A Mockery of Figs

That’s a new collective noun invented by me to refer to our tree that is now laden with fruit that will never ripen. It has spent the past 20 years bearing a handful of fruit at best; this year it is finally in ‘full fig’ but despite the long warm autumn not one has ripened. I’m now faced with the task of knocking them all off (or as many as I can reach) so that next year’s crop can start to form. A major prune is scheduled for this winter, so at least I will be able to reach the fruit – ripe or not – next year.