Like I said- I am no fig expert. I was raised in CA and probably ate many kinds of figs without knowing what they were, but mostly the trees around me were only about 5-6 different varieties as I remember, and their differences really didn’t matter much to me beyond sweetness.
I can see that, I’m the same way with other stuff. Some describe a plethora of flavors. I taste a few, I would like to keep about 5 plants, but don’t see that happening soon. Five even in containers is going to produce like mad.
For Pears, Combination Pears - One Green World
I think they might still be shipping. For Peaches. I bought a low chill 4 in 1 from Dave Wilsons from Bay Laurel nursery. They are done shipping until the fall but you might want to try then, My 4 in 1 low chill peach arrived about 3-4 ft tall and with thick grafted branches that since I have had it planted (about 2 months now) have all leafed out and are going vertical. Since the tree is a Dave Wilson you might be able to special order one through a local nursery but no idea how that would work as I have never done so. I came across a partial multiplum in my earlier searches. You can find it here http://www.raintreenursery.com/3x1_Zee_Sweet_Pluot_Splsh_E.Drop_F.Gren_G.Pride.html at Raintree. Hope this helps.
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You might want to tie down that vertical growth before it becomes thick and brittle. With peaches you need to decide early how you want to shape the scaffolds. Of course, vertical growth is more vigorous, so you don’t want to bring it down too soon.
Tying down grafts to more horizontal position is a constant chore for me when I do my pruning rounds. For peaches it is a constant chore, period- with all scaffolds, grafted or not. At least until they reach maturity- but then when they are old and I’m trying to nurse a few more crops out of them, the process begins again- where I tie down the few vigorous water sprouts to produce next seasons crop.
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I am going to give it a few months to grow and then probably start to shape it in the summer.
Totally off the topic of fruit, but related to how able we are to be effective fruit growers…I suggest you look at a website my chiropractor uncle told us about in July 2015 www.inclinedbedtherapy.com
I realize it’s already been a couple weeks, and I hope you are doing better. Maybe this can help prevent the recurring pain and trouble.
It doesn’t cost to try it, and the man who advocates for raising the head of your bed 6-8 inches is not trying to sell anything.
If you check out the site you’ll see that not everyone likes it, or gets immediate results, but our family of ten have been sleeping inclined for about 19 months now, and no one wants to go back to flat beds.
My hubby is a huge skeptic, and actually said out loud that he thought his back felt better, after only ONE NIGHT on a five degree incline! His observation was that after pulling weeds in the garden for an hour plus, he could stand up normally, without pain, as opposed to the slow, cautious way he normally had to straighten out his back.
Drinking lots of water is healthy too. I learned (back in my teens even) that a kidney infection can feel like a crippling backache. You did mention an accident, but being aware of this little fact may let you help someone else. I was able to diagnose my bro in law years ago, and he was going through new and expensive mattresses like crazy, thinking that was the problem.
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Thanks, and no the back is still giving me trouble. Problem is I have stuff to do. I had to move 3 pieces of equipment on and off a truck that weighed 500 pounds, and their were only 2 of us. We did it, but now I’m worse.
Yes, I can only sleep with bed elevated, I cannot lay down at all.
I will look at the article, thanks!!
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You are very welcome, and I hope it helps you get some relief!
Andrew Fletcher actually started his research trying to understand sap flow in trees, and I could relate to his curiosity about the world. He then wondered if his findings had any implications or crossover to the human body. Fascinating info imo.
I’ve had a bad back since childhood. What helps mine is exercise. If I keep it in shape it’s way better. My current program is the best core exercises I’ve found in 50 yrs of trying.
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What is it?
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You need to share that workout routine with the rest of us.
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Maybe you can make a tutorial for us?
Yeah I wish I could graft myself a new back! This weather is not helping!! Winter be done already! I got things to do outside!
Part of it is I’m over weight and that makes it a lot worse. I have lost some but I keep stalling, I need to control my diet better. It’s just hard when you’re busy and don’t have time to shop for the right foods, let alone prepare them. Too many pizzas! 
