Apricots Blooming in Late February

My recovering Apricot tree, Prunus armeniaca, was blooming during the last week of February 2017 when I took these photographs.

Apricots belong to the rose family, Rosaceae, and are cousins of the other stone fruits like the plum and peach, nectarine, cherry, and almond. The seeds of apricots have been used for their medicinal qualities for centuries in the Near, Middle, and Far East.

Apricots are supposed to have been domesticated in the highlands surrounding Mount Ararat by the Armenian people. Its species name means Armenian Plum which reflects this heritage. This mountainous area can experience very cold winters. Apricot trees can withstand considerable periods of cold. In fact, they do better where the climate is like its place of origin. This probably is why I have apricot blooms in late winter.