Six Figgers

Day 284: It'll be the only time in my life I've seen six "figgers" on anything, but I'm more than happy to have them on my tree. All six are close to the same size, and I've had to mark them with blue tape so I can find them amongst the leaves. I check them almost every day to be sure no varmint has plucked one and to assure myself that this year, it's really going to happen. The friend who gave me my tree as an 18-inch tall start told me that it took several years for the parent tree to begin producing. When it made its first fruits, it only made a few, doubling that amount the following year and then going fig-mad in its third year. Now hers stands fifteen feet both tall and wide, and makes so many figs that she begs people to come and pick them. I'll be pleased to have enough for snacks fresh off the branch, or maybe a good batch of fig butter a few years down the road.