This year it's been interesting to see the second heirloom "Huia Fig" tree grown from a cutting at Struan Farm flourish and fruit. Many years ago now John and I got permission from our neighbour to walk down and across the Mangaotaki River to the old Huia homestead site on their property to take cuttings from the old fig tree. While the house is long gone, the fig tree grows and fruits, still. We figured it has acclimated to our immediate climate, and that any trees grown from cuttings should thrive. And guess what? They have.
The larger of the two trees is now on the edge of the Old Orchard and Pet Paddocks, while the second has been moved around a few times but has a final resting place out beyond the two tawa groves near our house, on the point looking south. While this area does get a bit of wind, it also gets good sunlight, and this little tree has settled in for the long haul. In fact this season (to date) I've harvested more ripe figs from it than its more established larger sister down below. Perhaps because it's closer to the river and its mother tree, who knows?
We like having this living connection with the family too. "Young Tom" Huia and his family lived in the Cottage when he worked for John's dad Maurie. Not too long ago Tom's wife Beryl and his daughter Glenys returned for a stay at the Cottage. Of course Glenys returned home with a cutting from the fig.
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