I agree with Ingevald that "the" Sanford is a "caprifig" from UCD. Actually there are S.1,2,3... variants. I recenlty got one (unreqested) single twig (less the #) - it rooted, and may I just to add, it it quite hardy. My only interst in caprifigs is "just" to re-understand their fruiting behaviour - no fig wasps here - I did use them before in my old place - per the advice of my mum. Had also tried to-hard-to-root some of the "edible" and more useful caprifigs; not sure, but I think I got one... Good luck with your vendor's patenting the S.(common) fig name (enough fig confusion already exists).

A lot of figs if you cover them during their first couple winters in northern VA, will then do fine. Could have been a borderline variety. The larger the tree gets, the more winter hardy it can become.

I just checked my celeste and it looks like a shoot is emerging from the ground. I started 2 fico nero figs, 2 chicago hardy figs and 2 nero missione figs from cuttings. If the brown turkey and texas everbearing do not make it, I am going to use those to replace them. Since they will not have enough time to ripen their fruit before the first frost, I am going to use the "six and pinch" method to induce early fruiting. After 6 leaves are on a shoot, just pinch off the end to stop growth and the plants energy will be used to grow fruit earlier which will allow earlier ripening.

Last update? I'm having to take on additional responsibilities at work in this fiscal year and will have less time for posts. ("up or out" LOL) Happened to be over there yesterday, and although mostly losing my sweet tooth, decided I could not resist some ice cream at the Creamery. The Emmenopterys is dead. The Osmanthus X fortunei, though, was full of fragrant flowers and in great shape. I don't know why they are bothering with this Trachy...another polar vortex winter will take it out. Especially because they didn't give one of the most sheltered spots. The moment I saw this, I thought, "omg, is that what I think it is?" And, it is. I would never steal anything...and I certainly wouldn't be updating this thread if I were planning to do so! But this is the rarest plant in this garden...rarer than the Emmenopterys in my opinion, and I'm a little surprised they didn't plant it in a more hidden spot for it to size up. Ladies and gentlemen, the elusive Torreya jackii.Looks grown from seed to me...thinking the needles will get longer. Debated about featuring but already established that there are rare plants in this garden last year, and in other threads over the years. I think plant collectors are mostly an honest lot? Hope so...if it does well in this garden, cutting material will be available in a few years. The wet summer has allowed their Camellia yuhsienensis to size up and finally look really happy. This plant has been struggling for years but more from neglect I think. It is very hardy and was in full bloom only a couple weeks after the polar vortex freezes ended...way before even 'Korean Fire'. I want one eventually, but am happy enough to have a hybrid of it, 'Dream Angel', that has similarly tough ability to bloom in a real mid-atlantic winter. This is the base of their Quercus virginiana...and sorry to say, looks like 2013-2015 and January 2018 have finished this guy off. Top looks very sparse. I guess they are giving it one more year in case a miracle happens LOL. (spoiler alert...they don't) I've decided I like the look of the variegated Illicium - kinda like a poor man's version of the variegated Daphniphyllum, which is very difficult to graft and may just be too weak to survive in most of the mid-Atlantic. Didn't wade in for a closer pic because I bet this place is teaming with Ixodes. I wonder why this Magnolia macrophylla looks sickly. Chlorosis? They have several but this one is the worst looking. Saw them back in the summer...had never actually been around that species in bloom. The floral odor is indeed disagreeable. Not a good picture but a nice combination of 2 Cephalotaxus and Thujopsis. Finally, nice to see Acer griseum but too bad they let the trunk do this.