Sister Madeline's Fig Trees

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Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1445651815	Reply with quote #1

A few weeks ago I was contacted by this Sister at a Catholic retreat kind of place, I guess that's what it is. I'm not actually sure what it is but the Nuns live there. Anyway, she called the lady in charge of the Fig Trial after seeing an article about it in the paper and wanted me to come...to give me cuttings. So I go during my lunch hour and time was limited so I haven't gotten the full history on any of these trees yet. Will learn more in a few weeks. She is Sister Madeline and the trees are only known by names they call them, as I will put in quotation marks with the pictures. Their "Greek Fig" The Greek trunks. Smallest is approximately 3.5 inches diameter. Their "Italian Fig". This was the only ripe fig left on the tree, she said made their largest figs. There are two of the same, side by side. I ate the fig on site, very nice flavor, not overly sweet. Their "Dark Fig". Looks like Negronne to me. Agree? Very good flavor. More pics of cut figs below. BT not pictured. No figs, already harvested. The "Mystery Fig". Said to have come up on its own. Tastes heavenly. :) The Greeks are about the size of a quarter for comparison sake. Her way of eating figs is to pick them not fully ripe and peel off the skin. She laughed at me popping "too ripe" of ones in my mouth as fast as I could pick them. The very ripe Greeks like the one on bottom taste like a really sweet, ripe strawberry to me. "You eat what you pick" she said and I was making the most of my lunch hour! Finally the two Dark Figs and the Mystery Fig on bottom. Any theories as to this Mystery Fig? Anyone? So the rest of the story. As we went along looking at the trees, she simply started pointing out to me where this one needed trimming and that one, like I was the hired tree guy. I told her I would be happy to to that for her when they go dormant. She gave me all the figs she picked, slightly not fully ripe but I didn't argue, and a nice little loaf of fig bread that was delicious! All of their trees are situated on the South side of the building, in ground and never protected by any means. Be looking, they appear to be many years old but I will find out all the details on the return for work detail trip. :) __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

Likeo

Registered:1443404708
Posts: 268

Posted 1445652202	Reply with quote #2

Ok, the mystery fig is one of the 4 "Kadota, Conadria, White Ischia, Green Ischia". Looks more like a Conadria or Green Ischia __________________ Figs: Conadria and Little Ruby

Likeo

Registered:1443404708
Posts: 268

Posted 1445652437	Reply with quote #3

I wish i could of been there stuffs face with figs __________________ Figs: Conadria and Little Ruby

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1445652514	Reply with quote #4

Quote: Originally Posted by Likeo Ok, the mystery fig is one of the 4 "Kadota, Conadria, White Ischia, Green Ischia". Looks more like a Conadria or Green Ischia I have all four of them. No leaf matches. I stuffed my face on Green Ischia's earlier this year, not that one for sure. :) __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

Likeo

Registered:1443404708
Posts: 268

Posted 1445652958	Reply with quote #5

Quote: Originally Posted by Charlie Quote: Originally Posted by Likeo Ok, the mystery fig is one of the 4 "Kadota, Conadria, White Ischia, Green Ischia". Looks more like a Conadria or Green Ischia I have all four of them. No leaf matches. I stuffed my face on Green Ischia's earlier this year, not that one for sure. :) Desert King! Peters Honey! I'm runnin out of figs! __________________ Figs: Conadria and Little Ruby

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1445653898	Reply with quote #6

Quote: Originally Posted by Likeo Quote: Originally Posted by Charlie Quote: Originally Posted by Likeo Ok, the mystery fig is one of the 4 "Kadota, Conadria, White Ischia, Green Ischia". Looks more like a Conadria or Green Ischia I have all four of them. No leaf matches. I stuffed my face on Green Ischia's earlier this year, not that one for sure. :) Desert King! Peters Honey! I'm runnin out of figs! I have Desert King also, not that one for sure. I don't have Peters Honey here but do at the fig trial. What I'm really perplexed about is not so much what variety this fig may be but more so how it got to where it is. There are no male figs, no fig wasp here. They planted all the other trees themselves or can account for who planted them, like Father so and so. It is unlike any of their other trees. How can it even be? That is the question. It appears to me to be just a few years old. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

eboone

Registered:1378418906
Posts: 1,101

Posted 1445654725	Reply with quote #7

Brunswick? Someone planted it to surprise or fool them __________________ Ed Zone 6A - Southwest PA --------------------------- Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid), Col Littman's Black Cross. And any cold hardy early fig.

