fig tree

A Catholic sister writing for Global Sisters Report reflects on the Gospel parable of the barren fig tree, drawing on her experience as a gardener. She describes the gardener's request to nurture the fruitless tree for one more year before cutting it down, and connects it to patience, mercy and the second chances people need in their own lives.

An exceptionally warm September has pushed fig trees into overproduction, with gardeners reporting unusually large harvests. One gardener described the fruit as 'little bags of jam' and picked around 5 kilograms, leaving harder-to-reach figs for birds, bees and hornets. The early, abundant ripening is being linked to the warm late-summer weather, with comments pointing to climate effects on seasonal crops.

A gardener has picked a ripe fig in October, marking the fourth consecutive month of harvests from a tree rescued 15 years ago. The fruit was soft and reportedly tasted great, despite looking browner and less photogenic on one side. The grower shared the small horticultural milestone with an online gardening community, where home harvest achievements like this draw appreciation.