Flowering Apricot Tree

Flowering Apricot Tree

These trees bloom in mid winter or early spring before the leaves come onto the branches.  It is really magical to see something in bloom this early, although not as surprising this year since we have had such a warm winter here in Zone seven.  I took quite a few photos of these gorgeous trees last week at a church not far from my home.  Most of them showed the trees from the ground up, but then I remembered the wonderful painting I saw in Philadelphia at the Van Gogh Exhibition. The title of Vincent's painting shown below is "Almond Blossom" and it is one of my new favorites.

6x6 in. oil on panel