06-11-12 First fig(s) of the year!

I have been waiting for this moment for the last few weeks, even since the first flush of figs appeared even ahead of the leaves making them look even larger and more tempting.

And, finally, this morning, after bringing the paper to my elderly neighbors and taking my morning stroll through the garden, I immediately noticed that a few of the figs had changed color. They responded to a gentle squeeze by giving in when, until yesterday, they were hard as rock. While they do not have the full summer flavor (I should have left them on the tree for another couple of days) I was not about to leave them for the birds (literally) and took a few very satisfactory bites.

This specific fig is named, alternatively: Celeste, La Negrita, Negronne, and Violette de Bordeaux. It usually does not grow very large (the fruit, not the tree) and has a nice, sweet taste wrapped in a purplish skin.

The common fig --Ficus Carica-- originated in the Middle-East and has since spread to warm climates all over from Afghanistan to the New World. It can grow in pretty unforgiving places as long as its aggressive roots find access to water. It's the perfect fruit for the Middle-East, since it reproduces parthenocarpically --meaning asexually-- it does not offend the prudish followers of the three main religions born in the same area.

Calling them a fruit really is a major misnomer; figs are a syconium or inverted flower and what we eat really is a collection of tiny florets rather than a fruit (a fertilized ovary). This is what the inside looks like; don't let it turn you off, they're great eating:






















































Most figs will produce two crops, a first, small flush in June called Breva or Breba to get your mouth watering and the regular crop in Summer. This Summer crop looks like a major one, winter not having been rough on the trees themselves.

I'll conclude the fig section with a quote from the bible (also originated in the Middle East) :"Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken."
I take that to mean that however much I sit under the fig tree, my wife will have the last word.

What else is going on in the garden this week?

Asian pears are growing nicely

Those new cukes taste so good!

This is a volunteer tomato plant growing from some lost seed from last year. Gardeners have a hard time not keeping those. Who knows what new cultivar can pop up from those?

Thyme encroaching upon the walkway. You can stop thyme!