Today I was out tending the chicken coop which is located under the apricot tree. This tree.... Oh my. I've spent since the summer of 2013 nursing this tree and four others along as they had gone for an extended period without water before we bought the house. It also had a major borer attack. Lots of pruning for blight, too. A month ago it was the earliest to bloom amidst our wonky flash freezing weather; the blooms got buzzed by eager liberated bees one day and frozen crispy the next. Didn't give it much hope as the lore around these parts is that about once every five years is a good apricot crop... I'm just happy the tree is still alive as it provides vital shade for the coop.
I looked up through the branches to try to see the caucaphonous cranes circling overhead.... Thousands of pea-sized apricots!
Awesome!

