Hello abode lovers and happy Wednesday! So, I have very exciting news- I am the proud owner of a fiddle leaf fig tree! I have been looking for one of these suckers for years now. My SuperMom called every nursery she could think of in the Birmingham area looking for one of these beauties 2 years ago for my birthday and had no luck. I have kept my eye out ever since... and then I got a text message from the one and only Katie Beth from The Good Stuff, she had spotted a pair at a local nursery. I almost peed my pants-- I then begged her to go with me to check them out on our lunch break....
Then things got weird.
We ran over with another girlfriend from work-- I had called that morning and there were 3 trees, all around 6-8' tall. (In my head I'm all "go big or go home, I'm gettin' that 8' sucker!") We showed up 2 hours later, I walked in, saw an 8' fiddle leaf beauty and felt like it was a match made in heaven, then the sales lady came up to me and said, "oh that one's already sold." Just like that.
Like it was nothing.
"but we've got one more in the back..."
to which I replied, "ONE MORE!!?!?!? I just called and ya'll had THREE!!!"
to which SHE replied, "it was the craziest thing, we sold 2 within 10 minutes of each other RIGHT BEFORE YOU GOT HERE!"
I can only imagine the look of horror on my face -- my mind started racing... I started frantically telling her (again) that I had JUST called a few hours ago and these trees have been here for days. Surely this was some kind of sick joke... but it wasn't. It was as real, as real as when Britney Spears shaved her head... if not worse.
I then went chasing after KB (who was already sprinting her way to the smaller fiddle leaf in the back of the shop) I was saying, "Katie Beth!!!!" (in a very dramatic tone) "SHE SAID IT WAS SOLD, I mean, it's SOLD, what the $#*%!!!??!!!" She was clearly not paying attention to me, she kept walking in a straight b-line to the fiddle leaf fig tree in the back that I had JUST convinced her that she needed more than air.
Then things got plain 'ole upsetting...
Katie Beth finally realized what I was dribbling on about and looked very sad for me (as a good friend would do) and then it happened. "What, what happened!?! you ask... well, I turned into a freak. I wouldn't respond to KB when she asked me if I was sure that she should get this tree for her home or not. I told her I could no longer objectively give her advice. The evil streak in me was dying for the next best thing... the gorgeous 6' fiddle leaf that Katie Beth had her heart set on.
I know. I'm a bad friend. You see... I'm a little overwhelmingly obsessive when I get my mind heart set on something. So, after speaking to the nice lady who worked there about what kind of sunlight these trees needed, Katie Beth backed out of getting the tree (she's much more of a planner and tends to make much better decisions with her money that I do)... So, with her new cold feet due to advice from the sales lady, she took a bow and opened up this baby for me to purchase.
Then I was petrified that she would be mad at me-- probably because I would have been spittin' mad.... and because I'm a girl, but she wasn't. Good 'ole giving and gracious KB told me to buy it -- and that I had better keep it alive -- and that they had better be getting another shipment in soon---
So, now my fingers are crossed, big time. If they get in a super huge 7-8' tree, I'll snag one of those and hand over my 6' to Katie Beth... if not, it looks like I'll be trying to make it up to Katie Beth for the rest of my life...
Mister Husband and I went and picked up the tree this weekend. I went to Target and got a huge white container for around $35 on clearance and filled it with a level of rocks, then soil, then planted this gorgeous heartbreaker. God I hope I don't kill it.
It's beautiful, can you even imagine how incredible it will be as it grows TALLER-- (or if this one becomes KB's and I purchase a bigger heartbreaker!?!)
King is hiding under the coffee table for two reasons: #1 The Hunger Games is on my tv and I'm pretty sure it scares him to death and #2 because he understood what I was telling him when I told him NOT to eat the fiddle leaf leaves-- they're poisonous to dogs and children-- Just like those dang Hunger Games berries. Well, maybe not that instantaneous, but he is hiding none-the-less.
I know that I'm giving you a lot of beauty shots, but come on... it's a fiddle leaf fig tree.