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1445655717	Reply with quote #8

Quote: Originally Posted by eboone Brunswick? Someone planted it to surprise or fool them Brunswick has a hollow spot inside. At least the ones I had earlier this summer did and they ripened here late August. Besides the flavor of this fig wipes Brunswick out lol. Color does indeed resemble Brunswick and the leaf pattern sort of does too but these leaves appear to be more jagged along the edges with shorter fingers. Alice Cooper's Brunswick in late August... __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

Likeo

Registered:1443404708
Posts: 268

Posted 1445656021	Reply with quote #9

Quote: Originally Posted by Charlie Quote: Originally Posted by eboone Brunswick? Someone planted it to surprise or fool them Brunswick has a hollow spot inside. At least the ones I had earlier this summer did and they ripened here late August. Besides the flavor of this fig wipes Brunswick out lol. Color does indeed resemble Brunswick and the leaf pattern sort of does too but these leaves appear to be more jagged along the edges with shorter fingers. Alice Cooper's Brunswick in late August... I'd like to find the name to, my next fig will be this! I like yellow/green ones better than purple __________________ Figs: Conadria and Little Ruby

smatthew

Registered:1423266323
Posts: 180

Posted 1445659445	Reply with quote #10

Is it too early to put my name down for a package of cuttings? grin __________________ Blackberry & Fig Farmer in East Bay San Francisco - Sunol. Wanted (4): Emalyn's Purple, IT-258, Pastiliere and Milco Caprifig.

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1445659767	Reply with quote #11

Charlie! How wonderful to be in heaven on earth :-). I think you can call it a Nunnery. About the figs...woah!! Nice lunch!! Wish I coukd be there to taste these figs. The strawberry looking one is beautiful but then so is the mystery fig!! Great story __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

Smungung

Registered:1441129607
Posts: 440

Posted 1445661653 · Edited	Reply with quote #12

Those trees were planted there by God. __________________ Matthew Mei Age:15 Zone 6A Secaucus, New Jersey Aquarist any questions pertaining to fish shoot me a message always willing to help! :) Gardener Fisherman

BrightGreenNurse

Registered:1416895665
Posts: 150

Posted 1445664187	Reply with quote #13

Hi Charlie, was this convent called St. Scholastica by chance? So neat that they called you up to propagate their trees! __________________ Wish list- St. Rita, LSU Hollier, Brooklyn White, LSU Improved Celeste, Smith, St. Anthony

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1445687493	Reply with quote #14

Quote: Originally Posted by BrightGreenNurse Hi Charlie, was this convent called St. Scholastica by chance? So neat that they called you up to propagate their trees! Hey Jenny! Yes it is St. Scholastica. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1445687793	Reply with quote #15

Quote: Originally Posted by smatthew Is it too early to put my name down for a package of cuttings? grin No, but you need a shipping address other than in California. :) Priority will be given to those who have given me cuttings in the past, if they want some, then I will make a post if there are extra's. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

Likeo

Registered:1443404708
Posts: 268

Posted 1445691023	Reply with quote #16

Quote: Originally Posted by Likeo Quote: Originally Posted by Charlie Quote: Originally Posted by Likeo Ok, the mystery fig is one of the 4 "Kadota, Conadria, White Ischia, Green Ischia". Looks more like a Conadria or Green Ischia I have all four of them. No leaf matches. I stuffed my face on Green Ischia's earlier this year, not that one for sure. :) Desert King! Peters Honey! I'm runnin out of figs! I looked it up and the match is not "Peter's Honey", the leaf is 3 lobed, this seriously looks like some nero leaves, i dunno but a Nero 600m has leaves like that, including other Nero's, but Nero 600m is black, so maybe a Greek Nero. Regardless, if it is you should be happy! Nero's are hard to find __________________ Figs: Conadria and Little Ruby

