sugar
Lemon
Something Chester called a relative of a Brown Turkey but the leaves are more pointed. 
a large Celeste he started some time back

If your Pound start takes and you are able to get a cutting Schaplin,  I'd love to get one!   If you would like any from the ones I got from Chester, please let me know.   I'm envious of your persistence! 

It would have been fun to be out there, even though it probably wasn't as complete an event as we on the forum would have wanted. It's still nice to be on the island near the ocean, so that is a plus. I really haven't eaten too many cooked figs, so I'd be interested to see what people do with them. The sugar fig sounds like a Celeste, what did you guys think when you saw it? The pound fig in the "final thoughts" thread looks as large as a peach. I'm surprised that one doesn't split. I wonder if it is the same as the Kure beach UNK that is supposed to be a large fig? The Blanche Howard tree shown in the "final thoughts" thread looks nothing like a Brown Turkey leaf. Another picture in that thread of the Blue fig looks interesting, more like a high quality type. Too bad there weren't fresh figs for tasting, or more plants available.

Mike in Hanover, VA

This was a great event. I rode all over the island on a rented bike. I was boild stopping by and taking pictures of fig tres in lots of yards. I went by the garden nursery on the island and spoke to the owner. She told me where to find the largest Pound fig tree on the island. I rode over there and saw the tree. The tree is about 15 feet tall. I took some pictures. Will post them soon.

Chester and I sat and talked for almost an hour. He gave me the history of the island. He said he believed the pound fig has been here a long time.

Sharon right after you left, I stopped by the booth and talked to the team who sponsored the event. One of the ladies were from Charlotte. She wrote down my contact information and wants to interview me for their paper. They asked if I could come back next year and bring some figs and trees. I agreed.

The tree I have might be the Pound fig. Time will tell. However I did like Blanche Howard. That fig was sweet. The leaves look exactly like Bill Saxons Haikel fig. I have 2 of Bill's trees growing we will see soon if they are.

I will this.....the pound fig does favor the Improved Brown Turkey! Leaves and all match! But I need to be sure which is why I was looking a tree.

If work permits, I am going back there in October. This time I will be looking for property to buy! Yeah, I loved the island that much! I will post pics when I get back in town.

Cheers!

How bout those fig!!!!!!!

Very cool, I have friends with property close to the island.  I definitely plan to be there next year for the festival.  

Oh good Dennis.  If you get a property I will have a place to stay.  LOL
I did not think the Blanche Howard looked anything like a brown turkey.
When was Brown Turkey improved?
According to Chester that variety has been on the island a long time.
Did you get a Blanche Howard?

Yes. I got one from Chester.