Thanks purpleinopp. I saw it didn't link properly but after at least an hour of trying to post on this site (trying to login, trying to find the page again after logging in, trying to upload photos, trying to resize and reupload photos, posting photos on flickr instead, trying to delete the uploading photos, trying to upload the link etc.etc.etc) I gave up making it work. It is rather difficult to figure out this site and I'm pretty computer literate. It could be way easier to post here. I hope it ends up being worth it and someone can name this tree for me!

raisemybeds, Many fig obsessions (mine included) started with the quest for "a" fig that will produce in a person's location. Many fig trees later, you are lucky if you have that "one" fig. That a friend has a fig that produces in your area, and is willing to give you a piece, is a gift of great worth. All figs are not the same; they can vary greatly in their requirements. New England not only doesn't have the late season heat (which Chills mentioned is needed for ripening), it also has a short season. So finding a suitable fig is not easy. This fig apparently will ripen fruit under these conditions - wow. You'd think that since figs have been around so long, that we'd know all of them. Not so. Many have been handed down, and not widely grown. These figs can be lost so easily. The owner dies and his "special" fig is lost. And believe me, a fig that fruits in New England is a special fig, whether it is a commercial variety or a family gem. Figs do not need fertile soil to thrive. In fact in Europe they are given the "poorer" sites. It is said that better tasting figs and a hardier plant are the result of poor soil. On the other hand many folks on the Forum lavish love on their figs in the form of manure and swear by it. If the fig in question needs to be winter protected (as Chills said, a question for your friend) another option might be to put it a pot. I keep many of my potted figs, unprotected, in an unheated garage over the winter. This will also give you the option of putting the fig in an area that is unavailable to an in-ground plant (driveway, patio, etc.). I hope you will decide to take the fig (wonderful fruit) and let us know how it is going.

I planted two small Prunus lusitanica to hide a big utility box at the end of a driveway that we share with four neighbors. Everyone gave me grief about how small they were, weren't doing the job, etc. I told them to wait...now 10 years later I had to prune the backside away so that the utility co could get in there and get to the box! But Jeff, remember we are now discussing a completely different shrub, hijackers that we are...

Birch, possibly river birch, Betula nigra (from what I can see of the bark).