Jodi

Registered:1443230258
Posts: 343

Posted 1445725385	Reply with quote #17

Oh how fun. I love that she had a totally different way of eating the figs. ;-) __________________ In the book the "The Meaning of Trees" it is said the fig regulates the heart and that the true essence of Figs is...food for the soul. Daisy's IBT cuttings will be available in January/February along with a few Lampeira Parda. Wishes for Martinenca Rimada, Black Ischia, I258, CddRoja, Jolly Tiger, Your favorite Figgy! Zone 8a Camp Verde AZ

figpig_66

Registered:1416870358
Posts: 2,678

Posted 1445734544	Reply with quote #18

Charlie all the figs look so good. You must have stuffed yourself full of figs. The mystery fig looks really different from your average fig. And that dark red one looks amazing. Thanks for the post. I just got back from a very old church i have been going to since 1971. Never noticed before but there is a huge fig tree in the middle of the parking lot by the farthers on site house. It looks to be over 100 years old. There was a fair going on and didn't take a pic. Will go back and talk to the farther and see what he knows. Was pretty much dormit. Had a few leaves that look sorta like mt etna type by just a quick guess. __________________ RICHIE BONI HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity Wish list. Col de dame blanc Col de rimada Lsu numbered figs

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1445736406 · Edited	Reply with quote #19

Charlie: Is California the only state that has this restriction? I wish there was a way to get even one cutting of that beatiful fig type of tree. Wow, amazing! __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1445736509	Reply with quote #20

I really dont understand it all but it likely has to do with some insect or whatever. __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

smatthew

Registered:1423266323
Posts: 180

Posted 1445737316	Reply with quote #21

Quote: Originally Posted by Charlie Quote: Originally Posted by smatthew Is it too early to put my name down for a package of cuttings? grin No, but you need a shipping address other than in California. :) Priority will be given to those who have given me cuttings in the past, if they want some, then I will make a post if there are extra's. Charlie - there are no restrictions for shipping fig cuttings from anywhere in the US to California. I'm not sure who started that rumor, but it's not true. __________________ Blackberry & Fig Farmer in East Bay San Francisco - Sunol. Wanted (4): Emalyn's Purple, IT-258, Pastiliere and Milco Caprifig.

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1445738447	Reply with quote #22

I'm checking on it now. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1445746252	Reply with quote #23

I'm sure one can argue what defines "nursery stock". Since I'm planning on pursuing a nurseryman's license for my state, I want to do this right. According to Arkansas Plant Board regulations, I can't propagate any plant material for commercial purposes without a pesticide applicators course and paying a fee for the nursery stamp and more fees for each certificate to accompany any nursery stock. They get their fees. California regs, pertaining to "quarantine material" for citrus, defines it as any plant material other than seeds. While I couldn't specifically find any regs directly relating to Ficus, I would be safe to assume the same would apply if questioned. So basically to attempt to avoid wading through endless regs, I sent email directly to that portion of the California Dept of Food and Agriculture and asked what, if anything is required to legally ship fig tree cuttings from Arkansas into California. I will be sure to post their reply when I get it. Links of interest... http://nationalplantboard.org/wp-content/uploads/docs/summaries/california.pdf http://nationalplantboard.org/laws-and-regulations/ Don't get me wrong. I want to and would love to share any cuttings I can find with you or anyone. I just want to be assured it's legit. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

brianm

Registered:1389664758
Posts: 971

Posted 1445748412	Reply with quote #24

GreenFin10/15 at 08:06pm Quote: Originally Posted by smatthew Quote: Originally Posted by GreenFin Earlier today I emailed the California Department of Food and Agriculture and received written confirmation that I can start shipping to California. So now I can take orders from Californians :) Excellent.... so I get a 10% commission on all california orders, right? grin just kidding. Glad that got figured out. It was interesting - when I called them the lady I spoke with initially thought there would be restrictions based upon state of origin, but when she checked into it, she realized there were no such restrictions. Score one for CA Figgers! Yeah that's a definite score for all the CA members, thanks for the heads-up. __________________ Wish list: Galicia Negra,UC Davis Black Ischia, Maltese Raven

