Saturday, July 30, 2016

Figs

The new property we bought last summer is delightful. I've blogged about it in the past. It has dense forest and hundred-year-old oak trees. It has huckleberry bushes, persimmon trees, and hickory. Oddly enough, there aren't many pines on the property. There is a dogwood that is one of the most beautiful ones I've ever seen. 

Something else it has is a fig bush. The man that planted the fig bush divorced his wife several years ago. He loved that fig bush, but after he had moved out, his ex-wife had her yardman cut it to the ground. I'm not sure if she didn't like figs, or if it was a jab and her ex. 

But last summer as we walked the property before she sold it to us, I noticed the fig bush was making a comeback. This spring the bush sprang out of the ground and hadn't slowed down since.

Yesterday when I walked over to survey the progress, I noticed it was full of ripe figs. I looked for one that was fully mature. You can tell when they're ready because they are the color of a bruise.

I twisted a fat one off a branch and popped it into my mouth. The flavors exploded in my mouth. Standing there, I picked about a pint to eat with breakfast this morning.

I'll pick the rest over the coming days, and we'll preserve some, eat some, and leave a few for the critters. Did I mention that I LOVE figs?


18 comments:

  1. How fortunate that this woman wasn't able to kill such a wonderful thing.

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  2. Anonymous8:00 PM

    I LOVE figs, but haven't had one in years!!

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  3. I've only had dried figs. Love em.

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  4. I don't care for a ripe fig uncooked, but love them preserved. We have a tree I cut it back two years ago last year it didn't make any, but I was able to get about four pints this year.

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  5. I like figs but they are so rich. I can only eat one at a time.

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  6. Okay, y'all convinced me, Imma try a fig. I haven't tasted one since I was a kid. But it must be nice to have your own fruit tree. If we get this house down here we have a contract on, we WILL plant a grapefruit and orange tree.

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  7. And I love persimmon; it's one of my favorite fruits. Unfortunately, its season is short.

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    1. We have a persimmon tree in our front yard that was not much mire than a twig when we built our house.
      We love it.

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  8. I never had a fresh fig, but have loved them ever since my mom used them in baking. We only had the dried variety. Hope you enjoy yours and have a wonderful Sunday!

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  9. Growing up we had figs, and when I first married we had some old fig trees full if fruit. The birds would usually get them before we could. We would only be able to snatch a small bowl at a time. Not my favorite fruit but now that Im older, Id love to try it again. I can think of so many ways to use them now.
    Lisa

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  10. I too love fresh figs. Lucky you to have this tree and lucky it didn't die when she cut it down. I first tried fresh figs in the Mediterranean which is where I grew to love them.

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  11. Oh I am so glad it is coming back Rick. We had a wonderful fig tree in my old house- I really miss it. My Mum took some cuttings and I have the mini-relative of it in a pot- I can't wait till I can buy a house so I can plant it!

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  12. Fig trees are incredibly resilient. We had one when I was growing up. It was the job of the youngest in the family to pick up the partially eaten and mouldy figs that the birds left us. To this day neither my youngest brother nor I can face figs - in any form.

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    1. PS: Your property sounds absolutely blissful. Even with the fig tree.

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  13. Isn't it fun when nature leaves treasures for us to find? I don't think I've ever had a fresh fig. I'll have to check into that and I wonder if they would grow up north? Enjoy your little Garden of Eden!

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  14. My mom and I love figs! Very fortunate you are!!

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  15. This post made me think of my dad for some reason

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