I need to meet the new landscaper...

[brettjm]

...for our botanical gardens. Last winter, we discovered a giant hedge of brown turkey figs at the University of Georgia Botanical Gardens. I mean six or seven 25 foot tall plants, probably capable of making a combined 10,000 figs or more (alas, they got cut back to the ground this spring and are currently growing back). To my surprise, however, they have a new section in the botanical gardens this year showcasing plants from the "cradle of civilization," or something. I think whoever designed it must have been a fig lover! The following new plants were found...

Celeste (no big surprise...)
Black Mission (ok...warming up here)
Violet de Bordeaux (really? Nice!)
Strawberry Verte (Also nice!)

Additionally, there were several unlabeled figs in the same section.
Unlabeled plant #1(no idea what it was, it was still quite small)
Unlabeled plant #2 (looks Mt Etna in origin, guessing hardy chicago?)
Pseudo-labeled plant #3 (labeled "fig"..thanks) A final unlabeled variety, SUPER vigorous...like...2+ feet of growth on 20-30 branches so far, but also a shy bearer. Almost no figs on it despite it being the most impressive of their new additions. Leaves looked like a black mission, IMO, but why have two of the same variety when you're clearly show-casing several? Plus, you've only got 1 of everything else....why two of a black mission? I'll have to revisit in a couple months to see if I can get an idea of fig color. I'll try to get some pictures of them this week.

Anyways, I wonder where they got them? VDB and SV aren't the most common of varieties that are found commercially, so I reckon they came from an enthusiast... I'm also curious what the Mt. Etna-looking plant was...I need to find some staff to talk to!

[COGardener]

Looking forward to pics.

hope the hedge grows back.

[pppldj]

That giant hedge of brown turkeys looks incredible. I saw it last year. I took some pictures of a few of the fig bushes while there, last July.

[brettjm]

pppldj,

That's incredible! How have I missed those plants? I've probably been there half a dozen times in the last year, and we always walk through that little area. How on earth did I miss all the baby figs last year? Also...that hedge of brown turkeys is pretty sad at the moment...

Question...have you ever seen them ripe? I've yet to see a ripe piece of fruit at the botanical gardens. Not sure if the birds get them or what...

[pppldj]

Didn't catch the BT's ripe, tried some anyway, poor consolation. The gardeners get them. 20 or 30 feet (approx) to the right is a 10ish foot tall unlabeled that was loaded with main crop. I saw two young female gardeners ogling them and commenting that they would be ready soon and couldn't wait to eat them! The only ripe fruits I saw were some kind of orange, tangelo whatever citrus hybrid. To the right of the fig hedge the are some steps that leads to the top of the wall. Planted immediately on the right of these steps is one very fine specimen of the citrus, I think it reaches close to the top of the wall. It is definitely protected and hardy in its microclimate.

Forgot to include the picture of the Black Mission from before they moved it.

[Gina]

Nice photos. Thanks. I love the lotus.