@ bedtime: Glad to see that you getting some good results with your fig tree. I have been growing containerized figs since 2007, and while very rewarding, it's a lot of work if you want to do it right. Once you figure out what to do, it becomes easy, and less labor intensive. First....the decorative flower pot is too small. Look at the picture of the tree planted in a half a barrel. That's a good size container. Your whip/tree should've gone into a 18-25 gallon container with a mix that drains quickly. That small pot will be filled with roots very quickly, and if the tree gets pot-bound, the growth will stop, and the tree will suffer. It will then need to be re-potted into a larger container. Try using a big, 18-gallon storage tub, and drill/melt holes in the bottom sides for drainage. Also buy a cheap dolly, and put the container/tree combination on the dolly and roll the tree in and out of your house. When the container- (after a few years) - fills with roots, you must trim them to revitalize the old root system and encourage new feeder roots to sprout. You can also replace the old mix with new mix at the same time. This must be done for containerized fig trees every 3-5 years, or trees will eventually fail. Containerized trees must also have high quality fertilizers that contain all the needed trace elements, etc. YOU must provide everything the tree needs. Try Hydroponic Supplies for good nutrient supplements. Espoma makes very good organic fertilizers. I use Espoma Iron-Tone, and get great results. The added iron helps. Dilute any chemical fertilizes that you use. Potting soils are loaded with small particles that retain too much moisture and not enough oxygen. Roots die off when water and oxygen stagnates, turning the heavy mixes sour. Try the standard 5:1:1 mix and add a cup of Granular Limestone to the mix. Figs hate acidic mixes, and will start to look sickly if mix becomes acidic. Fertilizers also cause mixes to go acidic, and the Granular Limestone counteracts that tendency. Keep the top in full sun, and if possible shade the container to keep the root zone as cool as possible. Growing a tree on a balcony is fine but the quality of light, if not exposed to direct sunlight, is far less than growing the tree under the open sky. Give the tree as much sun as possible to avoid weak growth. I see your tree is starting to branch. Decide the final height of the branches and pinch back new growth to keep the branches within the limits that you set. Pinching will also encourage new branches to sprout out of dormant buds and you will then have more fruiting branches that will give you more figs. Your tree is now in the process of being trained into a standard, tree form, and will require some help. Just pinch back and prune away any unnecessary growth. Remember the more growth/branches, the more figs. If branches sprout and grow where not needed, wait for them to give you figs, then, cut and root them. Keep your containerized fig from freezing solid, and if you bring it indoors for the winter, give it all the sun you can if it has leaves. Take you cues from the plant. I over-winter my trees in an unheated, storage shed, and in your climate zone, I would try to keep the tree dormant as long as possible until the warmer, spring weather will support new growth. Do some searches on this forum regarding over-wintering containerized fig trees. Growing figs in containers is the easy part. Keeping them alive from year to year, in cold climates is the challenge. Others have done it, and so can you. Good luck. Hope this helps. Frank

bchbound: My "ATREANO" finished ripening figs just about one month ago. My season is now over. I live in the Bronx, NYC...so, I'm in your area. I guess it depends on variety. "ATREANO" ripens mid-August, into early September. Zaino's Garden Center in Westbury, NY carries this variety. By the way, I pinch out all terminal buds after new growth produces the 6th leaf, this controls branch length. Then I pinch out all newly formed terminal buds after June 21st. It doesn't take long to control the growth, fig production increases, and fig ripening starts sooner. I grow single-trunked small trees,(total height, about 6-7 ft,) in 25 gallon containers. I started in 2007. EVERYTHING I know about growing figs came from this forum and the great members who have helped me with my questions. Hope this helps. Frank

Alex, I'm surprised you've not seen the wild roses along the Long Island or New England beaches. I dyid some research and found out they're native to Japan and Korea. They must've been introduced a very long time ago as they're widespread along the Atlantic Beaches from VA into Canada and Great Lakes. They apparently thrive in crappy soils (beach sand) and very close to open water. http://www.google.com/search?q=beach+roses&hl=en&client=ms-android-verizon&gm=576&sky=mrdr&site=webhp&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=dACiT57iCqad6AGLyqTfCA&sqi=2&ved=0CEYQsAQ&biw=308&bih=513#p=0

I love the bright pink color, it would make the centerpiece for any garden. That's my favorite color for clothes as well.