I'll keep all of you informed about my situation with Katie Beth and our heartbreaking, teasing little trees... Hopefully I'll have great news and KB and my friendship will be on the mend.... here's hoping!
It's the perfect finishing touch to your living room! Good height too. I've had mine for over a year now and it's still alive! That's a huge deal because I have a black thumb.
ReplyDeleteYes! It is absolutely gorgeous and your story cracked me up! I have a little experience with them (good and bad:)-- one for my office thrived and did awesome- it was right next to a huge window and got lots of light and the office people took care of the watering (once a week based on touching the soil). The one I took home isn't doing so hot. I had it at first in a corner of my living room and it wasn't getting much light, then I think I overwatered and it really started dying. Now I've moved it to where it gets more light but it's still not doing too well- I might have already ruined it! I hope yours does great- it is gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteThat is a GORGEOUS fiddle leaf fig tree! Which nursery did you find it at? Hannah's on 280 told me a while back that they usually keep them in stock, but I have yet to go look because Copper WILL try and eat it. I may have to scour the web for a faux version... :(
ReplyDeleteI have been looking for one ever since you posted about them forever ago! Wow! It looks gorgeous!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a coincidence- I've also been on the hunt for years with no luck locally. A few months ago I looked on amazon (why not, I buy practically everything else on there) and they had one for $15 including shipping with mixed reviews because most people weren't expecting it to be so sm, that's not a problem for me since I am no closer to finding one so I have all the time to let it grow. I was pleasantly surprised when it came in the mail lat night. Fingers crossed I don't kill baby Fig!
ReplyDeleteOh what a beauty!!! And a hilarious story. Hopefully KB gets the fig leaf plant of her dreams soon too. ;) You girls are awesome. haha
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous. It's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWell, now I want a fiddle leaf fig too!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are building a new home and will have a sun room and it would be PERFECT in there. I have to start searching....thanks!!!!:):) I love yours and it will be fun to watch it grow. It looks beautiful in your room. KB is a VERY good friend. XO, Pinky
ReplyDeleteGood luck--I've already killed two of those beautiful trees. I can usually grow most things, but not those. Looking at your pics makes me want to try again, though.
ReplyDeleteInstant drama! Love how the fiddle leaves just cozy up that corner. I can imagine you nestled all up on that chaise to dive into your latest read...or all the September issues of course! Peeps are really getting on board with these beauties so it's been snatched right up from all the local Ikeas and Home Depots...but I know the one that's got them by the truckload ;D Amazing find!
ReplyDeleteWould love to get your thoughts on my most recent hotel renovation when you get a chance! Hope to see you soon!
xo-Julie
Peace. Love. LOL!
Haute Khuuture Blog
You are killing me! What a beautiful tree. I purchased one a few months ago. It was my first newlywed home purchase, I wanted one that badly. And now it's lost half of its leaves despite my numerous calls to the greenhouse for advice on how to properly care for it. I'm still hoping to nurse it back to health, but plan B is to beg my hubby for a second chance. :/
ReplyDeleteLOVE your tree. I had Fiddle drama too...When you last posted about Fiddles I completely fell in love and decided immediately that I needed one. I called around to a few fancy nurseries and finally found one. I was ecstatic! The hubs and I rushed out to get it. I was a little disappointed that it was so small (about 3 ft.) but was excited to finally have a fiddle of my own and paid 50 bucks for it. We rushed home, planted it in a pot and placed it on a barstool in our kitchen eating area.
ReplyDeleteFeeling inspired and like a proper gardener, I did some research and found out that on sunny days, you can put your Fiddle outside to encourage growth. Stupidly, I put that sucker in direct sunlight and totally fried it. Those leaves, once glossy-green, turned brown and flaky then, finally, gray. I was so upset that I had killed my fancy tree. I asked the hubs to toss it.
A few months later I was watching Bravo’s Top Ten Things That Make Me Happy and saw my beloved Jonathan Adler has two 6ft tall fiddles in his family room. My passion for the trees sparked again and I fantasized about finding two 6ft tall beauties for my loft.