It’s pretty simple really. I lay down on some soft heavy padding. Pull my feet up and raise my butt as high as possible, about 100 reps x 3 sets. Alternate sets of that with stretching the hamstrings with a towel looped over the toes, and hit the stomach by extending legs out flat with feet raised just off the ground. Pull the feet in and back out just off the floor. About 15x5 reps for the abdominals.
Then for the real back workout wad the matt up thick, place the pelvis on the highest point while protecting the family jewels and raise both feet and torso as high as possible off the floor. About 4x25 reps of those.
Doing that I can get down on my knees in the garden or greenhouse for extended periods with little discomfort afterwards. When my back wasn’t in shape it would take 10 days of that kind of work with an aching back to get my back in shape.
I do this routine 2-3 times a week.
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There’s nothing quit like exercise talk to kill a conversation. That’s why I didn’t elaborate initially.
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I feared derailing the conversation so didn’t keep going.
I started Jillian Michaels this year and am 47 days into it. Half an hour a day is all I can spare with two kids but it’s intense! I’ve lost a lot of fat during this time. I also bought a Concept 2 rower to mix it up a bit.
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I may give it a try, but not today. I just put in 2.5 hours clearing the driveway, which was enough of a workout.
Back to the multi-graft trees, I found the following in the L.E. Cook FAQ page and thought it was an interesting perspective:
Do you offer “Cocktail Trees”?
Yes and No
We offer multiple varieties on a single tree for Apples, Cherries and Pears. There are four different Apple Combinations each with a Red, Green, Yellow and Striped variety. The four combinations are selected to meet the climatic needs of a Desert area, Mild Climate area, Moderate climate area and Cold climate area. In a similar way Pear Combinations were created for a Mild Climate area, Moderate Climate area, Cool Climate area and the most popular, an Asian Pear Combination. We don’t have as much climate leeway for cherries so we put together the all time favorite sweet cherries on the same tree.
What about Peaches, Plums, Nectarines and Apricots? We are constantly asked to grow combinations or even “Cocktail” trees with these combinations. We have done many tests and have chosen Not to grow them. Why? We, and then our retail customers, are doing a disservice to the homeowner buying that tree. Every combination we have observed creates dominant varieties and slower growing varieties. Within a few short years your customer will have at best one or two varieties remaining on the tree. Even experienced nursery people have a hard time pruning the trees to keep the varieties anywhere in balance. We even experience a little of this on the Apples and Pears. To help a little, we put the slowest growing bud on the top where it pushes first and the fastest growing variety lowest on the tree where it is slower to push. We also grow the tree so the slowest variety faces west with the most sun and the fastest facing north. Of course the homeowner is unlikely to plant it the same way.
Instead we highly recommend planting the 3 or 4 trees in the space of one tree. This is highly effective with each tree growing independently but only taking up the space of one tree. See details of this idea here: Planting Multiple Trees in the Space of One.
They aren’t saying it can’t be done- just that it isn’t in the interests of most customers. And that it is tougher for stone fruit than pommes. I’m guessing it is because of the faster growth rates that stone fruit exhibits. Also, "Instead we highly recommend planting the 3 or 4 trees in the space of one tree. " seems like a good way to sell more trees 
Doesn’t mean it isn’t right, but I wouldn’t automatically take it at face value.
Like the 65 year old idiot I am,. I tried to clear my 150+ driveway of its heavy 2’ snow and threw out my back. Now I don’t know if I can prune tomorrow so I probably lost money by not hiring a plow (or even buying a snow thrower). This is the last time- I swear.
I can’t understand how I can swing from trees all day, no problem, but a couple hours with a snow shovel and crunch!
At least spring is holding back, so if I do miss a few days (which I doubt) it won’t be panic time.
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I used a snow blower, but it isn’t all that powerful- it is a corded electric, human propelled model. Pushing it through heavy snow is a real chore- using the whole body to thrust/lunge, then step once, lunge again, etc. But from what I can see it is about half the effort of shoveling and better distributes the pain over the entire body, rather than mostly in your back. No exhaust fumes or engine maintenance though, which is nice.
Yeah, that may be my next purchase, In a couple weeks they will be being cleared out.
It’s a good year to buy a snowblower when there hasn’t been any snow - retailers want to get rid of the things and clear them off the floor
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