Cheshirekat -- what a bummer about your fig tree!
As for the asparagus -- yes, you do have to wait a few years (especially if you start from seed), but it is so worth it. And if you start this year, you'll be a year ahead of if you start next year... I've planted some hazelnut shrubs (trees?) and 2 cherry trees this year, hoping it won't be too many years before we can enjoy a harvest from them; wish I had thought to do so 20 years ago when we first lived here, but better late than never!