One magical day as we were walking around a Home Depot nursery I spotted my dream fiddle: a 7ft tall beauty with dozens of shiny, green leaves. And the best part: it was only $35! I quickly asked if they could get me another (because I had to have two) and they said no. Feeling temporarily discouraged, we notice that the planter actually had three Fiddles in it and not one (two that were 7ft tall and one that was about 3ft tall.) They lovely lady at the store told us if we took this home, soaked it in water for a few hours, we would be able to pull them apart and plant them separately. I was so excited I could have kissed her!
So we purchased the tree, two stakes (to hold up the trees), green Velcro, two cute pots, two plastic trays and gold spray-paint. Once we got home, the hubs submerged the bottom of the tree in a huge bucket then got to work spraying the $9 pots and $2 trays with the gold spray paint.
Once the pots and trays were dry, we gently pulled the three Fiddles apart. We placed each tall tree in the new gold pot, and the little 3ft cutie in the original Fiddle’s pot, and filled each with fresh potting soil.
I LOVE them!! And cannot believe for about $65 we have two gorgeous Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees in our loft. Oh, and one baby one on our front patio.
P.S. Several weeks after I asked the hubs to toss the old Fiddle, he showed me that he had actually planted it in the woods behind our house and it totally came back to life!! We’re going to leave it there until it get’s cold then we’ll bring ‘em inside. So now, we don’t have just one Fiddle, not even two, but four. I think I’m good on trees for a while ☺
LOVEEEEE IT!!!!! You sound like me calling every nursery and home depot for 2 straight days til one told me they had some!!! Our nursery has a bunch of 6ft and taller... but the only thing is they are over $150.00. Pretty much more than I wanted to spend :(
ReplyDeleteCalled home depot and they had 2 that were 2-3ft tall for $7 bucks!! So I hauled ass and got both! Come to realize when I got home that there was actually 2 plants in each pot making it actually 4 fig trees!!! So happy... Now I just have to wait about +3 years for it to look like yours :( Guess that's why mine were $7...
I love your story!!! I myself have a 5 ft tree and I've had it for 3-yrs now. I bought it from Lowe's when it was about 2-feet tall.....when I wasn't even looking for one. It's my favorite out of all my indoor plants. My sister loves it & said she's been looking for one for over a year now. I've been checking Home Depot, Lowes & some other nurseries in our area but couldn't find one for her. I didn't realize they are so hard to find until I started looking for it. I found one that's about that was about a foot tall at Lowe's and bought it for her last November. She will have to wait a few years for it to become 4 - 5 ft. tall but she's happy to have one.
ReplyDeleteI love your story!!! I myself have a 5 ft tree and I've had it for 3-yrs now. I bought it from Lowe's when it was about 2-feet tall.....when I wasn't even looking for one. It's my favorite out of all my indoor plants. My sister loves it & said she's been looking for one for over a year now. I've been checking Home Depot, Lowes & some other nurseries in our area but couldn't find one for her. I didn't realize they are so hard to find until I started looking for it. I found one that's about that was about a foot tall at Lowe's and bought it for her last November. She will have to wait a few years for it to become 4 - 5 ft. tall but she's happy to have one.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous Fiddle Leaf fig! I just found one....at IKEA...for 6 dollars....on clearance!!!!!!!!!! There were about twenty of them...and they're not super tall (mine is about 2 ft tall). The reason they were clearanced out is because a couple leaves had gotten broken and messed up in shipping so they sold those ugly ones cheap. I brought it home and potted it and cut those ugly leaves off and it's thriving! Another trunk even grew out of the soil after about two weeks and has tons of leaves on it. I am beyond in love with it and wish I had bought two instead of 1! Check Ikea if you want another!!
ReplyDeleteI just discovered fiddle leaf fig trees and am totally obsessed. I just need to figure out where to get one now in NYC. Your styling looks great - I shared it on my blog today.
ReplyDeleteFollowing you on GFC!
Corbin
decor-eat