BrightGreenNurse

Registered:1416895665
Posts: 150

Posted 1445810666	Reply with quote #25

Hi Charlie, I went to St. Scholastica for a youth church retreat or two as a teenager. Really beautiful place! Best of luck with your new figs! __________________ Wish list- St. Rita, LSU Hollier, Brooklyn White, LSU Improved Celeste, Smith, St. Anthony

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1445811111	Reply with quote #26

Quote: Originally Posted by BrightGreenNurse Hi Charlie, I went to St. Scholastica for a youth church retreat or two as a teenager. Really beautiful place! Best of luck with your new figs! Neat how things work out eh Jenny! You told me about the fig trial startup. I got with them for a mutually beneficial endeavor. Sister calls Susan who tells me they want me to come. You went to the same place. I think you need some of these cuttings. :) __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

joann1536

Registered:1409975734
Posts: 274

Posted 1445812243	Reply with quote #27

Thanks so much for the clarification of the California plant material regulation, Charlie! Even though that regulation was intended to protect the citrus industry in CA, I still see "no shipping to CA" everywhere! It is such a pain! __________________ USDA Zone 9b Wish list: Abruzzi, Pasquale, Tagliacozzo, Zingarella, Godfather. Any unk Italian, especially from Abruzzo.

ChrisK

Registered:1415844271
Posts: 937

Posted 1445900423	Reply with quote #28

Great find Charlie. Thanks for sharing and if by any chance there's a package left please let me know. __________________ ChrisK Atl GA Zone 7b-8a

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1445903032	Reply with quote #29

Quote: Originally Posted by alanmercieca The fruit of the mystery fig looks nothing like the figs of Peter's honey to me. I am clueless what it may be, maybe it's a seedling, only ways I could think of it being there 01) Some bird ate some figs in a place like California that the fig wasp exists and it pooped it there, which would be a miracle staying in it's stomach that long. California is not a quick fly for a bird. 02) Someone imported dried or fresh figs from a place that has the fig wasp, by mail, from a store, or some place online and somehow that grew in to a tree. 03) Also sometimes a common fig can have some fertile seeds even without the fig wasp as rare as that is, yet in that case it's be very close if not identical to the original variety leading to the question of what variety and from where? 04) Someone could have planted it there like was mentioned above. Alan thank you for the possible scenarios. 2 and 3 would have never registered as a possibility in my brain. I have some information from the California Agriculture Dept. regarding shipping cuttings there and will make a new thread of interest. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

johnjay7491

Registered:1427833258
Posts: 74

Posted 1445958689	Reply with quote #30

Charlie Over at Ourfigs, Andreas has posted quite a few pictures of greek figs. http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/44923-greek-figs A couple look like yours but unfortunately not many leaf pics. So an ID would be hard to make. You might try contacting Andreas and see if he can id the fig for you. __________________ John NH Z5

BrightGreenNurse

Registered:1416895665
Posts: 150

Posted 1445998454	Reply with quote #31

Charlie, I'd be honored to grow them, thank you for the kind gesture! __________________ Wish list- St. Rita, LSU Hollier, Brooklyn White, LSU Improved Celeste, Smith, St. Anthony

newbie

Registered:1426820716
Posts: 78

Posted 1445999249	Reply with quote #32

Charlie, All I can say is WOW!!! look very delicious. __________________ Wishlist: Everything that look delicious

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1446060814	Reply with quote #33

Quote: Originally Posted by Charlie A few weeks ago I was contacted by this Sister at a Catholic retreat kind of place, I guess that's what it is. I'm not actually sure what it is but the Nuns live there. Anyway, she called the lady in charge of the Fig Trial after seeing an article about it in the paper and wanted me to come...to give me cuttings. So I go during my lunch hour and time was limited so I haven't gotten the full history on any of these trees yet. Will learn more in a few weeks. She is Sister Madeline and the trees are only known by names they call them, as I will put in quotation marks with the pictures. Charlie: After reading all of the postings about ficus restrictions to California, it sounds as though there are NO restrictions. Is this correct? And if so, would you consider sending me cuttings? I would be happy to pay for your trouble and for shipping? Funny thing...my husband said yesterday "hey there's a fig tree near the Good Will on ...street." He's getting into figs too now and he doesn't even really care for figs! I guess the excitement is contagious. I love your story and THAT makes these figs so much more beautiful...their story! __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

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