Backyard Fig Overachieves; Grapevine Declines to Comment

BROOKLYN — The fig tree behind Mr. Morgan’s apartment is carrying more fruit than it has any right to, a heavy green set that has the household planning for jam.

The grapevine, pruned hard earlier this year, showed clusters in spring and then produced nothing but leaves. Its intentions remain unclear.

Elsewhere in the yard, a tall stranger in a raised bed is under investigation. Sunflower and Jerusalem artichoke are the leading suspects.

Bird activity is steady with fall migration under way. A sourdough starter in the kitchen also remains active, though it is not considered part of the garden.

The fig’s success has raised questions about what, exactly, went right. The leading explanations are a mild spring, a sunny corner and a season of benign neglect. The household is careful not to change anything that might break the streak.

Jam remains the plan, pending ripeness. A backup plan involving roasted figs and cheese has also been drafted, and a third plan, eating them off the tree, is expected to account for a significant share of the harvest.

The grapevine’s silence has prompted a review of last winter’s pruning. Experts consulted on the internet disagree, as experts on the internet do. The vine will be given one more season to explain itself.

As for the raised bed, the tall stranger has continued to grow at a pace that suggests confidence. A positive identification is expected once it flowers, or once someone remembers what was planted there in May.