Parkwood, I would guess that San Mateo is a decent location for growing figs, but certain figs that require lots of heat to mature properly (e.g. "Violette de Bourdeaux") might not do well in your climate. But since at least some cultivars can ripen fruit even in icebox-like locations such as San Francisco, I'm sure that there are plenty of great figs that you can grow! On fig pollination: yes, so far as I understand it, you have stated the case exactly correctly. All figs *can* be pollinated (caprified) but only Smyrna-type figs *require* pollination for the fruit to develop. (Well, non-breba San Pedro-type figs also require pollination to mature ... but now we're getting into somewhat esoteric territory.) And, as I mentioned, Dr. Stover said that caprified common figs will probably taste better than non-caprified (i.e. parthenocarpically-produced) common figs. The various fruit-tastings held at Wolfskill (USDA NCGR) are open to the general public -- but they are mostly publicized through the newsletters/mailing-lists of organizations like the CRFG. (I'm not sure of other groups that publicize the events, but they may be out there.) Most of the folks who show up are, I think, CRFG'ers. But I think that anyone who wants to come is welcome. If you're interested in going, you might want to just write the Wolfskill staff next summer and ask to be advised of any upcoming tastings. I think that fig-tastings are generally held in the August time-frame. We did not formally rank fruit at this tasting, but the staff does sometimes distribute score-cards and tabulate the preference-rankings of whatever fruit is under consideration. As for what the "best tasting" fig was -- you know, how about I give you a link to a lengthy discussion on this very topic! I went with a friend to the Wolfskill tasting last summer, and a few weeks later we both went to exhaustively taste the fruits at a large fig-planting in the San Jose region. He wrote up some fairly extensive thoughts on these tastings, probably better than I ever could! Here is a link that might be useful: Discussion on Fig Taste

I am having the same problem. A bird net is the only feasible solution. Get a large one, big enough to reach the ground, and place some bricks along the edge to keep it in place. As you have anticipated, the problem comes when the tree gets very large. When this stage is reached, the only solution is to share them with the birds, but you can minimize this by picking very early in the day and picking any figs that are almost ripe. I agree with you. Celeste figs, picked at an early stage, ripen beautifully in the kitchen, with no refrigeration. Your tree is in an ideal spot: full sun, and with a good water source nearby. I would not build a wall around the base. Your tree looks health and happy. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!

I can't post a photo. Don't have internet. I use my phone and GW doesn't allow photos from my phone. I could take a photo in the morning and email a picture to someone. It doesn't seem like dead wood. It's on one of the main branches and it's growing new buds on the tips of all the other smaller branches. It is odd.

What variety are those?