My grandparents were from the neighboring towns of Decollatura and Soveria Mannelli in Calabria. This is my “Mezzina” fig tree – my favorite out of a few varieties I grow. Damiano Mezzina, my wife Maria’s grandfather, took a cutting from his brother Corrado’s tree in NJ 13 years ago, which is where it all began. The tree provides bountiful dark, raspberry-tasting figs. All of my fig trees are in big pots that I bury against the south side of our house when they’re growing. I over-winter my trees in an attached unheated garage.
According to Russ’s son Michael, the fig tree came from his friend Vince Crisanti in Pittsburgh a few years ago. In the winter, he stores it in the garage. In the spring, he rolls it out to the back yard. It has yet to produce fruit so I’m not sure if they will be white or dark figs. My dad tells, with great fond memory about his dads fig trees. They were big enough, that when my dad was a child, he would climb them to pick figs.
As told to Mary Menniti: I bought the tree at the Northside Farmer’s Market (Pgh). It was just a cutting that I forgot about and accidently left in the car overnight that night. I thought I had killed it. I felt bad about not taking care of it, so I put it in a pot and put it on a sunny windowsill. We called it the “Dead Asparagus”. But in the spring it started to come back to life. I transplanted it to my backyard, against the house. It grew grows well there. I don’t even cover it and I get lots of dark figs every year.
Figs have been celebrated through the ages for their sweet flavor and texture. But beyond being a tasty fruit, the fig has an intriguing appearance that captures the imagination. In this article, we’ll showcase what figs look like through a variety of photographs. Keep reading for a visual tour of this unique fruit!
The Shape of Figs
One of the most distinctive aspects of a fig’s appearance is its unique shape. Figs grow in a tear-drop form with a gently rounded bottom and a tapered neck at the top. The body is oblong and plump. Their silhouettes are elegantly curving.
Figs can range in size from smaller fruits around an inch long to giant varieties reaching three inches. But no matter the size they will exhibit that signature fig shape. It’s a silhouette that is instantly recognizable!
Fig Skin and Color
The skin of a fig adds to its allure Some varieties have lusciously colored skins in deep purple, blackish-purple, warm brown, or jade green. Other types reveal lighter green and yellowish hues When ripe, the skin develops a softness and tender look.
Subtle ribs run lengthwise along the fig’s exterior. And the surface often shows freckled markings. The colors and textures combine to create an organic, rustic appearance. Nature’s artistry shines through!
A Cross Section Reveals Inner Beauty
When you slice open a fig, you discover even more visual appeal inside. The inner flesh delivers a burst of color ranging from crimson to amber. The center contains tiny ripe seeds. Folds of texture swirl through the interior.
Backlit and photographed, a cross section of fig absolutely glows. The colors and patterns evoke a work of art. No wonder figs are celebrated in culinary creations! Their insides are just as photogenic as the outside.
How Figs Grow: On Branches and Leaves
Figs grow on trees and develop along branches emerging from a central trunk. The branches are flexible and often gnarled and twisted, adding rustic character. Large lobed green leaves provide shady coverage over the developing fruits
When the figs ripen, they hang down, pulling on the branches with their weight. They tend to grow in clusters, covering the branches in a tapestry of delicious treats. The fruits bursting from the branches create stunning visual compositions.
Fig Tree Scenes and Settings
Fig trees themselves also make beautiful photographic subjects. Their often cracked and craggy bark results from unchecked growth. The irregular branching patterns form intriguing silhouettes.
Fig trees can thrive in a variety of environments from grasslands to rocky hillsides. Their windswept forms look picturesque against blue sky backdrops. And captured alongside stone or adobe walls, they take on a Mediterranean romance.
Some of the most compelling fig tree images showcase interaction with animals like birds who are drawn to the sweet fruits. The juxtaposition of the small active birds against the steady ancient tree is visually compelling.
Figs Displayed in Abundance
Heapings of fresh figs are a tantalizing sight! When piled high in bowls or baskets, we see how plump and generous individual figs are. The colors and shapes overlap in an elegant display of bounty and temptation.
The accrued figs also show their photogenic versatility. Grouped all together, you appreciate their spectrum of yellows, greens, browns and purples more fully. Table top still life images allow us to get up close to admire nature’s edible beauty.
Figs Have Global Appeal
From Portugal to Turkey to California, prized figs have worldwide appeal. We can enjoy their visual splendor across many cultures and cuisine traditions. They lend their elegance to sweet and savory dishes alike.
Photographs of figs also remind us of the sensory joy they provide. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, we are drawn in by memories of their honeyed flesh and delicate crunches of seeds. The images convey a certain poetry and artistry reaching all the senses.
Preserved Figs: Dried and Jarred
Figs treated by drying, canning or otherwise preserving make for more uncommon, intriguing images. Dried figs become shriveled and darkened into leathery textures. Their wrinkled look displays the effects of time in an abstract way.
Jarred or canned figs in syrup transform into glistening jewels. Neatly packed and topped with liquid, they become frozen in their prime. The refractive light patterns off the syrup capturing a magical glimpse of a harvest at its peak.
Artistic Impressions of Figs
Figs have made an imprint across artistic media too. Their unique organic shapes and texture translate beautifully into paintings and drawings. From traditional still life images to modern graphic prints, the fig has artistic mileage.
Abstract interpretations allow even more creativity. Close up sections become unrecognizable as bursts of color and patterns. Simplified fig outlines take on new life as graphic icons. Experimenting with perspective brings out the fig’s inner action and energy.
Figs Offer Year-Round Inspiration
Whether fresh off the tree or stewed into a jam, figs give us vivid visual inspiration. Their tear-shaped silhouettes make for iconic imagery, immediately distinctive. We can appreciate their spectrum of colors and range of sizes.
Figs display intriguing qualities whether whole, sliced crosswise, piled in abundance, preserved, or artistically interpreted. Their textures, colors and shapes are a feast for the eyes. Photographs of figs allow us to capture their fleeting ripeness and savor it always.
Fig Tree | Set Of Fig Tree Pictures
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Where can I find fig tree stock photos?
Browse Getty Images’ premium collection of high-quality, authentic Fig Tree stock photos, royalty-free images, and pictures. Fig Tree stock photos are available in a variety of sizes and formats to fit your needs.
Are figs photos free?
Figs photos for download. All pictures are free to use. Find photos of Figs ✓ Royalty-free ✓ No attribution required ✓ High quality images.
How many pictures of fig tree are there?
Browse 8,928 picture of fig tree photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. Monstera palm and ficus lyrata leaves inim style metal pot on wooden floor in living room. Floral decor in modern home Fiddle fig or ficus lyrata in plastic pots n wood table white home.
How do you photograph a fig tree?
Selective focus photograph of figs on fig tree early in the morning with morning mist still on the fruit; focus on ripe fig in the middle. Dried figs on a dark rustic background. Big fiddle leaf fig tree in stylish modern pot near kitchen Fruit of fig isolated on a white background. Set of exotic fruits.